Where Facebook Gets Your Location and How to Update It
Facebook shows your location in your profile and uses it to target ads, suggest friends, and customize what you see. You can change this location in your profile settings without affecting your actual device location or GPS data. The process takes less than a minute and you can update it as often as you want.
Your location appears on your profile page where other people can see it, and Facebook also stores it for internal purposes like ad targeting. You control what location displays publicly, and you can remove it entirely if you prefer not to show any location at all.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your profile location by going to your profile, clicking "Edit profile," and updating the city and hometown fields.
- Your profile location is separate from your device location — changing it in Facebook does not affect your phone's GPS or location services.
- You can set your location to be visible to everyone, friends only, or hidden entirely by adjusting your privacy settings.
- Facebook may suggest a location based on your IP address or past activity, but you can override it with any location you choose.
Steps to Change Your Location on Desktop
Open Facebook in a web browser and go to your profile by clicking your name or profile picture in the top right corner. Once you are on your profile page, look for the "Edit profile" button, which appears near your cover photo.
Click "Edit profile" and scroll down to find the "Basic Information" section. Look for the "Current City" and "Hometown" fields. Click on either field to change it, type in the new city name, and select it from the dropdown menu that appears. Click "Save Changes" when you are done.
If you do not see these fields, they may be hidden. Scroll through the Basic Information section or look for an "Edit" button next to the location information already on your profile. Some profiles have location fields in different places depending on how your account was set up.
Steps to Change Your Location on Mobile
Open the Facebook app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right of the screen. Scroll down and tap "Settings & Privacy," then tap "Settings." Look for "Personal Information" and tap it.
Tap "Basic Information" and find the "Current City" or "Hometown" field. Tap the field, delete the old location, and type the new one. Select the city from the dropdown list and tap "Save" or "Done" depending on your device.
If you cannot find the location fields in Basic Information, they may be in a different section. Try scrolling through all the options under Personal Information, or go back to your profile and tap "Edit profile" directly from there instead of using Settings.
Controlling Who Can See Your Location
Once you have set your location, you can decide who sees it. Go back to your profile and find the location information. Look for a small privacy icon (usually a circle with lines or a lock symbol) next to your location.
Click or tap that icon to change the privacy setting. You can usually choose from "Public" (everyone sees it), "Friends" (only your friends see it), or "Only Me" (nobody sees it). Select your preference and save the change.
If you do not see a privacy icon next to your location, it may be set to your default privacy level. You can change your default privacy settings by going to Settings, then "Privacy," and adjusting who can see your profile information.
Removing Your Location Entirely
If you do not want to display any location at all, you can delete it from your profile. Go to "Edit profile" and find the location field. Instead of typing a new city, clear the field completely and save the change.
Once you delete the location, it will no longer appear on your profile or in your public information. You can add it back at any time by following the same steps and entering a new location.
Why Facebook Suggests a Location You Did Not Enter
Facebook may show a location based on your IP address, the location of your device, or where you have logged in from before. This is not the same as your profile location — it is information Facebook uses internally for ads and recommendations.
If you see a location you did not set, it is likely coming from your device's location services or your internet connection, not from your profile settings. Changing your profile location will not stop Facebook from using this data, but you can turn off location services on your device if you want to prevent that tracking.
What Happens When You Change Your Location
Changing your profile location does not notify your friends or create a post on your timeline. The change takes effect when ready, but only people who visit your profile or search for you by location will see the new information.
Your old location history is not saved publicly — only your current location appears on your profile. If you change your location frequently, only the most recent one will show.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing my Facebook location affect my phone's GPS?
No. Your Facebook profile location is separate from your device's GPS and location services. Changing it in Facebook does not affect where your phone thinks you are, and turning off location services on your phone does not change your Facebook profile location.
Can I set different locations for different people to see?
No. You can only set one location on your profile, but you can control who sees it using privacy settings. You can make it visible to friends only, public, or hidden from everyone.
What if I cannot find the location field on my profile?
Some profiles do not have location fields enabled. Try going to Settings > Personal Information > Basic Information. If the field still does not appear, your account may not have location fields available, or they may be in a different section depending on your account type.
Will my friends know I changed my location?
No. Changing your location does not send a notification or create a post. Only people who look at your profile directly will see the change.
Can I hide my location from specific people?
You can only set one privacy level for your location — either public, friends only, or hidden from everyone. You cannot hide it from one person while showing it to another using profile settings alone.