How to Change your Location on a Samsung Galaxy S8

Samsung Galaxy S8 has been around since mid-2017. It was the renowned Android manufacturer’s flagship device at the time and is still a favorite of many users.

If you have a Samsung S8, you might wonder if it’s possible to change its current location. If you use it to travel, the location change will occur automatically, provided your roaming is set up.

However, there are ways to change the location of your Samsung S8 without having to leave your city or the country. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about how to manage location settings on your Samsung devices.

How to Change your IP Address and Location on a Samsung S8

The first thing to know, every time you switch from Wi-Fi to the mobile network, your IP changes. Also, as mobile networks are dynamic, you’re probably assigned a different IP every time you turn on and off the Airplane Mode on your phone.

The issue is that none of these tactics will have an impact when it comes to geography. If you really want to change your IP address location, you’ll need to use a VPN service.

Using a VPN to Change IP Address on Samsung S8

If you want to access websites and apps that your location bans, you’ll need a reliable Virtual Private Network (VPN.)

There are free options available as a plugin for mobile browsers and free apps, but these rarely work as advertised.

For full service, you can try ExpressVPN. It will keep your identity secure, features government-grade encryption, plus it’s super-fast. Here’s how to install and use ExpressVPN on your Samsung S8:

1. Go to the Google Play store and download ExpressVPN on your Samsung S8.
   
2. Create an account and follow the in-app setup instructions. It won’t take too long.
3. Launch the ExpressVPN app on your Samsung S8 and connect to the preferred location.
   

Once your ExpressVPN is connected, you’ll appear to be in a different location and region than you are actually in. You can launch your mobile browser and access websites you previously couldn’t.

How to Change a MAC Address on a Samsung Galaxy S8

Your Samsung S8 has a unique identifier called Media Access Control address, or MAC address. It’s assigned to Network Interface Controller (NIC), and its primary purpose is to identify your device on a local network.

Typically, the manufacturer (in our case, Samsung) has burned in the MAC address to your device. When it comes to MAC addresses, the VPN is of no use. A VPN service would need to hide your MAC address from your router, and that’s just not possible.

Even if it were possible to hide your MAX address from the router, you wouldn’t get access to the internet without it. So, is there any way to spoof your MAC address? There is, but it requires a little more effort.

Changing the MAC Address With Root Access

Rooting your phone is a somewhat complicated process. The first step you need to take is to check your phone’s root status.

To do that, download the Root Checker app from the Google Play store. Run the app. If your device has root access, it will say “Rooted.”

Once it’s rooted, you’ll need to download the BusyBox app, also from the Google Play store. This app will allow you to control some specific functions of your Samsung S8 phone. Make sure to follow in-app instructions on how to set up BusyBox.

Finally, you’ll need a Terminal Emulator for Android. This app, too, is available at the Google Play store. If you have previous experience using Terminal commands on a PC, this process will be much easier for you. Now, to change the MAC address on your device, follow these steps:

1. Launch the Terminal Emulator on Samsung S8.
2. Type “su” and tap “Enter. “
3. Then, enter “busybox iplink show name of your network” and tap “Enter.” You will be able to see your current MAC address.
4. Now, type “busybox ifconfig name of your network hw ether” and write in your new MAC address in the standard 12-character format. It is crucial to keep the first three sequences of MAC address the same as it directly reflects your device’s hardware. The final three sequences are for you to choose.
5. Again, use “busybox iplink show name of your network” to confirm the change.

How to Change your GPS Location Settings on a Galaxy S8

If the reason you want to change your location is to avoid being tracked, you can benefit from using one of many mock location apps available for Android devices. By installing an app like this, your location cannot be pinpointed by satellite technology. Check out our guide on how to spoof your location on an Android

How to Change your Country/Region on a Galaxy S8

If changing your location with a VPN didn’t work, you might try the instructions below

If you want to download an app that isn’t available in your region, it simply won’t show in the store. Even if you try searching for it via browser, there won’t be an “Install” button available.

However, even if you travel in a country where a specific app is available, you’ll still need to change the country/region settings to see it.

Plus, you will need to change the payment method compatible with the country in which you’re currently residing. Here’s how it works:

1. Launch the Google Play store app on your Samsung S8.
2. Go to your profile in the top right corner of the screen.
   
3. Then go to “Settings,” followed by “General.”
   
4. Now, tap “Account and device preferences” and “Country and profiles.”
   
5. Update the payment method. It needs to be from the country in which you currently are in. After that, you are permitted to add other payment processing methods from another country.
   

These steps will create a different Google Payment profile associated with the current country. These settings will be automatically updated, but it will take approximately 24 hours.

Important: You can only make this change every 12 months. If you adjust the Google Play locations today, it will be another year before you can change it back.

How to Turn your Location On or Off on a Samsung S8

Your Samsung devices rely on a combination of GPS, Wi-Fi, and mobile networks to know your exact location. This technology allows users to use Google Maps and other location-based apps. Your location also determines which apps will be available for download in the Google Play store.

However, you are not required to have your location on while using Samsung S8 or any Android phone. Most functions will still be available, but Google searches won’t rely on your location, and some apps will have limited performance. To turn on and off the location on your Samsung S8, here’s what you need to do:

1. Unlock your phone and swipe down the notification panel.
   
2. Find the location icon and tap to activate or deactivate.
   
3. Alternatively, you can go to “Settings” and then “Connections” followed by “Location.”
   

Keeping Your Location in Check

Some people have accepted the idea that our location is tracked every day and that maintaining online privacy is basically a myth at this point.

However, there are still measures you can take to protect yourself. Using a trustworthy VPN service hardly has any downsides and will allow you to access websites and apps you otherwise couldn’t.

VPN doesn’t help when it comes to MAC addresses, but you can still spoof it with a bit of help from Android apps. Finally, if you’re going to be abroad for at least a year, changing the Google Play store country settings and payment method will likely be quite beneficial.

As a flagship phone, Samsung S8 will handle all these changes well.

What would be your preferred method of changing the location on the Samsung S8? Let us know in the comments section below.