React Native Geolocation Tutorial With IP Location API

Building mobile apps with geolocation features is now a necessity for businesses. Whether it’s localizing content, personalizing services, or improving security, geolocation plays a key role in modern mobile development.

In this React Native geolocation tutorial, we’ll guide developers, API communities, and small enterprises through building a basic app that detects the user’s location via their IP address. We’ll also show you how to integrate an IP to location API to power this feature.

Why Use IP-Based Geolocation in Apps?

Geolocation can be gathered using GPS or IP-based data. While GPS provides higher precision, using an IP to location API is ideal for:

• Detecting user location without permissions

• Offering default location settings

• Pre-filling location data in forms

• Lightweight background usage

For apps where privacy or simplicity is key, IP-based geolocation is a fast and easy option.

Tools You Need

Before getting started, make sure you have the following:

• React Native (setup via Expo or React Native CLI)

• APILayer’s IP to Location API (free key available

• axios for making HTTP requests

• A basic understanding of JavaScript and React Native

Step 1: Set Up the React Native App

If you're using Expo (recommended for beginners), start with:

bash

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npm install -g expo-cli

expo init GeolocationApp

cd GeolocationApp

expo start

Choose a blank template to begin.

Step 2: Register for IP to Location API

Head to https://apilayer.com, sign up, and get your free API key for the IP to location API.

This API returns user data such as:

• IP address

• City, Region, Country

• Latitude, Longitude

• ISP and timezone (optional)

Step 3: Install Axios and Fetch IP Location

Install axios to make your API call:

bash

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npm install axios

Now update your App.js to call the API:

javascript

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import React, { useEffect, useState } from 'react';

import { View, Text, StyleSheet } from 'react-native';

import axios from 'axios';

export default function App() {

const [location, setLocation] = useState(null);

useEffect(() => {

axios.get('https://api.apilayer.com/ip_to_location', {

headers: {

apikey: 'YOUR_API_KEY'

}

})

.then(res => {

setLocation(res.data);

})

.catch(err => console.log(err));

}, []);

return (

<View style={styles.container}>

{location ? (

<>

<Text>IP: {location.ip}</Text>

<Text>City: {location.city}</Text>

<Text>Region: {location.region_name}</Text>

<Text>Country: {location.country_name}</Text>

<Text>Latitude: {location.latitude}</Text>

<Text>Longitude: {location.longitude}</Text>

</>

) : (

<Text>Loading location...</Text>

)}

</View>

);

}

const styles = StyleSheet.create({

container: {

flex: 1, justifyContent: 'center', alignItems: 'center'

}

});

Replace 'YOUR_API_KEY' with your actual key.

Step 4: (Optional) Show Location on a Map

Add mapping capability for a visual experience:

bash

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expo install react-native-maps

Add the MapView component using the latitude and longitude from the IP API.

javascript

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import MapView, { Marker } from 'react-native-maps';

<MapView

style={{ width: 300, height: 300 }}

initialRegion={{

latitude: parseFloat(location.latitude),

longitude: parseFloat(location.longitude),

latitudeDelta: 0.05,

longitudeDelta: 0.05,

}}

\>

<Marker coordinate={{

latitude: parseFloat(location.latitude),

longitude: parseFloat(location.longitude),

}} />

</MapView>

Benefits for Developers and Businesses

Using an IP to location API inside your React Native app brings several practical advantages:

✅ For Developers:

• Fast setup without native code

• No permissions required

• Lightweight and works instantly

✅ For Small Enterprises:

• Personalize user experience based on region

• Geo-based analytics for insights

• Location-aware content delivery

Real-World Use Cases

This simple implementation can scale into:

• Currency converters (auto-set local currency)

• Weather forecast apps

• Local news or event aggregators

• E-commerce apps that auto-set shipping country

Best Practices

• Don’t hardcode the API key in production—store it in .env files

• Handle API errors properly to avoid crashes

• Validate IP data before displaying

• Use fallback content if location fails to load

This React Native geolocation tutorial is perfect for developers and small businesses who want to add simple but powerful geolocation features to their mobile apps.

By integrating the IP to location API, you provide a smoother user experience without demanding permissions or draining battery life. From content personalization to intelligent defaults, IP-based geolocation is a game changer.

You now have a working base app that shows the user’s current location. Expand it further by combining with other APIs or turning it into a more robust service.