Back in 2015 google dropped the change location search filter from search results on grounds that it was getting very little usage. This change impacted users trying to perform a Google search from another location or attempting a search from another location to simulate how users in different areas see the SERPs. This shift also had implications for localization, as users and businesses aiming for region-specific visibility found it more challenging to assess performance accurately.

This filter option can still be found on your chrome browser buried deep in settings, here:

Under advanced search:

You can still narrow your results and find pages published in a particular region. This can be helpful if you want to search Google from another country or even search Google from another city, especially when targeting country-specific search results or checking Google country-specific results. For those who are into Google searching in another country, this buried feature can sometimes still serve a purpose—although limited.

But as a user will you take that pain? How many chrome users are even aware of this feature? A regular joe will not even bother changing these settings to a specific region for two main reasons:

1. It’s hard to locate.
2. It narrows the scope to a specific country searches should focus on. 

So basically the majority of users because of these reasons keep settings default “any region” on their browser. Most don’t bother with Chrome regional settings unless there’s a specific need.

Many SEO professionals previously used to check rankings specific to the region by passing additional parameters “tbs=ctr:countryXX , XX = some country code” and “&cr=countryXX” at the end of search URL, even we at Rankwatch also offered this feature to our customers. 

This technique was useful for those trying to see Google results from another country, or view Google search results from another country, or those wanting to search Google from another location manually.

But this is an obsolete way of rank tracking now since the users keep their settings as “any region” accurate rank tracking can be done only when we follow a similar approach. 

Hence, we have removed this feature completely from any account that has requested it in the past. These new rollouts are complete now in your account and you will now have much more refined and accurate rankings.

This does not mean that you won’t be able to do location-specific tracking in Rankwatch. You can still go as hyperlocal as you wish on Rankwatch when it comes to rank tracking. Even on your search results at the very bottom, you will see that google tracks your location to show you more relevant location-specific results:

But when you take either defining a region on your browser or passing additional URL parameters to narrow down Google search results from another country or use a Google SERP location changer, it is not optimal now. 

Still, if you’re trying to search Google from another location, simulate Google search results from another country, or want to change the view using a Google location changer, there are better ways than browser tweaks. Some users ask, “How do you see Google results from another country?” or “How do you view Google search results from another country?” These questions are best answered using accurate tracking rather than manual settings.

Additionally, queries like “How to see search results in another country?”, “Google chooses a location for search results” and “Google search country-specific” are becoming more common.

One good tip: Include a location in your search to get results for a specific area. That’s still a valid approach when you want quick insights.

However, tools that adapt to real user behavior are essential for robust analysis. Localization is essential to ensure that search results reflect the user’s intent based on their region, especially in today’s digital environment.

By the way, have you ever wondered, “How do we know that the search results in your browser are paid results?” or ” How can we increase the number of search results in Google?” These are other layers of complexity in SEO analysis that often get overlooked when solely focusing on location-based filtering.

If you’re still curious about how to effectively search Google from another country or simulate Google location-based search scenarios, we’re always here to help.

I hope this was helpful, and in case of any queries please feel free to drop a line on chat or email us [email protected]