How to Change Your Location on Hinge in 2024?
Unlike most other dating apps, Hinge does not update your location automatically when you travel abroad. That is because it does not use GPS data. Instead, Hinge lets you change location in a few easy steps and as many times as you want.
The positive side of Hinge is that you don’t necessarily need a VPN to change location. Still, there are many reasons why you should always use a VPN when changing countries on Hinge. It will not only protect your personal information but will also let you access the app in countries where it’s blocked, such as China, the UAE, and Pakistan.
This article will teach you how to safely change your location on Hinge on different devices, why you should use a VPN with Hinge, the best VPNs for Hinge, and more.
How to Change Location on Hinge with a VPN
To change location on Hinge with a VPN, connect to a VPN server in the country of your choice. This will unblock the app (if it is blocked in your country), open up new matches, and protect your privacy. Follow these steps:
- Sign up for a VPN that works with Hinge (we recommend ExpressVPN).
- Download and install the VPN app on your iOS or Android device.
- Open the app and log in using your credentials.
- Connect to a VPN server based on the location of your choice.
- Open Hinge and go to Settings > Edit > Vitals.
- Input a new location matching the location of the chosen VPN server.
Why Do You Need a VPN to Change Your Location on Hinge?
You need a VPN to change location on Hinge to protect and secure your personal information. This will prevent third-party advertisers from bombarding you with ads. Also, it will keep you safe from malicious actors who aim to misuse your private data.
If you are wondering, Hinge collects a lot of user data like IP addresses, network connection data, and device IDs. On top of that, Hinge officially mentions that it can share information with advertising partners.
When it comes to changing location on Hinge, a VPN is not necessarily needed because the dating app allows users to choose any country they prefer. That’s because Hinge positions itself as a long-term dating app, making it easy for users to form long-distance relationships.
However, there are many reasons why you should use a VPN with Hinge. Here are a few of them:
- Location spoofing: By spoofing your location, you can download and use Hinge in countries where it is blocked (such as Pakistan, the UAE, and China).
- Hide your browsing activity: A VPN will let you hide your dating activities from your ISP, the government, hackers, and private investigators.
- Hide your IP address: If you prefer being anonymous on dating apps, using an alias may not be enough. You will also want to hide your IP address, and a VPN will let you accomplish this with ease.
- Bypass bandwidth throttling: Sometimes, ISPs throttle connections when they detect high-bandwidth activities like video calling. A VPN lets you bypass such restrictions.
- Connect safely to public Wi-Fi: Public Wi-Fi is often a sweet spot for hackers looking for their next victim. The best VPNs for dating sites use unbreakable 256-bit AES encryption to keep your data safe from hackers.
The Best VPNs for Hinge
The best VPN to change location on Hinge is ExpressVPN, simply because it offers a large collection of server countries to choose from. On top of that, it has top-notch military-grade encryption that prevents your data from getting misused.
Let’s take a look at our best VPNs for dating sites and apps like Hinge.
- ExpressVPN - The Best VPN for Hinge: This VPN is our top recommendation because it can unblock all dating sites, including Hinge. It comes with 256-bit AES encryption, practically impossible to break. Once your information gets encrypted, nobody will be able to misuse it. Furthermore, ExpressVPN gives you additional benefits like obfuscated servers, a no-logs policy, and 3,000+ servers.
- NordVPN - Advanced Security Features for Hinge: NordVPN is our second-most preferred VPN to set location on Hinge because it has advanced security features like double-hop, adding an additional layer of protection on dating apps. It does not store logs and uses 256-bit AES encryption, which is considered military-grade. Also, NordVPN has a no-logs policy, 5,800+ servers, and obfuscation.
- CyberGhost VPN - Widespread Location Options for Hinge Users: It is a slightly more affordable option, yet it checks all the boxes of a capable VPN. It has 9,000+ servers in 90+ countries, more than enough for dating apps like Hinge and Tinder. CyberGhost also offers split tunneling, meaning you can set it for use on Hinge only and use your regular open connection on other apps.
How Does Hinge Location Work?
Hinge does not track your location in real-time, unlike Tinder, which uses GPS data to approximate the location. That is because Hinge is not focused on short-term hookups or situations; rather, it enables long-term and long-distance relationships.
However, let’s not forget that Hinge is still quite invasive when it comes to collecting other forms of user data. For example, it collects and logs your IP address. So, if you are connected using your actual IP address, Hinge indirectly has your location data.
Here is a list of information that Hinge collects about you:
- Your device ID and its type;
- Browser version and language;
- Your timezone;
- Your IP address;
- Your smartphone’s operating system;
- Device identifiers with cookies;
- Network connection information.
On top of that, it also logs your personal data and collects information about your device. All of this valuable data can be used by third-party advertisers. In the worst-case scenario, a hacker or a private investigator can unlawfully gain access to this data.
How to Change Location on Hinge on Your Device
Whether you use an iOS or Android device, the process of changing your location on Hinge requires you to download a VPN, connect to a server, and then change to a new location manually. Here are our step-by-step guides for iPhone (iOS) and Android phones.
Change Your Hinge Location on iOS
- Get a VPN that can unblock Hinge (we recommend ExpressVPN).
- Download the VPN app, open it, and log in to your account.
- Connect to a location/country of your choice.
- Launch the Hinge app and go to its settings.
- Tap the pencil symbol next to your profile name.
- Tap on ‘Edit’ and then choose ‘Vitals.’
- Tap the toggle button next to your current location.
- Insert your new country (matching your VPN). That’s it!
Change Your Hinge Location on Android
- Get a VPN that works with Hinge (we recommend ExpressVPN)
- Download the VPN app and log in to your account.
- Pick any VPN server location and connect.
- Open the Play Store and download Hinge.
- Launch Hinge and go to its settings.
- Tap the pencil symbol, click on Edit, and then tap on Vitals.
- Enter your new country (match your VPN location).
- Toggle “Visible on Profile” if you want others to see your location.
Can You Change Your Location on Hinge with a Free VPN?
Yes, if you’re in a country where Hinge is blocked, you can change location with a free VPN service. However, using a free VPN is not recommended at all. That is because free VPNs usually make money by selling user information and data to third-party advertisers.
Another issue with free VPNs is that of low speeds and data caps, which can hinder your communication on dating apps and ruin your experience. Let’s not forget that such free services can be quite shady and infect your device with malware.
On top of that, free VPNs don’t use the best encryption and secure protocols. This increases your chances of being attacked. On the other spectrum, we have premium VPNs. The best VPN services to update location on Hinge use AES-256-bit encryption, at the very least, and feature new protocols like WireGuard, keeping you safe on Hinge.
Final Thoughts
Since Hinge doesn’t use GPS data, it won’t update your location when traveling to a new country. Instead, you can change the location on Hinge manually in your profile settings while connected to a VPN. We also suggest using a VPN with Hinge for privacy reasons because the dating app mentions in its privacy policy that it may share data with advertising partners.
That said, ExpressVPN is our top recommendation, as it has military-grade encryption and can easily change your location on Hinge while protecting you against tracking and aggressive data logging.
We hope that you enjoyed reading this article and learned how to change location on Hinge. If you have any comments, feel free to write them below.