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How To Use a Pokémon GO VPN to Change Location Anytime

Hey there! Have you ever wanted to catch region-exclusive Pokémon or play Pokémon GO anywhere in the world? Using a virtual private network (VPN) allows you to change your location in Pokémon GO and unlock some pretty cool perks.

But modifying your GPS location does come with some risks. In this guide, I‘ll walk you through everything you need to know about playing Pokémon GO with a VPN. I‘ll be sure to cover:

  • How location spoofing works
  • The pros and cons of using a VPN with Pokémon GO
  • Steps to change your location on Android and iPhone
  • How to stay safe and avoid getting banned

Let‘s dive in!

Does Pokémon GO Really Ban VPN Users?

Before we get started, you may be wondering: will I get banned for using a VPN with Pokémon GO? What about location spoofing?

The truth is Niantic does ban some players for cheating, but the chances are fairly low. Here are some quick stats:

  • Only around 1% of Pokémon GO players report receiving a ban.
  • Over 145 million people have downloaded Pokémon GO worldwide.
  • Less than 50% of bans are permanent – most are temporary softbans.

So while changing your location is against the official rules, the outright ban rate is low. You mainly risk warnings and softbans if you take sensible precautions (which I‘ll cover soon!)

Okay, now that‘s out of the way, let‘s look at how location spoofing works…

How Does Pokémon GO Location Spoofing Work?

Pokémon GO tracks your real-world location using GPS on your mobile device. This allows you to find and catch Pokémon near your current location.

To spoof your location, you need to trick the game into thinking you‘re somewhere that you‘re not. There are a couple of methods to achieve this:

Using a VPN and Spoofing App

This method involves using a VPN to mask your real IP address, then spoofing your GPS coordinates with a mock locations app:

  1. Connect to a VPN server in your desired location.

  2. The VPN assigns you an IP address from that location.

  3. A mock locations app fakes your device‘s GPS coordinates to match the VPN server.

  4. Pokémon GO reads the spoofed GPS data and thinks you‘re in your preset location!

Jailbroken iPhone with Spoofing Apps

For iOS devices, you can use tweaked location spoofing apps on a jailbroken iPhone to directly manipulate your GPS data without a VPN:

  1. Jailbreak your iPhone which removes Apple restrictions on third-party apps.

  2. Download a GPS spoofing app from the Cydia third-party app store.

  3. The spoofing app directly hijacks your iPhone‘s GPS to fake your coordinates within Pokémon GO.

Now that you understand how location spoofing works at a high level, let‘s go over why you may want to use a VPN with Pokémon GO in the first place.

Why Use a VPN for Pokémon GO? The Pros vs Cons

Using a VPN with Pokémon GO has some great benefits, but also comes with risks if you don‘t use it responsibly.

Pros of Using a VPN with Pokémon GO

Bypass Geographic Blocks: Pokémon GO is not playable in China, Turkey, Indonesia and a few other countries. A VPN lets you bypass these restrictive blocks.

Enhanced Gaming Experience: Connecting to VPN servers near your location reduces lag by connecting you to nearby Pokémon GO servers. This is great when traveling abroad.

Improved Privacy: Pokémon GO gathers a lot of personal data which raises privacy concerns. A VPN keeps your data secure.

Catch Region-Exclusive Pokémon: Using a VPN to change locations lets you catch Pokémon limited to specific regions, like Tauros, Kangaskhan and Mr. Mime.

Access More Pokéstops and Gyms: You can teleport around the world to easily spin new Pokéstops and participate in remote Gyms using a VPN.

Cons of Using a VPN with Pokémon GO

Getting Banned: Spoofing your location does break Pokémon GO‘s rules. While rare, you risk getting banned if detected, especially if abusing teleportation.

Apps Required: You need to install additional apps to mock your GPS location. For iPhone, you have to jailbreak the device which comes with security tradeoffs.

Complex Setup: Configuring your VPN and GPS spoofing requires changing technical settings. The process can be complicated for casual users.

Ruins Augmented Reality: Teleporting around ruins the real-world augmented reality of tracking down Pokémon in your actual surroundings and neighborhoods.

So in summary, using a VPN opens up some cool benefits like catching rare Pokémon, but also requires modding your device and risks punishment if caught.

Okay, now let‘s jump into step-by-step instructions on how to change your location using a VPN…

How to Change Your Pokémon GO Location on Android and iPhone

The process to change your location in Pokémon GO requires setting up a VPN and spoofing your GPS coordinates. Let‘s go through it for both Android and iPhone.

Steps to Spoof Location on Android

Follow these steps to start catching Pokémon anywhere on Android:

  1. Install a paid VPN app like ExpressVPN or NordVPN (avoid free VPNs!).

  2. Connect to a VPN server located in your desired Pokémon GO gameplay region.

  3. Check that your VPN successfully changed your IP address by Googling "what is my IP".

  4. Download a GPS spoofing app like Mock Locations (Fake GPS) from the Google Play Store.

  5. In the spoofing app, search for your desired map coordinates and click the location dot to set the fake GPS position.

  6. Go into your Android Settings > Developer Options and enable "Mock Locations".

  7. Select the mock locations app to activate the GPS spoofing.

  8. Start Pokémon GO and you‘ll now be catching Pokémon in your faked location!

  9. Disable mock locations after playing to avoid getting detected.

Steps to Spoof Location on iPhone

It‘s a bit more tricky on iOS since you first need to jailbreak your iPhone:

  1. Jailbreak your iPhone using a tool like unc0ver or checkra1n. This removes Apple‘s app restrictions.

  2. Download a VPN app like ExpressVPN from the Cydia third-party app store.

  3. Connect to a VPN server in your target region and check it worked using "what is my IP".

  4. Download a GPS spoofing app like LocationFaker from the Cydia store.

  5. Enter your desired coordinates in LocationFaker and tap the dot to set the fake GPS position.

  6. Open Pokémon GO and you should now be catching Pokémon in your spoofed location.

7.Disable location spoofing when done playing to avoid getting caught cheating.

The main annoyance here is you have to jailbreak your iPhone. Jailbreaking is complex and voids your warranty. But if willing to mod your device, you get way more spoofing freedom on iOS.

Okay, you know how location spoofing works and how to set it up. Now let‘s go over some tips to avoid getting banned…

4 Tips to Avoid Getting Banned for Location Spoofing

Here are some tips to help avoid getting banned while spoofing your location in Pokémon GO:

1. Don‘t Teleport Long Distances

Only mock movements within a realistic radius. Jumping from New York to Tokyo instantly will look suspicious and get you banned.

2. Cool Down Between Locations

Wait at least 2 hours before teleporting to another part of the world. This makes your movements seem more human.

3. Avoid Running Automated Bots

Bots that auto-walk and grind PokéStops/eggs for you 24/7 are highly likely to trigger anti-cheat detection.

4. Use Your Main Account Carefully

Spoof cautiously on your main account with rare Pokémon to avoid losing it. Consider creating a secondary account just for spoofing.

In general, try to simulate realistic gameplay as if you were moving around normally. You want to be a "casual spoofer" that‘s hard for Niantic to distinguish from a real user.

Okay, let‘s now get into the best VPNs to use for location spoofing in Pokémon GO.

Top VPNs for Pokémon GO Spoofing

To avoid getting detected while spoofing, it’s important to use a reputable VPN app. Here are the top VPNs I recommend for Pokémon GO:

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for spoofing in Pokémon GO thanks to its fast speeds, reliable connections, and easy-to-use apps. It offers 3,000+ VPN servers covering 160 locations worldwide, giving you tons of spoofing options.

NordVPN

NordVPN is another excellent choice with 5,500+ servers across 60 countries. I really like its built-in GPS spoofing tool that lets you manually set custom coordinates from within the app.

Surfshark

Surfshark is a great budget VPN that still delivers good speeds and security. One cool feature is Surfshark has a multihop mode that routes your traffic through multiple servers, making your spoofing activities harder for Niantic to trace.

Windscribe

If you just want to try out spoofing, Windscribe is a decent free option. The free plan has limited data and server locations, but gives you a taste of VPN location spoofing at no cost.

Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access makes it easy to find servers at your desired GPS coordinates. Just enter the lat/long into their server search and you’ll get VPN options close to your target location.

No matter which VPN you pick, make sure to connect to local servers nearest your spoofed Pokémon GO coordinates for the fastest gameplay experience.

Okay, lastly I wanted to quickly answer some common questions players have about using a VPN with Pokémon GO.

Pokémon GO VPN FAQ

Let‘s wrap things up by going over some frequently asked questions:

Can I get free PokéCoins using a VPN?

Unfortunately no, PokéCoins are tied to your account, not your location. The only ways to earn free PokéCoins are defending gyms, specific research tasks, and level-ups.

Do I need a VPN when traveling abroad?

A VPN isn‘t strictly necessary but helps overcome geo-blocks in certain countries. Connecting to local VPN servers also reduces lag by routing your game traffic through faster nearby servers.

Can I get banned for using only a VPN without spoofing?

No, you cannot get banned just for using a VPN with Pokémon GO. VPNs are perfectly allowed. You will only risk a ban if combining a VPN with spoofing techniques to falsify your location.

What is the best free VPN for Pokémon GO?

The best free VPN for basic Pokémon GO use is probably ProtonVPN or Windscribe. However, free VPNs are not ideal for spoofing since they have limited features, slower speeds, and smaller server networks.

Can I use a VPN to create multiple Pokémon GO accounts?

Unfortunately no, Pokémon GO checks hardware device identifiers which means you can‘t use a VPN alone to multi-account. But you CAN create multiple accounts with VPN spoofing by factory resetting your device or using multiple devices.

Alright, I think that covers all the key points! Let‘s wrap this up…

The Bottom Line

And there you have it! While spoofing your location using a VPN does carry risks, the ban rate remains quite low if you take sensible precautions.

A VPN can open up some really cool ways to play Pokémon GO anywhere in the world and catch hard-to-find Pokémon. Just be responsible by spoofing locally, taking breaks between locations, and avoiding 24/7 botting.

I hope this guide gave you all the information you need to make smart decisions about using a VPN with Pokémon GO. Now get out there, spoof safely, and catch ‘em all, my friend!

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Streamr Go

StreamrGo is always about privacy, specifically protecting your privacy online by increasing security and better standard privacy practices.