Where Instagram Pulls Your Location From

Instagram gets your location from your phone's GPS, your internet connection, or information you enter manually. When you post a photo or story, Instagram can tag it with a location — either the place where you took it (if you allow location access) or a location you type in yourself. The location that appears on your profile under your username comes from what you set in your account settings, separate from post locations.

Your profile location is what people see when they visit your account. It does not have to match where you actually are right now. You can set it to anywhere in the world, change it whenever you want, and leave it blank if you prefer not to share a location at all.

Key Takeaways

  • Your profile location is edited in Settings > Personal Information > Website and Contact Information, and is separate from where you tag individual posts.
  • You can enter any location you want — Instagram does not verify that you actually live there or are there now.
  • Changing your profile location takes effect when ready and is visible to anyone who visits your account.
  • If you turn off location services on your phone, Instagram cannot tag posts with your GPS location, but you can still add locations manually when you post.
  • Removing your location from your profile does not delete locations from past posts — you must edit those posts individually if you want to remove those tags.

How to Change Your Profile Location

Open Instagram and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right, then tap Settings and Privacy. Tap Account Information, then tap Personal Information. You will see a field labeled Website and Contact Information — tap that section.

Look for the Location field. Tap it and type the location you want to display. You can enter a city name, a neighborhood, a country, or leave it blank. When you are done, tap Done or the back arrow. The change takes effect when ready.

If you do not see a Location field in Personal Information, your account may not have that option enabled yet. Instagram rolls out features gradually, so you may need to update the app or wait a few days for the option to appear on your account.

Adding or Changing Locations on Individual Posts

When you create a new post or story, you can add a location tag that appears with that specific post. Open the compose screen, take or select your photo, and tap Add Location (on Feed posts) or swipe up and tap the location sticker (on Stories). Type the location name and select it from the list Instagram shows you.

To change the location on a post you have already shared, open the post, tap the three dots in the top right corner, and tap Edit. Tap the location tag and change it to a different location, then tap Done. The updated location will show on the post.

If you want to remove a location tag from a post entirely, follow the same steps but delete the location text and tap Done. The location will no longer appear on that post.

Controlling Location Access on Your Phone

Instagram can only use your phone's GPS location if you have given it permission. On iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Location Services, find Instagram in the list, and choose Never, While Using the App, or Always. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Instagram > Permissions > Location and choose your preference.

If you set location access to Never, Instagram cannot see your GPS location and cannot automatically tag posts with where you are. You can still add locations manually when you post — you just have to type them in yourself. This is useful if you want to share that you visited a place without letting Instagram track your movements in real time.

Why Your Location Might Not Change

If you changed your profile location but it is not showing up, try closing and reopening the Instagram app. Sometimes the change takes a few minutes to sync. If you are still not seeing it, make sure you tapped Done or the back arrow to save your changes — if you just navigated away without saving, the location will revert to what it was before.

If you are trying to add a location to a post and the location you want does not appear in the list, type it exactly as it appears on maps or search results. Instagram pulls locations from a database, so misspellings or unusual names may not show up. You can also try searching for a nearby major landmark or neighborhood instead.

What Happens When You Change Your Location

Changing your profile location does not affect past posts or stories. Those posts keep whatever location tag they had when you posted them. If you want to remove locations from old posts, you have to edit each post individually. Your followers will see the new location on your profile when ready, but they will not get a notification that you changed it.

Changing your location does not affect your privacy settings or who can see your posts. It only changes the text that appears on your profile and on individual posts. People who have you blocked or who do not follow you will see the same location information as anyone else, depending on your post privacy settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a fake location on my profile?

Yes. Instagram does not verify that you actually live in or are currently at the location you enter. You can put any location you want, including a place you have never been. This is useful if you want to protect your privacy or if you move frequently and do not want to update it constantly.

Does changing my location affect my Instagram ads or recommendations?

Your profile location may influence what content Instagram shows you and what ads you see, but it is not the only factor. Instagram also uses your phone's actual GPS location, your browsing history, and other data. Changing your profile location alone will not significantly change your recommendations or ads.

If I remove my location, will people still see where I posted from?

Removing your location from your profile does not remove locations from individual posts. If you tagged a location when you posted a photo, that location tag stays on the post unless you edit the post and remove it. You have to remove locations from posts one at a time.

Can I see where my followers are located?

No. Instagram does not show you a list of your followers' locations. You can only see the location that someone has chosen to display on their profile, and only if they have set one. You cannot see their actual GPS location or where they are right now.

What if Instagram keeps showing my old location?

Close the app completely and reopen it. If the old location is still showing after a few minutes, try logging out and logging back in. Make sure you are looking at your own profile — sometimes the app takes a moment to refresh what other people see. If it still does not update after an hour, the change may not have saved; go back to Settings and re-enter your location.