If you’ve ever logged into Mobile Legends and seen that your favorite regional event is locked, or you’re matched with players in a timezone that makes queuing for ranked a nightmare, you’re not alone. I ran into this exact issue last year when I moved abroad for work and couldn’t access the anniversary rewards that were only available for my home region. That’s when I started testing every safe method to figure out how to change location in Mobile Legends without risking a ban on my account. You don’t have to waste hours scrolling through conflicting Reddit threads or testing sketchy apps like I did, because I’ve broken down all the verified, low-risk methods right here, plus the pros and cons of each to help you pick what works best for your needs.
Common Safe Methods to Change Location in Mobile Legends
Not all location change methods are created equal, and some can get your account permanently banned if you’re not careful. I’ve tested over 7 different approaches over the past two years, and only three of them are low enough risk that I’d recommend them to casual and ranked players alike. These methods work for both Android and iOS devices, unless stated otherwise:
You’ll notice I didn’t include free VPNs or random spoofing apps you find on third-party app stores. That’s because 90% of these apps either inject malware into your device or have inconsistent IP addresses that Moonton’s anti-cheat flags immediately. I’ve seen two friends get 10-year bans for using a free VPN to access a region-locked skin event, so it’s just not worth the risk for most players. If you’re going to use a third-party tool, invest in a reputable service with a proven track record for gaming use.
Step-by-Step Guide to In-Game Location Changes First
The in-game location change request is the safest option by far, so you should always try this before looking at third-party tools. Moonton allows you to change your registered region once every 180 days, as long as you can prove you’re currently located in the new region. Let’s walk through the exact steps I used when I moved last year.
First, open Mobile Legends and tap on your profile icon in the top left corner of the main screen. Next, tap the Account Settings tab, then select the "Change Region" option from the menu. You’ll be prompted to allow Mobile Legends access to your device’s location, so make sure you have location services turned on for the app before you start this process. Once Moonton verifies your physical location matches the region you’re requesting to switch to, your request will be approved within 24 hours.
There are a few caveats here, though. You won’t be able to transfer your rank progress, existing event progress, or friend list to the new region, so make sure you back up any important data before you submit the request. It’s also worth noting that you can’t use this method to switch to a region you’re not physically present in, so if you’re trying to access an event for a country you don’t actually live in, you’ll need to use one of the other methods we outlined earlier.
Risks to Avoid When Changing Your MLBB Location
Even if you use a trusted VPN or spoofing app, there are a few common mistakes that can get your account flagged or banned. I’ve made a few of these myself, so I can tell you exactly what to watch out for. First, never switch between multiple regions in a short period of time. Moonton’s anti-cheat system tracks IP location changes, and if you switch from the US to Japan to Germany in the span of 24 hours, you’ll almost certainly get a warning or temporary ban. I recommend sticking to one region for at least 30 days before switching again, even if you’re using a premium VPN.
Second, don’t use location changing tools to abuse regional pricing for skins or diamonds. Moonton actively tracks purchase locations, and if they see you’re buying diamonds at a lower price point for a region you don’t actually live in, they can revoke your purchases or ban your account entirely. I know it’s tempting to save a few dollars, but the risk of losing the account you’ve spent hundreds of hours building isn’t worth it. If you want to buy skins, wait until you’re back in your home region or use the in-game change method if you’ve moved permanently.
Third, make sure you turn off any location spoofing tools before you play ranked matches if you’re only using them for event access. Some players forget to turn off their spoofers and end up matched with players thousands of miles away, leading to extremely high ping and ruined matches for everyone on their team. This can also lead to reports from other players, which increases the chance of Moonton reviewing your account activity and spotting the location change.
How to Confirm Your Location Change Worked Without Issues
Once you’ve followed the steps for your chosen location change method, you don’t want to jump straight into a ranked match or purchase event items before confirming everything worked correctly. There are three quick checks I always do after changing my location to make sure I didn’t run into any issues.
First, check the Regional Events tab in the main menu. If you see events listed for the region you switched to, that’s the first sign your location change worked. If you still see events for your old region, close the app completely and restart it, or clear your app cache if you’re on an Android device. Sometimes the app takes a few minutes to refresh its region data, so don’t panic if it doesn’t update immediately.
Second, check your local rank leaderboard. If the leaderboard shows players from the region you switched to, your location tag has updated successfully. Keep in mind that the local rank leaderboard can take up to 48 hours to update after a location change, so don’t worry if it still shows your old region right away. You can check back after a day or two to confirm the update went through.
Third, run a quick ping test in a custom match. If your ping is under 100ms, that means you’re connected to a server in the new region that’s close enough for stable gameplay. If your ping is over 200ms, you might have connected to a faraway server by mistake, so you should disconnect and try again with a different server location on your VPN if you’re using one. It’s also a good idea to wait 24 hours before making any in-game purchases after a location change, just to make sure Moonton’s system has fully updated your region information and you won’t run into any payment issues.
At the end of the day, learning how to change location in Mobile Legends doesn’t have to be complicated or risky, as long as you stick to the verified methods we outlined and avoid the common mistakes that get players banned. If you only need to switch regions because you moved permanently, the in-game request method is always going to be your best bet. If you want to access region-locked events or match with players in a different timezone, a trusted premium VPN will work for 90% of players with minimal risk. No matter which method you choose, take the time to double check your settings and confirm the change worked before you jump into your next match. You’ll be able to unlock all the exclusive content and matchups you’re looking for, without putting the account you’ve worked so hard to build at risk.