There can be several reasons why Google might show your old location instead of your current one. One possibility is that Google’s location services are still using the Wi-Fi hotspot information from your previous address. When you move to a new location, it takes some time for Google to update and recognize your new Wi-Fi network.
When you connect your phone to a Wi-Fi network, Google uses a feature called Wi-Fi positioning or Wi-Fi-based location to determine your approximate location. This feature relies on a database of Wi-Fi access points and their known locations. So, if your old Wi-Fi network information is still associated with your previous address in Google’s database, it might incorrectly show your old location.
To understand why this happens, let me explain how Wi-Fi positioning works. When you connect to a Wi-Fi network, your phone sends a unique identifier called a MAC address to the network’s router. This MAC address can be used to identify specific access points and their locations. Google’s servers collect this MAC address information from millions of devices and use it to build a database of Wi-Fi networks and their corresponding locations.
Now, when you move to a new location, you may bring your router with you. Since your router has a unique MAC address, Google’s servers might still associate it with your old address until it updates its database. This means that when you connect to your Wi-Fi network at your new house, Google’s location services might still think you are at your old location based on the MAC address information.
It’s important to note that this issue is temporary and should resolve itself over time. Google periodically updates its database with new Wi-Fi network information, including changes in location. So, as more people connect to your Wi-Fi network at your new address, Google will eventually recognize the association between your router’s MAC address and your current location. Once this happens, Google’s location services will accurately show your new location.
In the meantime, if you need more accurate location information, you can try a few things. First, you can try turning off Wi-Fi on your phone and relying solely on GPS for location. This will ensure that your location is determined solely by satellite signals and not Wi-Fi data.
Another option is to reset your network settings on your phone. This will clear out any cached Wi-Fi network information and force your phone to reacquire new Wi-Fi network data. However, keep in mind that this will also remove any saved Wi-Fi networks and you’ll have to reconnect to them manually.
Lastly, you can try contacting Google’s support team and provide them with the details of your situation. They might be able to assist you in updating their database or offer further advice on resolving the issue.
Google showing your old location instead of your current one can be attributed to the time it takes for their database to update with new Wi-Fi network information. While it may be inconvenient, this issue should resolve itself over time as more people connect to your Wi-Fi network at your new location. In the meantime, you can try using GPS for more accurate location or resetting your network settings on your phone.