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dineshmandotia's avatar
dineshmandotia
Copper Contributor
Sep 02, 2026

Windows suddenly thinks I am in Indonesia rather than in Punjab, India

Hi,

Since September 1 around 5 PM, my Windows laptop has suddenly started detecting my location as Indonesia, even though I am in Punjab, India.

At the same time, my time zone automatically changed from UTC+05:30 (India) to UTC+07:00 (Bangkok/Hanoi/Jakarta).

Google Maps and Microsoft Find My Device are also showing a location in North Sumatra, Indonesia.

I have already restarted the laptop, checked Location Services and automatic time zone settings, and even tested the laptop using my phone's mobile hotspot. The problem remains the same.

And I am not willing to reset my pc or fresh windows reinstallation.

I am not using a VPN or proxy. My internet IP is also being identified as being in India.

Has anyone experienced Windows suddenly detecting the wrong country like this? I would like to find out what is causing the incorrect location rather than resetting or reinstalling Windows.

Thanks.

4 Replies

  • Because Windows, Google Maps, and Find My Device all show the same wrong country, this is unlikely to be caused by the Windows time-zone setting alone. Windows location can use nearby Wi-Fi access points, IP address, GPS, and other radio signals, so an incorrect Wi-Fi geolocation record can affect several services even when the public IP looks correct. As a temporary safeguard, set the time zone manually to India Standard Time so scheduled tasks and timestamps remain correct. Then confirm Location services is enabled, set Punjab as the Windows default location, and test once on a different Wi-Fi network and once with Wi-Fi disabled if possible. Do not reset or reinstall Windows; neither action corrects a third-party wireless-location database. Record the affected Wi-Fi network, approximate time, screenshots, and results from both services. If the issue continues across networks, submit the evidence through Microsoft support and the mapping-service feedback channels

  • dineshmandotia's avatar
    dineshmandotia
    Copper Contributor

    Nothing really worked for me, my Ip is showing my location as Ludhiana, Punjab but google maps is showing me in Hanoi, Jakarta

  • Feliox's avatar
    Feliox
    Copper Contributor

    The "Country or region" setting in Windows controls the local content and services you see, like in the Microsoft Store .