How to capture geolocation in Gravity Forms

First decide whether you need the submitter’s IP address, an approximate country or city, a typed address, or precise latitude and longitude. These are different data points. An IP address usually gives an approximate network location, while browser coordinates require permission and can be refused.

Do not describe IP-derived data as the visitor’s exact location. VPNs, mobile networks, proxies and business networks can make the result inaccurate.

For the simplest manual route, edit the form and add a Hidden field. In its default value, enter the Gravity Forms merge tag {ip}, then save the form. Gravity Forms can use this value in a hidden field and the same merge tag can be used in notifications or confirmations.

This gives you the IP address, not a city, country or GPS position. Check the form entry after submitting a test entry. If IP storage has been disabled in your site’s personal-data settings, the value may be blank.

Gravity Forms core does not provide a complete IP-to-location workflow. To turn the IP into location data manually, you would need custom server-side code or an external IP geolocation service, then map the returned values into fields or another system.

That route adds API credentials, response handling, caching, privacy decisions and failure cases. It also needs maintenance when the external service changes. Use it only when you need a very specific integration and are comfortable maintaining custom code.

For a no-code or low-code setup, install a Gravity Forms geolocation add-on that adds location fields and stores location data with the entry. The Gravity Forms Geolocation Add-On, for example, supports location data such as address details, latitude and longitude, and can display a map in the entry view.

After activating the add-on, open its settings and configure the required location provider or API credentials. The exact fields and settings depend on the add-on you install.

Open the form’s geolocation settings and enable location capture for that form. If the add-on supports address autocomplete, open the Address field’s advanced settings and enable its geolocation suggestions. Some add-ons capture location for every submission by default, while others require a form-level switch.

Save the form, submit it from the front end, and open the entry. Confirm that the expected address, coordinates or map data were saved. Existing entries normally will not gain location data retroactively.

Test from a normal connection, a mobile connection and, if relevant, behind your site’s proxy or CDN. Confirm that the saved value is approximate when it comes from an IP address, and that browser-based location features handle denied permissions without blocking submission.

Tell visitors what location data you collect, why you collect it, how long you retain it and who receives it. Avoid sending precise coordinates in email notifications unless the recipients genuinely need them.