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Sarah Mitchell — Reviewed writer, former magazine editor

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How to Handle Geoguessr Tips Step by Step

When geoguessr tips leaves you confused, worried, or unsure what it means, a clear step-by-step approach can help you sort the signal from the stress. This guide explains how to understand the situation, reflect on what matters, choose a practical next step, and know when to ask for trusted support.

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Part 1

Geoguessr Tips & Tricks

Find the sun to figure out what hemisphere you’re in.

Use the compass in the bottom right corner to find which part of the sky the sun is in. If the sun is in the southern half of the sky, you’re in the northern hemisphere. If the sun is in the northern part, you’re in the southern hemisphere.

Use the compass in the bottom right corner to find which part of the sky the sun is in.
If the sun is in the southern half of the sky, you’re in the northern hemisphere.
If the sun is in the northern part, you’re in the southern hemisphere.
Use the compass in the bottom right corner to find which part of the sky the sun is in.
If the sun is in the southern half of the sky, you’re in the northern hemisphere.

Look at which side of the road that cars are driving on.

Only 30% of countries in the world use left-hand traffic rules. If the camera or the other cars are driving along the left side of the road, you can limit your guess to countries captured by Google Street View that use left-hand traffic rules. These countries include:

Only 30% of countries in the world use left-hand traffic rules.
If the camera or the other cars are driving along the left side of the road, you can limit your guess to countries captured by Google Street View that use left-hand traffic rules.
These countries include:
Only 30% of countries in the world use left-hand traffic rules.
If the camera or the other cars are driving along the left side of the road, you can limit your guess to countries captured by Google Street View that use left-hand traffic rules.

Use the compass to find the directions of landmarks.

If you notice a mountain range, coastline, river, city skyline, or any other landmark that might appear on a map, turn towards it and take note of the direction. When plotting your guess, this allows you to find where you are based on the direction of other landmarks around you.

If you notice a mountain range, coastline, river, city skyline, or any other landmark that might appear on a map, turn towards it and take note of the direction.
When plotting your guess, this allows you to find where you are based on the direction of other landmarks around you.
If you notice a mountain range, coastline, river, city skyline, or any other landmark that might appear on a map, turn towards it and take note of the direction.
When plotting your guess, this allows you to find where you are based on the direction of other landmarks around you.
If you notice a mountain range, coastline, river, city skyline, or any other landmark that might appear on a map, turn towards it and take note of the direction.

Look at the type of Google Street View car and camera used.

Most Google Street View vehicles are blurred out, but when you move your camera downwards you might see the vehicle’s color, shape, or shadow. From this blur, you can narrow down the country you might be in.

Most Google Street View vehicles are blurred out, but when you move your camera downwards you might see the vehicle’s color, shape, or shadow.
From this blur, you can narrow down the country you might be in.
Most Google Street View vehicles are blurred out, but when you move your camera downwards you might see the vehicle’s color, shape, or shadow.
From this blur, you can narrow down the country you might be in.
Most Google Street View vehicles are blurred out, but when you move your camera downwards you might see the vehicle’s color, shape, or shadow.

Look at the camera quality of the image.

The camera quality can let you know what camera generation was used, allowing you to narrow down which country you’re in. If the camera resolution is super low-quality, there’s a good chance you’re probably in Japan, Monaco, France, Italy, Canada, the United States, New Zealand, or Mexico.

The camera quality can let you know what camera generation was used, allowing you to narrow down which country you’re in.
If the camera resolution is super low-quality, there’s a good chance you’re probably in Japan, Monaco, France, Italy, Canada, the United States, New Zealand, or Mexico.
The camera quality can let you know what camera generation was used, allowing you to narrow down which country you’re in.
If the camera resolution is super low-quality, there’s a good chance you’re probably in Japan, Monaco, France, Italy, Canada, the United States, New Zealand, or Mexico.
The camera quality can let you know what camera generation was used, allowing you to narrow down which country you’re in.

Eliminate the countries that aren’t available to guess.

While you can find unofficial street view pictures in every country, some don’t have official coverage or rarely appear in Geoguessr. When choosing the country you’re in, try to avoid the countries that don’t have official coverage unless you’re playing a map that includes them.

While you can find unofficial street view pictures in every country, some don’t have official coverage or rarely appear in Geoguessr.
When choosing the country you’re in, try to avoid the countries that don’t have official coverage unless you’re playing a map that includes them.
While you can find unofficial street view pictures in every country, some don’t have official coverage or rarely appear in Geoguessr.
When choosing the country you’re in, try to avoid the countries that don’t have official coverage unless you’re playing a map that includes them.
While you can find unofficial street view pictures in every country, some don’t have official coverage or rarely appear in Geoguessr.

Identify the language written on street signs.

Knowing what alphabets look like in different countries can help you narrow down where you are just based on the writing on street signs and advertisements. Use Geomastr’s alphabet tool to identify what language you see.

Knowing what alphabets look like in different countries can help you narrow down where you are just based on the writing on street signs and advertisements.
Use Geomastr’s alphabet tool to identify what language you see.
Knowing what alphabets look like in different countries can help you narrow down where you are just based on the writing on street signs and advertisements.
Use Geomastr’s alphabet tool to identify what language you see.
Knowing what alphabets look like in different countries can help you narrow down where you are just based on the writing on street signs and advertisements.

Look at the shape and color of the license plates.

Most license plates are blurred out in the game, but you may see their general shape and colors, like yellow or white, that indicate the country. Compare the sign you see to GeoHint’s list of street signs to narrow down the country you’re in.

Most license plates are blurred out in the game, but you may see their general shape and colors, like yellow or white, that indicate the country.
Compare the sign you see to GeoHint’s list of street signs to narrow down the country you’re in.
Most license plates are blurred out in the game, but you may see their general shape and colors, like yellow or white, that indicate the country.
Compare the sign you see to GeoHint’s list of street signs to narrow down the country you’re in.
Most license plates are blurred out in the game, but you may see their general shape and colors, like yellow or white, that indicate the country.

Identify the internet domain extension on ads and shop signs.

If you see a sign along the road with a link to a website, look closely at the domain extension (like.com or.eu). Many extensions abbreviate the name of the country you’re in, which can give you a pretty good idea of where you are.

If you see a sign along the road with a link to a website, look closely at the domain extension (like.com or.eu).
Many extensions abbreviate the name of the country you’re in, which can give you a pretty good idea of where you are.
If you see a sign along the road with a link to a website, look closely at the domain extension (like.com or.eu).
Many extensions abbreviate the name of the country you’re in, which can give you a pretty good idea of where you are.
If you see a sign along the road with a link to a website, look closely at the domain extension (like.com or.eu).

Study the specific bollards or road markers in each country.

Bollards are posts designed to prevent vehicles from driving off the road. Each country has its own bollard design with different materials and colors. Look at the bollards in GeoHint’s list to find which country you’re currently in.

Bollards are posts designed to prevent vehicles from driving off the road.
Each country has its own bollard design with different materials and colors.
Look at the bollards in GeoHint’s list to find which country you’re currently in.
Bollards are posts designed to prevent vehicles from driving off the road.
Each country has its own bollard design with different materials and colors.

Move in the opposite direction that the Google car is going.

Most Google Street View vehicles travel by highway to the location they’re photographing. If you’re playing a game mode that allows you to move, go in the opposite direction that the car is traveling to find the highway or major road.

Most Google Street View vehicles travel by highway to the location they’re photographing.
If you’re playing a game mode that allows you to move, go in the opposite direction that the car is traveling to find the highway or major road.
Most Google Street View vehicles travel by highway to the location they’re photographing.
If you’re playing a game mode that allows you to move, go in the opposite direction that the car is traveling to find the highway or major road.
Most Google Street View vehicles travel by highway to the location they’re photographing.

Use the compass to pinpoint your location on the road.

Once you figure out the country you’re in and what road you’re on, use the angle of the road to pinpoint exactly where you are. Face north and look directly down at the ground. Look at the map and find a section where the angle of the road matches the angle of a section on the map.

Once you figure out the country you’re in and what road you’re on, use the angle of the road to pinpoint exactly where you are.
Face north and look directly down at the ground.
Look at the map and find a section where the angle of the road matches the angle of a section on the map.
Once you figure out the country you’re in and what road you’re on, use the angle of the road to pinpoint exactly where you are.
Face north and look directly down at the ground.

Listen to your instincts and try to avoid overthinking your guess.

If a country or location pops into your mind immediately, trust your instincts. You might be getting subconscious clues that the rational side of your mind can’t quite place, which can help you beat the game faster than if you tried to gather evidence to support them.

If a country or location pops into your mind immediately, trust your instincts.
You might be getting subconscious clues that the rational side of your mind can’t quite place, which can help you beat the game faster than if you tried to gather evidence to support them.
If a country or location pops into your mind immediately, trust your instincts.
You might be getting subconscious clues that the rational side of your mind can’t quite place, which can help you beat the game faster than if you tried to gather evidence to support them.
If a country or location pops into your mind immediately, trust your instincts.

Part 2

Geoguessr Game Modes

Classic

Classic mode is the original game mode in Geoguessr. You’ll be placed in a random location that you have to guess by placing a marker on the map in the lower right corner.

Classic mode is the original game mode in Geoguessr.
You’ll be placed in a random location that you have to guess by placing a marker on the map in the lower right corner.
Classic mode is the original game mode in Geoguessr.
You’ll be placed in a random location that you have to guess by placing a marker on the map in the lower right corner.
Classic mode is the original game mode in Geoguessr.

Explorer

In Explorer Mode, compete against strangers or challenge your friends to see who can guess the closest to the location. You’ll get 5 different locations all within the same country.

In Explorer Mode, compete against strangers or challenge your friends to see who can guess the closest to the location.
You’ll get 5 different locations all within the same country.
In Explorer Mode, compete against strangers or challenge your friends to see who can guess the closest to the location.
You’ll get 5 different locations all within the same country.
In Explorer Mode, compete against strangers or challenge your friends to see who can guess the closest to the location.

Duels

You and another player are given 6,000 health points and have to compete against each other to see who can guess the closest to a location. When you or your opponent makes a guess, it starts a 15-second timer that the other person has to guess within or they lose health points.

You and another player are given 6,000 health points and have to compete against each other to see who can guess the closest to a location.
When you or your opponent makes a guess, it starts a 15-second timer that the other person has to guess within or they lose health points.
You and another player are given 6,000 health points and have to compete against each other to see who can guess the closest to a location.
When you or your opponent makes a guess, it starts a 15-second timer that the other person has to guess within or they lose health points.
You and another player are given 6,000 health points and have to compete against each other to see who can guess the closest to a location.

Part 3

Playing & Winning Geoguessr

Look at your surroundings and try to guess your location.

As soon as you start a game in Geoguessr, you’ll drop into a random location that was captured by Google Maps. Click the arrows on the ground to move around and click and drag the screen to look at your surroundings and figure out where you are in the world.

As soon as you start a game in Geoguessr, you’ll drop into a random location that was captured by Google Maps.
Click the arrows on the ground to move around and click and drag the screen to look at your surroundings and figure out where you are in the world.
As soon as you start a game in Geoguessr, you’ll drop into a random location that was captured by Google Maps.
Click the arrows on the ground to move around and click and drag the screen to look at your surroundings and figure out where you are in the world.
As soon as you start a game in Geoguessr, you’ll drop into a random location that was captured by Google Maps.

Drop a pin as close to the location as possible to win.

The goal of Geoguessr is to guess as close to the location you’re dropped in as possible. The points you earn are based on your proximity to the location.

The goal of Geoguessr is to guess as close to the location you’re dropped in as possible.
The points you earn are based on your proximity to the location.
The goal of Geoguessr is to guess as close to the location you’re dropped in as possible.
The points you earn are based on your proximity to the location.
The goal of Geoguessr is to guess as close to the location you’re dropped in as possible.

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