Geolocation Incorrect Across all Internet Browsers and Websites

RetroDeskChair · 2023-04-02 21:26:19

Hello all,

I've been running Arch for for about five months, and I'm new to the forum. I searched here for similar issues but didn't find anything, so I figured I'd start a thread.

For the last two months or so, I've noticed that my device's location is frequently, if not always, incorrect on websites like google maps. This extends to google search results as well - at the moment, on Firefox, google thinks I'm in Germany (I'm actually in the US) and I'm getting search results in German. I've tried different browsers and different websites like bing maps, and the results are the same. Here's what I know:

I am not running a VPN
My location is correct on my smartphone and in google maps on a different machine, both of which are on the same wifi network and logged in to my google account
My IP location from sites like ipinfo.io is correct, and google sometimes shows the correct IP and IP location at the bottom of the search page. As of writing this, google has my location entirely incorrect. A few minutes ago, it had the IP location correct
Google maps shows the correct area when first opening after clearing browser data, before selecting "use precise location"
Changing the value
```
geo.provider.network.url
```
from
```
https://www.googleapis.com/geolocation/v1/geolocate?key=%GOOGLE_LOCATION_SERVICE_API_KEY%
```
to
```
https://location.services.mozilla.com/v1/geolocate?key=%MOZILLA_API_KEY%
```
as described here caused the location to change. Originally, google maps in Firefox would show me in Germany. After changing that value, it started to show me in Vietnam. Changing it back to the googleapis provider did not cause the location to change back to Germany from Vietnam. This also changed the results in Chromium which doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me
The location was correct at one point a few weeks ago after I cleared all browsing data on Firefox. The issue started again a few days ago, and I tried clearing all browser data that day to no avail

Has anyone else had an issue like this? I suppose all I need to do right now is clear all my data in Firefox again, but that's a temporary fix and I'm not convinced that there isn't a more interesting underlying issue. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated. Let me know if there are any details that I can provide, or if I've put this in the wrong place.

For reference, I'm running Arch on a Lenovo Legion 5i laptop, with kernel release

$ uname -r
6.2.9-arch1-1

* Edit to say that I posted this question on Stack Exchange a few weeks ago, but haven't had any replies.

Last edited by RetroDeskChair (2023-04-02 21:27:36)

mech_gui · 2023-04-08 15:34:54

I have the same problem. Google maps shows my location says my location somewhere in Chicago and I am in west Michigan USA.
It particularly because Menards.com will not let me change ship location. "Access Denied." I have to clear cache to visit the site again.

It has been a problem since I started using T-mobile 5G tower.

Arch Linux - 6.2.7-x64v1-xanmod1-1 on Dell Precision 3620 Xeon 32GB 128GB SSD 1TB HD.
Brave - Version 1.49.132 Chromium: 111.0.5563.147 (Official Build) (64-bit)
Same issue on Firefox and I assume all browsers will exhibit.

I am going to try geo.provider setting and will report.

RetroDeskChair · 2023-05-09 20:32:37

Brief update:

This issue has been happening off and on since the original post. Today, while trying to figure something out, I discovered that the location provided by https://browserleaks.com/geo#how-geolocation-api-works was initially incorrect, but after scanning for nearby wifi networks with iwctl the location updated to the correct area. In Firefox, Google maps still shows the wrong location, and when I try to update that location I get an error stating that the precise location could not be found. Checking my google maps location in chromium returns the correct location after scanning for wifi networks, too. I'm not entirely sure where this leaves me, but my current hypothesis is that the geolocation api is getting the wrong idea off the bat, and I'm guessing that Firefox would show the correct location now if I were to clear my cache.

buzonjl · 2025-02-20 02:39:10

I have similar problem. In my country, México, I have problems accessing to https://www.bbva.mx/. A message tells me that I need to activate allow location, but I have done all I can to activate it. For example, I accept allow alert in browser, I have activating about: config -> permission.default.geo = true and also I have modified Permission in a box that appears near a lock in address bar. But Nothing fix the problem. Also I check y chromium and the same stuff.

Thanks in advance.

Arlefreak · 2025-09-02 19:00:52

I managed to make it work changing the geo provider to https://beacondb.net/

maurox · 2025-10-12 01:03:59

if anyone is wondering.
you can set https://beacondb.net/v1/geolocate as geo.provider.network.url value

cryptearth · 2025-10-12 01:39:23

well - as this already got necro: is this a firefox/website specific issue?
the op stated it was an issue across the entire device (doubtful) while others are about a firefox specific option chrome/chromium doesn't even have
also it seems highly dependend on the service: most use the ip server side to see the query originates from instead of rely on a client likely lying anyways - at least that's how i would do this
anyway - we will never get an answer to an issue I actually would like to know the cause of

schard · 2025-10-12 07:47:55

Mod note: Closing this old thread.

Arch Linux

#1 2023-04-02 21:26:19

Geolocation Incorrect Across all Internet Browsers and Websites

#2 2023-04-08 15:34:54

Re: Geolocation Incorrect Across all Internet Browsers and Websites

#3 2023-05-09 20:32:37

Re: Geolocation Incorrect Across all Internet Browsers and Websites

#4 2025-02-20 02:39:10

Re: Geolocation Incorrect Across all Internet Browsers and Websites

#5 2025-09-02 19:00:52

Re: Geolocation Incorrect Across all Internet Browsers and Websites

#6 2025-10-12 01:03:59

Re: Geolocation Incorrect Across all Internet Browsers and Websites

#7 2025-10-12 01:39:23

Re: Geolocation Incorrect Across all Internet Browsers and Websites

#8 2025-10-12 07:47:55

Re: Geolocation Incorrect Across all Internet Browsers and Websites

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