What Is Google NCR?
The search engine Google offers country-specific sites. When you enter "Google.com" in the address bar, you're automatically directed to the site most appropriate for the country from which you are visiting Google. If you don't want to go automatically to a country site, Google offers an alternative Web address for Google.com, and this address ends in "/ncr."
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Google's Country-Specific Sites
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Google's country-specific sites are designated by the ending of the URL. Google in Japan, for example, has the URL "Google.co.jp." In France, you'll see "Google.fr" and in the United Kingdom, Google's URL is "Google.co.uk."
How Google Knows
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Your Internet Protocol, or IP, address shows Google the location from which you are visiting the website. All devices with a public Internet connection are assigned an IP address, which is a series of four numbers, each separated with a period. The IPs are assigned by region, so Google reads your IP address, determines the location and automatically redirects you to the country-specific site.
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Wrong Country Site
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If your IP address is incorrect, Google may redirect you to the wrong country's Google site. To check your IP address, visit WhatIsMyIPAddress.com and view the number and location that show up automatically. If your location is wrong, that may explain why Google takes you to the wrong country site. Visit Google's "Report IP Problems" site to enter an incorrect IP for Google to update, if you wish.
Bypassing Country-Specific Google
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If you'd rather visit Google.com — without being directed to a country site — type the URL "http://www.google.com/ncr" and bookmark the resulting page. Then, no matter where you are in the world, visit this bookmarked page to see the Google.com page. The "/ncr" ending directs you to "iGoogle," which is a customizable page on which you may choose a theme and add gadgets such as local weather and news. The first time you visit the page, you'll need to click "Get Started" to personalize your Google homepage.
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