How to change your iPhone's location, without a jailbreak

Why the iPhone has no "fake location" switch

Android has a "mock location app" setting in Developer options. iOS doesn't. What every iPhone does have is a built-in developer location service, the one Apple's own Xcode uses so developers can test location features in their apps. Once Developer Mode is on, a trusted computer (or an app with the right pairing) can ask that service to report a different position.

Every no-jailbreak method in this guide uses that same service. The differences are in who drives it, how easy it is to use, and whether you need a computer nearby.

Method 1: Xcode (for developers)

If you build iOS apps, you already have a location simulator. Run your app on a plugged-in iPhone from Xcode, then pick a location from Debug › Simulate Location, or add a GPX file to your scheme so a route plays automatically.

It's free and precise, but it's built for testing your own app during a debugging session. It needs a Mac, you work in coordinates and GPX files rather than a map, and the simulated location is tied to Xcode running your app. If you want a map to click on, reusable routes at realistic speeds, or to use it on a Windows PC, a dedicated app is easier. We go deeper on this in testing location features on a real iPhone.

Method 2: a Mac or Windows app (step by step with Geovo)

This is the most common approach, and the one Geovo is built around.

1. Download Geovo for Mac (Apple Silicon or Intel) or Windows 10/11. On Windows, install iTunes from apple.com first: it includes Apple's iPhone driver.
2. Open Geovo, plug in your iPhone with a cable, unlock it and tap Trust if it asks.
3. Turn on Developer Mode on the iPhone: Settings › Privacy & Security › Developer Mode. The iPhone restarts once. After unlocking, tap Turn On.
4. In Geovo, search for an address or tap anywhere on the map, then click Teleport. Apps on the iPhone now read the new position.
5. To move instead of jump, draw a route and choose walking, cycling or driving speed, or steer with the joystick (arrow keys work too). You can also import a GPX file.
6. When you're done, click Return to Real Location. Your real GPS is back straight away.

On a Mac, Geovo uses Apple Maps, so the map looks like the one on your iPhone. More detail: Geovo on Mac and Geovo on Windows.

Method 3: on the iPhone itself, no cable

Plugging in every time gets old. Geovo can also install its iPhone app for you, signed with your own Apple ID. With the free LocalDevVPN helper from the App Store, the iPhone app talks to the same developer service on the phone, so it keeps working when you unplug, on Wi-Fi or cellular.

The trade-off is Apple's rule for apps installed with a free Apple ID: they're signed for 7 days. When the week is up, plug in and click Renew; your saved places stay put. The full walkthrough is in changing your location without a computer.

Limitations to know before you start

• iOS 17 or later and Developer Mode are required. We have verified Geovo on iOS 26.
• It changes the GPS position apps get from Location Services. It does not change your IP address, time zone, carrier or Wi-Fi network. Websites and services that locate you by IP still see where you really are.
• Some apps can tell a location is simulated. We explain what's detectable in fake GPS on iPhone: what works.
• Features that combine GPS with other signals, such as Find My, may not follow the simulated position consistently. Test on your own devices before relying on it.
• Restarting the iPhone always brings your real location back.

Use it responsibly

Geovo is for adults, for lawful use. Good reasons to change your location include testing an app or website, keeping your real position private from an app, recording a demo, previewing how apps behave in a city you're about to visit, and teaching how location services work. Don't use it to mislead people, to get around rules you've agreed to, or anywhere an app's terms forbid it.

Try it

Geovo is free for 30 minutes every day with every feature. Pro removes the limit, from $3.99 a week or $99.99 once for lifetime. See pricing, or download Geovo and follow the steps above.