Setup and troubleshooting.
Install the APK, complete Android’s mock location setup, and check what your phone reports before using another app.
Set up Android.
The app can open settings for you, but Android requires you to approve the final choices.
Install the latest APK
Download the APK from the Android page. Open it on your phone and allow that browser or file manager to install apps when Android asks.
Choose and save a place
Search for a place name or address, or move the map beneath the center marker. Use pinch gestures or the + and − controls. Save the place and select it from your list.
Enable Developer options
If setup reports that Developer options are off, tap Open About phone. Find Build number and tap it seven times. On some phones it is under Software information. Enter your device passcode if Android asks.
Select Pin Shift
Return to Pin Shift and tap Select mock location app. In Developer options, tap Select mock location app and choose Pin Shift. Some devices can highlight this setting; others require you to find it manually.
Start simulation
Return to Pin Shift, select your saved place, and tap Start selected place. Allow location permission when requested. Wait for the service to report that simulation has started.
Check, test, and stop
Use the in-app location check to compare GPS and Google-reported coordinates with your saved place. Then test the other app you need. Tap Stop simulation, or Stop in the notification, when finished.
If something does not work.
Places, Status, current location, and empty storage
Android v1.1.0 has Places, Status, and Settings tabs. On Places, use Add place to choose a point or Use my location to save a fresh phone position. If simulation is running, the app asks before stopping it to locate your real position. It does not seed sample places. Updates keep your previous saved places; remove them through Settings → Clear saved places. Android backup is disabled for future installations. The notification dialog includes a direct settings action and app-info fallback when permission cannot be requested.
The Turn on location dialog keeps returning.
Update to Android v1.1.0. It checks the same Android Location switch before and after confirmation, and offers Open Location settings directly. Turn on Use location there and return to Pin Shift. The app cannot bypass your confirmation or a phone administrator’s restrictions.
Enable location with guided dialogs
Android v1.1.0 shows one missing setup requirement at a time in a Pin Shift dialog. Location access and the phone’s Location switch are separate: allow access, then tap Turn on location and confirm Android’s switch prompt. If that prompt is unavailable, use Open Location settings. Android still owns its permission dialogs and requires you to enable Developer options and select the mock-location app yourself. Place actions, removal confirmation, and rename use custom Pin Shift dialogs.
First-open setup and the PS status-bar icon
Android v1.1.0 checks device setup when opened and offers location and notification permission prompts on first use. The main screen focuses on choosing a place and Start/Stop. The location-provider check is in Settings under Troubleshooting. PS uses the notification area near the clock; it cannot occupy the system Wi-Fi area. If the running notification appears but the icon does not, review its notification category and your phone’s status-bar settings. On Infinix/XOS, search system Settings for Status bar or Notification icons; labels vary by version.
Search shows places in the wrong country, or Arabic labels look broken.
Install Android v1.1.0. Near map search prioritizes the current map area; while viewing Lebanon it restricts results to that area. Choose Worldwide to search elsewhere. Try Arabic and Latin names, or include a town. Map data may omit a business; you can select its point manually. The Android map now loads Arabic text shaping, which requires an internet connection.
Keep simulation running with the screen off.
Allow notifications so the PS running icon and Stop action are visible. In Pin Shift Settings, open App battery settings and choose Unrestricted if your phone limits background activity. Simulation is designed to continue when the screen is locked or Pin Shift is swiped out of Recents. Android Force stop, the system Stop button, or some manufacturer battery controls can still end it; reopen Pin Shift to start again.
The map is blank or will not load.
Check your internet connection and try Retry map. The Android map downloads its map style and tiles from online services. An outdated Android System WebView can also affect rendering; update it through your phone’s app store. Saved places remain on your device.
I cannot find a business or place name.
Search for the name together with a city or country, for example “Eiffel Tower Paris”. Results depend on the provider’s map data. Submit the search with the search button or keyboard. No location permission is needed for place-name search in Android v1.1.0.
Pinching or the zoom controls do not work.
Install Android v1.1.0. The current map supports two-finger pinch, double-tap zoom, and +/− controls inside the map. Use the map area rather than the search field or selection panel.
Simulation is active, but WhatsApp shows my real location.
First use Pin Shift’s location check. The current Android service sends mock coordinates to GPS/network providers and Google’s fused provider. If the check still shows your real position, verify the mock location selection, precise location permission, and Google Play services. If the check matches but another app does not, that app may reject mock data or use other signals. Compatibility is not guaranteed.
The VPN button does not connect a VPN.
That button opens Android VPN settings. Connect through your installed VPN app, then return to Pin Shift. Pin Shift does not operate VPN servers. An active VPN does not confirm a particular server country or public IP address.
How do I install on iPhone?
Download the IPA and follow the iPhone guide. The IPA is unsigned and requires your own Apple ID. The iPhone build saves and views places; it does not simulate system location.