The location shown for email opens may not reflect where your recipient actually opened the email. This is normal and occurs due to privacy protection technologies and network configurations.
How Email Location Tracking Works
ContactMonkey tracks location data through IP addresses. When a recipient opens your tracked email, their email client sends a request to ContactMonkey's server. The server records:
- The IP address where the email was opened
- The date and time of the open
- The email client type used
ContactMonkey then converts the IP address into a geographic location and displays this data in your tracking reports.
Why Locations May Be Inaccurate
Privacy Protection Tools: Many recipients use VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) that mask their true IP address and location. When someone uses a VPN, the location shown reflects the VPN server's location, not where the person actually is.
Email Client Proxy Servers: Some email clients route all email requests through proxy servers to protect user privacy. These proxy servers act as intermediaries, hiding the recipient's actual location.
- Gmail: Opens often show as Mountain View, California (Google's headquarters location)
- Corporate networks: May route traffic through central office locations
- Email security services: Often use regional data centers
Blocked or Hidden IP Addresses: Some organizations configure their networks to block IP address tracking entirely. In these cases, location data may be unavailable or show a default location.
What This Means for Your Tracking
Open tracking and time stamps remain accurate even when location data is masked. You'll still see:
- How many times the email was opened
- When it was opened
- What type of device or email client was used
Only the geographic location may be inaccurate due to privacy protections.
Tips for Interpreting Location Data
- Use location data as a general indicator, not precise information
- Focus on open rates and engagement patterns rather than exact locations
- If you see repeated opens from unexpected locations, consider that the recipient may be using privacy tools
- Corporate email users often show their company's main office location, not their actual work location
Note: Location masking is increasingly common as email clients and internet service providers prioritize user privacy. This doesn't affect the accuracy of other tracking metrics.