How to Spoof in Pokémon Go on Android & iPhone [2024]
Reviewed by Huzaifa Haroon- Spoofing in Pokémon Go involves tricking the game into believing you are in a different real-world location by using a GPS spoofing app and a VPN to hide your IP address.
- People spoof in Pokémon Go to overcome geographic restrictions, complete distance-specific tasks, and make the game accessible for individuals unable to move around easily.
- To spoof successfully, one must root or jailbreak their device, use a reliable VPN and spoofing app, and follow best practices like avoiding rapid location changes and aligning activities with local times.
Launched in 2016, Pokémon Go is an interesting mobile game that allows you to catch and raise different Pokémon. Once the creatures are big enough, you can battle them with other players. But here’s the catch – Pokémon are hidden in real-world locations.
So, while some players will find more and better Pokémon in their area, others won’t. If you found this a bit unfair, know that we did too.
This is why we created this detailed step-by-step guide on spoofing in Pokémon Go. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
What is Spoofing in Pokémon Go?
The word Spoofing means tricking someone. In the world of Pokémon Go, it means to trick your device’s GPS into thinking that it’s somewhere else.
When your device is tricked, the game’s map automatically changes and shows location-specific creatures. You can collect all kinds of Pokémon and raid gyms without having to step out of your house.
However, you must use a GPS spoofing app and a reputable VPN service. This is because Pokémon Go uses your IP address to track your location and display Pokémon. So, once you have spoofed your device location, you need a VPN to hide the IP address.
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Why Should You Spoof in Pokémon Go?
Spoofing in Pokémon Go became a popular concept during the pandemic when people couldn’t get out of their houses to collect more Pokémon. However, the concept of changing locations has existed since the start of the game. Here’s why:
- Niantic is biased towards urban areas.
Although the game has developed a lot, Niantic (the game developer) still favors more populated areas. You will find more Pokestops and Gyms in a city than in a rural area. This makes it harder for players in rural places to enjoy the game. - Regional Pokemons exist.
Some of the rarest and the best Pokémon stay in a specific country. You can’t catch them until you travel to that place or the Pokémon migrate due to an ongoing event.
- Complete distance-specific tasks.
Besides collecting Pokémon, the game also assigns you daily challenges like walking a specific distance and finding a certain Pokémon. These challenges help earn rewards and level up. Spoofing can be useful if you can’t go out to complete them.
- Injured and disabled people should be able to play too.
Pokémon Go requires you to move around and walk certain distances to progress in the game. This is a huge obstacle for disabled and injured Pokémon fans. Spoofing gives them a chance to play the game just like others.
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Pre-requisites of Spoofing in Pokémon Go
Both iPhone and Android users are eligible for spoofing in Pokémon Go. However, you will first need to arrange the following things:
- GPS Spoofing App
Also called a GPS spoofer, this app alters the location data transmitted by a device. You can use it to fake the GPS coordinates of your mobile phone. - Paid VPN Service
A Virtual Private Network service encrypts internet traffic and routes it through a secure server, masking the user’s IP address. You will find both free and paid versions of VPN services. We recommend a paid one because of its better security, reliability, and speed. - Rooted or Jailbroken Device
Spoofing in Pokémon Go will require you to either root an Android device or jailbreak an iPhone. Both of these processes do the same thing – that is remove manufacturer limitations. But, since they are beyond the scope of this guide, we will not be diving into their details.
How to mod your phone is beyond the scope of this article and due to it being a legal grey area. Use our latest guides on Android rooting and Jailbreaking iOS to learn more. But beware that this area of modding is not something you should tread lightly on.
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How to Spoof Pokémon Go on Android?
Before you begin, make sure you have downloaded a paid VPN service and a GPS spoofing app from the Google Play Store. Follow these steps to spoof Pokémon Go:
- Open Settings and go to System.
- Tap on Developer Options.
- Tap on Select Mock Locations App.
If you haven’t enabled Developer Options before, you must follow this alternate route:
Open Settings> Go to About Phone > Tap 7 times on Build Number > Go back and tap on Developer Options > Tap on Select Mock Location App or Allow Mock Locations.
Certain Samsung and Vivo phones will have a slightly different method. For example, the Build Number will be present in the Software Information section and not About Phone. Or the Build Number will be written as Software Version.
We recommend you search Enabling Developer Mode on (Phone Name) on YouTube if you can’t find it in your mobile settings.
Once you’ve selected the Mock Location App, you must root your Android device and install the Mock Mock Locations masking module from the internet. This will ensure the GPS spoofing app and Developer Mode stays hidden from the game.
Once done, head over to the installed VPN service and connect your server to the desired location. Choose the same place on your GPS spoofing app and open Pokémon Go.
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How to Spoof Pokémon Go on iPhone?
Spoofing Pokémon Go on iPhone is a bit more complicated than Android. This is because Apple has strict measures to prevent jailbreaking. So, you might end up bricking your iPhone.
Follow these steps for successful and safe spoofing on iPhone:
Jailbreak your iPhone.
Download Palerna1n on Mac NOTE: Jailbreaking requires a dedicated app like palera1n and a desktop. You will also need a masking app to hide the jailbroken status of your device. If that’s something completely new to you, we recommend reading our detailed guide for jailbreaking your iOS 16.Install a GPS spoofing app from the App Store.
Install iPogo on Mac
After this, make sure both the masking app and GPS spoofing app are enabled. Connect your VPN server to the location you want. Now, select the same coordinates on the GPS spoofer and open Pokémon Go.
Please note that Pokémon Go identifies jailbroken iPhones instantly so you must have a masking app running.
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3 Tips for Successful Spoofing in Pokémon Go
Jailbreaking or rooting your device is the best way to spoof in Pokémon Go and avoid receiving strikes. However, you must also follow these tips to ensure things stay the way they are:
- Don’t change too many locations at once.
Since you can only collect a Pokémon when you travel to its location, don’t teleport from one place to another quickly. If it takes 10 minutes to reach a specific neighborhood in real time, wait for 10 minutes and then change your location. - Take care of the local times.
Niantic monitors the activity of players. So, if you spoof into a location in the middle of the night and start collecting Pokémon or doing raids, the game will detect unusual activity and might issue a strike. - It’s better to restart your device after spoofing.
This safety measure will ensure no other GPS-based app in your device reports your location and triggers a problem. Once done spoofing, restart the device and then start a new spoofing session.
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Conclusion
Spoofing in Pokémon Go is a simple process if you follow the steps carefully. Many players use it to collect unique Pokémon and progress the game. However, remember that GPS spoofing apps on their own do no good.
The game will immediately detect the real location of your device and issue a strike. It’s best to root or jailbreak the system, install a paid VPN, and then run a GPS spoofer. Good luck!
FAQs
Yes, Niantic can detect spoofing if it is not masked properly. Don’t use GPS spoofers on their own. Instead, root or jailbreak your phone and pair the GPS spoofing app with a reliable VPS service. This ensures your location is 100% hidden.
Pokemon Go issues a strike (also called a soft ban) for spoofing in Pokemon Go. The first 2 strikes will suspend your account for some hours or days. However, the third strike will delete your account permanently.
There are a plethora of spoofing apps that work with Pokemon Go. But the best ones on the market include Fake GPS Location, iOS Roaming Guide, and iPogo.
Reviewed by Huzaifa Haroon
