Prestashop how to enable geolocation and use it

Alright, let’s turn PrestaShop Geolocation from “mystery toggle” into something actually useful 🌍😉
I’ll walk you through enable → configure → real-world use cases.

✅ What is Geolocation in PrestaShop?

Geolocation detects a visitor’s country (and sometimes region) using their IP address.

You can use it to:

• Restrict access by country
• Redirect users
• Show different prices/taxes
• Enable/disable shipping or payments
• Comply with legal rules

🔹 Step 1: Enable Geolocation

Back Office Path

International → Localization → Geolocation

Settings

1. Geolocation by IP address → ✅ Yes
2. Geolocation behavior for restricted countries
   Choose one:
   • ❌ Visitors cannot see your catalog
   • ⚠️ Visitors can see catalog but cannot order
3. Whitelist IP addresses
   👉 Add your own IP (important for testing)

   https://whatismyipaddress.com
   

4. Click Save

🔹 Step 2: Download & Activate GeoLite Database

PrestaShop uses MaxMind GeoLite2.

Do this:

1. Click Download the geolocation database
   (button is on the same page)

OR manually upload:

/app/Resources/geoip/
or
/tools/geoip/

Required file:

GeoLite2-Country.mmdb

💡 Without this file, geolocation will NOT work.

🔹 Step 3: Enable Country Restrictions

Go to:
International → Locations → Countries

For each country:

• ✅ Enabled → Visitors can browse/order
• ❌ Disabled → Restricted by geolocation

Example:

• Enable: India, UAE
• Disable: Other countries

🔹 Step 4: Enable Required Modules

Check these modules are enabled:

• ps_geolocation
• ps_facetedsearch (optional, for filters)
• ps_currencyselector
• ps_languageselector

Path:
Modules → Module Manager

🔹 Step 5: Real-World Uses (Most Important Part)

🧭 1. Restrict Orders by Country

• Disable countries you don’t ship to
• Choose “Catalog only” mode for restricted countries

👉 Common for B2B stores

💰 2. Automatic Tax Calculation

Enable:
International → Taxes

• Enable tax rules by country
• Tax is applied based on detected country

✔️ Works well for VAT / GST logic

🌐 3. Currency & Language Auto-Selection

PrestaShop can:

• Auto-switch currency
• Auto-switch language

Path:
International → Localization

• Set default language & currency per country

🚚 4. Shipping Rules by Country

Path:
Shipping → Carriers

• Assign carriers to specific countries
• Hide shipping methods automatically

🔁 5. Redirect Users (Advanced)

Example:

• India → /in/
• UAE → /ae/

Needs:

• Override or custom module
• .htaccess or hook actionFrontControllerInit

(Ask me if you want ready code for this 👌)

🔹 Step 6: Testing Geolocation

Best ways:

1. Use VPN (India / US / EU)
2. Use proxy IP
3. Temporarily disable your country

⚠️ Remember:

• Add your IP to Whitelist
• Clear cache after changes

⚠️ Important Notes

• Geolocation ≠ 100% accurate
• Doesn’t work well on:
  • Mobile networks
  • VPN users
• Always allow manual country/language selection

✅ Quick Checklist

✔ Geolocation enabled
✔ GeoLite database installed
✔ Countries configured
✔ Cache cleared
✔ Modules enabled