How To Use A VPN To Change Location
You might have heard your friends talking about it and that may have sparked your interest. Maybe, you could also just be worried about security, either way, changing your location using a VPN has a lot of benefits.
However, in this article we will be talking about how you can change your location while using a VPN.
Changing your location while using a VPN can be done by searching for the region icon on any VPN software and then simply selecting the region you wish to be in. Once you have done this, you will need to restart any applications that you want to use with your new location and you will have to refresh all your browser pages.
In this article, we are going to start off by talking about what a VPN is, how you can use it, the advantages and disadvantages of using a VPN, and some other valuable information. So, for everything that you need to know about changing your location with a VPN, I recommend that you keep reading.
What Is A VPN
“VPN” is the acronym for “virtual private network” and how it works is by masking the information of your internet connection. It basically hides your IP address.
A lot can be done with your IP address. For example, somebody can see your approximate location by using your IP and this is how service providers such as Netflix determine what content you can view.
When using a VPN, not only is your IP address masked but everything you do goes through that virtual private network so it becomes extremely difficult for anybody to know who you are and where you are from via your internet usage.
Do You Need A VPN?
This question is very subjective mainly because it depends on what you are doing. If you are just a regular internet user who likes to use Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest and other websites then I wouldn’t necessarily say that you need a VPN.
If you are concerned about your internet security perhaps because you have sensitive data then I do recommend using a VPN particularly with your cell phone.
When you connect to a public Wi-Fi hotspot, your information becomes easier to trace therefore, if you do connect to a lot of public Wi-Fi hotspot then I recommend the use of VPN.
How To Use A VPN
In this section, we are going to walk you through how to change your location using a VPN. This step-by-step guide will include everything from when you first start up the VPN.
After the step by step guide we will highlight a few talking points. So, here are our 11 steps on how to use a VPN.
- Do your research on which is the best VPN for you.
- Once you have found which VPN you want, download it.
- You will have to sign up at this point and you will have to enter your payment details at this point if it is a good VPN.
- Install the VPN.
- Open the VPN and log in with your credentials.
- There will be an icon that you need to click. This icon is usually on the top right.
- Once you have found and clicked on the right icon, you will get a drop-down menu with all of the locations that are available.
- Select your desired location.
- If you have any pages open in any internet browser, refresh them or close the windows.
- If you have any applications like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video open, restart them.
- Enjoy.
Most VPNs allow you to use your credentials across multiple devices. So, you might want to sign in to the VPN with your mobile phone.
The process is exactly the same. Start off by downloading a VPN to your mobile device, sign in with your credentials, and it should register the device and you will be able to change your location with your mobile as well.
The Best VPN?
The best VPN will depend on you and your needs. You will need to weigh the pros and cons of each however, I can give you a list of three that are in my opinion, the best. These are NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN.
I highly recommend that you check these 3 VPNs out and see which one is best for you. I will say that all three of them do often run specials that can end up saving you a lot of money so that is also something that you need to check out.
Advantages Of Changing Your Location With A VPN
There can be a multitude of advantages to using a VPN especially to change your location. Some of these reasons have to do with security and others have to do with what you are able to do well using a VPN.
That is what we are going to discuss in this section. So, here is a list of advantages of changing a location with a VPN.
- A VPN allows you to watch content that is not available in your country.
- Anonymity
- You can buy plane tickets in different countries. Not many people know this but tickets for the same two flights can differ in cost depending on your location.
- You will have increased security.
- It will make it harder for advertisers to use your data.
- For gaming, some, but not all VPNs can direct your data on the fastest path to the servers. This can drastically decrease latency (ping).
Disadvantages Of Using A VPN
When it comes to almost anything that gives you advantages it will also come with its disadvantages and the same can be said for VPNs.
In this section, we are going to take a look at the disadvantages of using a VPN and just a quick spoiler, it mostly has to do with internet speeds and performance.
- Your internet speed now depends on another factor. This factor is dependent on the stability of the VPN so it is external and generally out of your control.
- Some online banking may be affected while using a VPN.
- Some VPNs can affect the performance of your PC, Mac, or mobile.
Does Changing Your Location Make You Anonymous?
Yes, a VPN does make you somewhat anonymous however, with enough time and money, somebody can still trace and possibly hack you.
With a decent VPN, the amount of money it will cost and the amount of time it will consume for somebody to crack through the VPN security to trace you is rather large. We are talking millions of dollars and years of time.
So I would say that yes, VPNs do make you anonymous because most of us have no reason as to why somebody will go to those lengths to trace us.
This is different when it comes to the authorities, so, if you are doing something that they deem to be a danger to the public, they can bypass the VPN.
Is It Legal To Change Your Location With A VPN?
It is important to remember that the use of a VPN is generally legal almost anywhere in the world. However, whether you are on a VPN or not, doing something that is prohibited by the laws of your state or country is still illegal.
Conclusion
That brings us to the end of this article and my goal was to create a step-by-step guide that is thorough enough so that you don’t have any further questions regarding the topic.
The best use for changing your location is to watch content that is not allowed in your country. Hopefully you found this article helpful.
