How to find out what city and state you are in
The page answers in two steps. First it shows the city linked to your internet connection, without asking you for anything. When you then tap “Show my exact location”, it uses your device's position and looks up on the map which city, county and state that point belongs to. The second answer is the one that counts if you are near a boundary or the first one doesn't match what you see around you.
What county am I in?
In most of the United States, once you share your exact location the list shows your county on its own line, between the city and the state. This matters more than it seems: a city can spread over several counties (New York City covers five), and an address outside city limits belongs to a county but to no city at all. In that case the page shows the nearest named place on the map, or the county if there is none. The county page shows it as the main answer.
What time zone am I in?
On this page and on my current location, the list also shows your device's time zone, for example America/Chicago or Asia/Kolkata. It is read from your phone or computer's clock settings, not calculated from the map, so it is right as long as your device sets the time zone automatically. If you have just crossed a time zone line, check that automatic time zone is turned on in your device settings, or open what time zone am I in, which also checks the zone of your exact position.
What the levels are called in different countries
| Country | Local level | Middle level | Top level |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | City or town | County (parish in Louisiana, borough in Alaska) | State |
| India | City, town or village | District, then tehsil or taluk | State or union territory |
| United Kingdom | Town or city | County or borough | England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland |
| Canada | Municipality | County or regional municipality | Province or territory |
| Australia | Suburb or town | Local council | State or territory |
| Philippines | Barangay | City or municipality | Province, within a region |
Why the city may be wrong
- Mobile data. Your carrier's IP addresses are often registered in a big city far away. This is the most common reason.
- VPN or proxy. You see the city of the server you are connected through.
- Metro areas. Where towns have grown together, the map assigns the point to the city it officially belongs to, even if everyone uses the big city's name. Beverly Hills, for example, is its own city even though Los Angeles surrounds it.
- Low accuracy. With an error of several hundred meters near a boundary, the result can land on the other side. Update outdoors.
When this is useful
- On a road trip, to know which town, county or state you have just entered.
- When filling in a form that asks for your city or county.
- To check which city websites see when you browse on your usual connection.
- To call for help and name the place correctly.
Need the street as well? See what is my address. For the postal code, see what is my ZIP or PIN code.
Questions about your city, county and state
How do I find out what city I'm in?
When it opens, the page shows the city linked to your internet connection. To confirm it, tap “Show my exact location”: using GPS, the page names your city, county, state and country.
What county am I in?
Allow location access and look at the list under the map: in the United States the county appears on its own line, next to the city and the state. The county page shows it as the main answer.
Why does it show a different city than mine?
The first answer is based on your IP address, which providers often register where their equipment is. With your exact location, the result matches the place where you really are.
What time zone am I in?
The list shows your device's time zone, such as America/New York or Asia/Kolkata. It comes from your device's clock settings, so it is correct when automatic time zone is on.
Does it work outside cities?
Yes. In the countryside or on a highway you see the nearest named place on the map and, in any case, the county or district, the state and the country.