Having the right location set for Facebook events you create or attend can be important for a variety of reasons. The event location helps attendees find the event, it enables location-based features like check-ins, and it makes the event discoverable to others nearby. However, sometimes the event location can end up showing the wrong city, address, or map pin for a variety of reasons. The good news is that fixing an incorrect or outdated event location on Facebook is easy to do.
Why is my Facebook event showing the wrong location?
There are a few common reasons why a Facebook event might be showing the wrong location information:
- The location wasn’t properly set when the event was created
- The event location changed but the Facebook event wasn’t updated
- Facebook is using your current/old hometown location instead of the event location
- Facebook’s geolocation software misidentified the location based on the address
Oftentimes it’s simply because the event creator entered something too vague when setting up the event, like just “New York” instead of the specific address or venue name. Other times the event may have changed venues but the Facebook event location wasn’t updated to reflect that.
How to change the city, state, or country listed for an event
If the event is showing the wrong city, state, or country entirely, you’ll need to change the location field in the About section of the event page:
- Go to the Facebook event page
- Click on About below the cover photo
- Click on the map icon next to Address in the Details section
- Type the correct city and state/country for the event location
- Select the appropriate suggested location from the drop-down list
- Click Save
This will update the city, state/province, and country displayed on the event page itself and used across Facebook for people finding the event.
How to change the address for an event
If the address is wrong but the overall city and state/country are correct, you can update just the street address for the event:
- Go to the Facebook event page
- Click on About below the cover photo
- Click the map icon next to Address in the Details section
- Delete the current address and type the correct street address for the event venue
- Select the appropriate suggested location from the drop-down list
- Click Save
This will update the full street address displayed on the event page itself without changing the overall city, state, or country.
How to move the map pin for an event
If the address is correct but the map pin is dropped in the wrong location, you can move the map marker to the right spot:
- Go to the Facebook event page
- Click on About below the cover photo
- Click the map icon next to Address in the Details section
- Mouse over the red map marker and click and drag it to the correct location
- Zoom in on the map if needed to pinpoint the exact venue location
- Click Save
Moving the map marker will update the precise latitude and longitude for the event without altering the address.
How to add a place or landmark for the event location
You can associate your Facebook event with an existing Facebook Place page or landmark to make it easier for people to find and tag the location:
- Go to the Facebook event page
- Click on About below the cover photo
- Click Add next to More Details in the Details section
- Select Landmarks
- Search for and select the appropriate place or landmark that matches your event location
- Click Save
Adding a place will populate additional location details like the category (restaurant, venue, etc.) and contact info on your event page.
How to remove the location entirely
If your event doesn’t have a fixed physical location or isn’t taking place anywhere specific, you can remove the location altogether:
- Go to the Facebook event page
- Click on About below the cover photo
- Click the X icon next to Address to remove the existing location
- Confirm removing the location by clicking Yes
This will leave the location field blank and remove any map pins or location details.
Troubleshooting tips
Here are some troubleshooting tips if you’re still having issues getting the event location to update properly:
- Make sure you’re the event host or an editor/admin in order to edit the event details
- Try clearing your browser cookies and cache and reloading the Facebook event page
- Try viewing the event from a different web browser or device to confirm if the issue is browser-related
- Double check that you selected the correct location from the drop-down suggestions when updating the address
- For location marker issues, try dragging the map pin first before changing the address text
Location settings can sometimes take a bit to fully update across Facebook, so give it a few minutes after making a change before checking if it worked. If the steps above don’t resolve the wrong location from displaying, you may need to directly report the issue to Facebook support.
How Facebook determines event locations
When you create a new event on Facebook and enter a location, here is how Facebook determines where to map the event:
- It first checks the address you entered against its database of global addresses and places to find corresponding latitude/longitude coordinates.
- If an exact address match isn’t found, it widens the search to the surrounding area to approximate the location.
- The map pin gets plotted based on the best location match using the coordinates.
- The text address doesn’t always update if a close approximate location match is found instead.
This can sometimes lead to discrepancies between the map pin and the street address text. Manually moving the map marker is often the easiest way to override Facebook’s approximation and pinpoint the precise venue coordinates.
Tips for entering event locations
To avoid issues with Facebook not recognizing the location properly when you first create an event, keep these tips in mind:
- Always include the full street address rather than just the venue or city name
- Add any unit or suite numbers that are applicable
- Use the standardized postal code format for the address
- Double check that the city, state/province, and country are correct
- Don’t include extra details like “near the fountain” or “upstairs” – just the standard address
Entering addresses in a consistent format improves the chances that Facebook’s geocoding algorithms will be able to map it accurately right away.
Why you should double check event locations
It’s always a good idea to double check the location set for any Facebook events you create. Here are some reasons why:
- Inaccurate locations make it harder for people to find and get to the event.
- Wrong addresses can send people to the wrong venues, potentially missing the event.
- Missing suite or unit numbers cause confusion in large buildings and complexes.
- Events not tagged properly on a map may not surface in local event listings.
- Location details enable optimal ad targeting and promotions for events.
Taking a minute to validate event location details can save lots of headaches later. Be on the lookout for any inconsistencies that should be corrected.
Check location before sharing event
One final reminder is to check the location before publicizing an event or sending out invites. It’s common to quickly create an event then immediately post it publicly. But if the location wasn’t properly entered, all those invites and followers will see the wrong details.
Preview the event from different angles before publicizing it to confirm everything looks right. Going live with the wrong location requires reposting updates everywhere to notify attendees once it’s corrected.
Conclusion
Accurate event location details are a vital part of creating Facebook events. But incorrect addresses, map pins, and places are relatively easy fixes. Just remember to check for any inconsistencies after creating an event, and be ready to update the location fields as needed. With the steps outlined here, you can get your event’s location locked in properly so people have all the right information at their fingertips.