diff --git a/docs/api/openapi.yaml b/docs/api/openapi.yaml
index 323f63544..93d60ed88 100644
--- a/docs/api/openapi.yaml
+++ b/docs/api/openapi.yaml
@@ -36058,6 +36058,18 @@ components:
           type: string
           description: Host of the online geolocation provider the fallback would use, so an operator surface names the real one
             instead of assuming the default.
+        geoLookup:
+          type: string
+          enum:
+            - offline
+            - online
+            - off
+          description: "How login IPs are placed (since v1.42): `offline` from the GeoLite2 databases, `online` by the provider
+            above, `off` not at all (`IP_GEO_LOOKUP_DISABLED`)."
+        geoProviderChosen:
+          type: boolean
+          description: The operator named the online provider in `IP_GEO_LOOKUP_URL` (since v1.42). False while the default is in
+            use.
       required:
         - version
         - buildSha
@@ -36068,6 +36080,8 @@ components:
         - docs
         - offlineGeoEnabled
         - geoProviderHost
+        - geoLookup
+        - geoProviderChosen
       additionalProperties: false
       description: The running build's identity plus the offline-geolocation state. Public — no authentication, no account data.
     AssistantFlagsEnvelope:
diff --git a/messages/de.json b/messages/de.json
index b7cc77b50..795904f21 100644
--- a/messages/de.json
+++ b/messages/de.json
@@ -7292,6 +7292,8 @@
     "offlineGeoLabel": "Geodaten",
     "offlineGeoEnabled": "Offline (GeoLite2)",
     "offlineGeoFallback": "Online ({host}) — GeoLite2-Datenbanken einbinden und GEOLITE2_DIR setzen",
+    "offlineGeoOff": "Aus",
+    "offlineGeoChosen": "Online ({host})",
     "apiGlobal": "API-Endpunkte und API-Tokens erlauben.",
     "umamiTitle": "Umami",
     "umamiDescription": "Web-Analyse mit Umami.",
diff --git a/messages/en.json b/messages/en.json
index bdea7e6a7..a30ac986b 100644
--- a/messages/en.json
+++ b/messages/en.json
@@ -7292,6 +7292,8 @@
     "offlineGeoLabel": "Geo data",
     "offlineGeoEnabled": "Offline (GeoLite2)",
     "offlineGeoFallback": "Online ({host}) — mount GeoLite2 databases and set GEOLITE2_DIR",
+    "offlineGeoOff": "Off",
+    "offlineGeoChosen": "Online ({host})",
     "apiGlobal": "Allow API endpoints and API tokens.",
     "umamiTitle": "Umami",
     "umamiDescription": "Web analytics with Umami.",
diff --git a/messages/es.json b/messages/es.json
index 3e9806ff9..c46dc490e 100644
--- a/messages/es.json
+++ b/messages/es.json
@@ -7292,6 +7292,8 @@
     "offlineGeoLabel": "Datos geográficos",
     "offlineGeoEnabled": "Sin conexión (GeoLite2)",
     "offlineGeoFallback": "En línea ({host}) — monta las bases GeoLite2 y define GEOLITE2_DIR",
+    "offlineGeoOff": "Desactivado",
+    "offlineGeoChosen": "En línea ({host})",
     "apiGlobal": "Permitir endpoints de API y tokens de API.",
     "umamiTitle": "Umami",
     "umamiDescription": "Analítica web con Umami.",
diff --git a/messages/fr.json b/messages/fr.json
index 4ffa3c91a..3b61b97e9 100644
--- a/messages/fr.json
+++ b/messages/fr.json
@@ -7292,6 +7292,8 @@
     "offlineGeoLabel": "Données géographiques",
     "offlineGeoEnabled": "Hors ligne (GeoLite2)",
     "offlineGeoFallback": "En ligne ({host}) — montez les bases GeoLite2 et définissez GEOLITE2_DIR",
+    "offlineGeoOff": "Désactivé",
+    "offlineGeoChosen": "En ligne ({host})",
     "apiGlobal": "Autoriser les points de terminaison d'API et les jetons d'API.",
     "umamiTitle": "Umami",
     "umamiDescription": "Analyse web avec Umami.",
diff --git a/messages/it.json b/messages/it.json
index 7fb859048..62db0cedd 100644
--- a/messages/it.json
+++ b/messages/it.json
@@ -7292,6 +7292,8 @@
     "offlineGeoLabel": "Dati geografici",
     "offlineGeoEnabled": "Offline (GeoLite2)",
     "offlineGeoFallback": "Online ({host}) — monta i database GeoLite2 e imposta GEOLITE2_DIR",
+    "offlineGeoOff": "Disattivato",
+    "offlineGeoChosen": "Online ({host})",
     "apiGlobal": "Consentire endpoint API e token API.",
     "umamiTitle": "Umami",
     "umamiDescription": "Analisi web con Umami.",
diff --git a/messages/ko.json b/messages/ko.json
index 3405b2f39..244aa0850 100644
--- a/messages/ko.json
+++ b/messages/ko.json
@@ -7268,6 +7268,8 @@
     "offlineGeoLabel": "위치 데이터",
     "offlineGeoEnabled": "오프라인 (GeoLite2)",
     "offlineGeoFallback": "온라인 ({host}) — GeoLite2 데이터베이스를 마운트하고 GEOLITE2_DIR을 설정하세요",
+    "offlineGeoOff": "꺼짐",
+    "offlineGeoChosen": "온라인 ({host})",
     "apiGlobal": "API 엔드포인트와 API 토큰을 허용해요.",
     "umamiTitle": "Umami",
     "umamiDescription": "Umami 웹 분석이에요.",
diff --git a/messages/pl.json b/messages/pl.json
index 7100d719b..2c66a69ef 100644
--- a/messages/pl.json
+++ b/messages/pl.json
@@ -7292,6 +7292,8 @@
     "offlineGeoLabel": "Dane geograficzne",
     "offlineGeoEnabled": "Offline (GeoLite2)",
     "offlineGeoFallback": "Online ({host}) — podłącz bazy GeoLite2 i ustaw GEOLITE2_DIR",
+    "offlineGeoOff": "Wyłączone",
+    "offlineGeoChosen": "Online ({host})",
     "apiGlobal": "Zezwól na punkty końcowe API i tokeny API.",
     "umamiTitle": "Umami",
     "umamiDescription": "Analityka internetowa z Umami.",
diff --git a/src/app/api/version/__tests__/route.test.ts b/src/app/api/version/__tests__/route.test.ts
index ec988a145..cba8c7961 100644
--- a/src/app/api/version/__tests__/route.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/version/__tests__/route.test.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ const resolveGeoProviderHostMock = vi.fn(() => "ipwho.is");
 vi.mock("@/lib/geo", () => ({
   offlineGeoReady: () => offlineGeoReadyMock(),
   resolveGeoProviderHost: () => resolveGeoProviderHostMock(),
+  geoLookupMode: () => (offlineGeoReadyMock() ? "offline" : "online"),
+  geoProviderChosen: () => false,
 }));
 
 import { GET } from "../route";
diff --git a/src/app/api/version/route.ts b/src/app/api/version/route.ts
index 01177527e..f737480be 100644
--- a/src/app/api/version/route.ts
+++ b/src/app/api/version/route.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 import { apiHandler } from "@/lib/api-handler";
 import { apiSuccess } from "@/lib/api-response";
-import { offlineGeoReady, resolveGeoProviderHost } from "@/lib/geo";
+import {
+  geoLookupMode,
+  geoProviderChosen,
+  offlineGeoReady,
+  resolveGeoProviderHost,
+} from "@/lib/geo";
 import packageJson from "../../../../package.json";
 
 // v1.4.27 R5 — `offlineGeoEnabled` reads from the same source the geo
@@ -64,5 +69,7 @@ export const GET = apiHandler(async () => {
     docs: "https://docs.healthlog.dev",
     offlineGeoEnabled,
     geoProviderHost,
+    geoLookup: geoLookupMode(),
+    geoProviderChosen: geoProviderChosen(),
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/components/admin/__tests__/geo-lookup-state.test.ts b/src/components/admin/__tests__/geo-lookup-state.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..17da78f9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/admin/__tests__/geo-lookup-state.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+
+import { geoLookupState, type PublicVersion } from "../_shared";
+
+const base: PublicVersion = {
+  version: "1.42.0",
+  buildSha: null,
+  builtAt: null,
+};
+
+describe("geoLookupState", () => {
+  it("warns only about the unconfigured default provider", () => {
+    expect(
+      geoLookupState({
+        ...base,
+        offlineGeoEnabled: false,
+        geoLookup: "online",
+      }),
+    ).toBe("default");
+  });
+
+  it("treats a provider the operator named as a decision", () => {
+    expect(
+      geoLookupState({
+        ...base,
+        offlineGeoEnabled: false,
+        geoLookup: "online",
+        geoProviderChosen: true,
+      }),
+    ).toBe("chosen");
+  });
+
+  it("reads a switched-off lookup and the offline databases as settled", () => {
+    expect(
+      geoLookupState({ ...base, offlineGeoEnabled: false, geoLookup: "off" }),
+    ).toBe("off");
+    expect(geoLookupState({ ...base, offlineGeoEnabled: true })).toBe(
+      "offline",
+    );
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/components/admin/_shared.tsx b/src/components/admin/_shared.tsx
index 5335e3c6b..4c3855915 100644
--- a/src/components/admin/_shared.tsx
+++ b/src/components/admin/_shared.tsx
@@ -590,6 +590,23 @@ export interface PublicVersion {
   // offline tier is absent (host of IP_GEO_LOOKUP_URL, default ipwho.is).
   // Optional so legacy /api/version responses still satisfy the shape.
   geoProviderHost?: string;
+  /** v1.42 — `offline`, `online` or `off` (IP_GEO_LOOKUP_DISABLED). */
+  geoLookup?: "offline" | "online" | "off";
+  /** v1.42 — the operator named the provider in IP_GEO_LOOKUP_URL. */
+  geoProviderChosen?: boolean;
+}
+
+/**
+ * The geo row's state. Offline, switched off, or a provider the operator
+ * named are all decisions and read as fine; only the unconfigured default
+ * warns, because it sends every login IP to a third party nobody chose.
+ */
+export function geoLookupState(
+  version: PublicVersion,
+): "offline" | "off" | "chosen" | "default" {
+  if (version.offlineGeoEnabled) return "offline";
+  if (version.geoLookup === "off") return "off";
+  return version.geoProviderChosen ? "chosen" : "default";
 }
 
 /** Shared `/api/version` reader — the system-status section + overview
diff --git a/src/components/admin/system-status-section.tsx b/src/components/admin/system-status-section.tsx
index a8a49569f..334a83e2d 100644
--- a/src/components/admin/system-status-section.tsx
+++ b/src/components/admin/system-status-section.tsx
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import { SettingsCard } from "@/components/settings/settings-card";
 import { SettingsCardHeader } from "@/components/settings/_card-header";
 import { useFormatters, useTranslations } from "@/lib/i18n/context";
 import {
+  geoLookupState,
   StatusItem,
   usePublicVersion,
   useSystemStatus,
@@ -245,13 +246,20 @@ export function SystemStatusSection() {
                 icon={Map}
                 label={t("admin.offlineGeoLabel")}
                 value={
-                  version.offlineGeoEnabled
-                    ? t("admin.offlineGeoEnabled")
-                    : t("admin.offlineGeoFallback", {
-                        host: version.geoProviderHost ?? "ipwho.is",
-                      })
+                  {
+                    offline: t("admin.offlineGeoEnabled"),
+                    off: t("admin.offlineGeoOff"),
+                    chosen: t("admin.offlineGeoChosen", {
+                      host: version.geoProviderHost ?? "ipwho.is",
+                    }),
+                    default: t("admin.offlineGeoFallback", {
+                      host: version.geoProviderHost ?? "ipwho.is",
+                    }),
+                  }[geoLookupState(version)]
+                }
+                tone={
+                  geoLookupState(version) === "default" ? "warning" : "success"
                 }
-                tone={version.offlineGeoEnabled ? "success" : "warning"}
               />
             )}
           </div>
diff --git a/src/components/admin/system-status-summary.tsx b/src/components/admin/system-status-summary.tsx
index 0eb76b6c9..19ae088dd 100644
--- a/src/components/admin/system-status-summary.tsx
+++ b/src/components/admin/system-status-summary.tsx
@@ -26,7 +26,12 @@ import { SettingsCard } from "@/components/settings/settings-card";
 import { SettingsCardHeader } from "@/components/settings/_card-header";
 import { QueryErrorRow } from "@/components/ui/query-error-row";
 import { useTranslations } from "@/lib/i18n/context";
-import { StatusItem, usePublicVersion, useSystemStatus } from "./_shared";
+import {
+  geoLookupState,
+  StatusItem,
+  usePublicVersion,
+  useSystemStatus,
+} from "./_shared";
 import { useKeyBackupStatus } from "./use-key-backup-status";
 
 export function SystemStatusSummary() {
@@ -95,13 +100,20 @@ export function SystemStatusSummary() {
               icon={Globe}
               label={t("admin.overview.snapshotOfflineGeo")}
               value={
-                version.offlineGeoEnabled
-                  ? t("admin.overview.snapshotOfflineGeoOn")
-                  : t("admin.overview.snapshotOfflineGeoOff", {
-                      host: version.geoProviderHost ?? "ipwho.is",
-                    })
+                {
+                  offline: t("admin.overview.snapshotOfflineGeoOn"),
+                  off: t("admin.offlineGeoOff"),
+                  chosen: t("admin.offlineGeoChosen", {
+                    host: version.geoProviderHost ?? "ipwho.is",
+                  }),
+                  default: t("admin.overview.snapshotOfflineGeoOff", {
+                    host: version.geoProviderHost ?? "ipwho.is",
+                  }),
+                }[geoLookupState(version)]
+              }
+              tone={
+                geoLookupState(version) === "default" ? "warning" : "success"
               }
-              tone={version.offlineGeoEnabled ? "success" : "warning"}
             />
           )}
         </div>
diff --git a/src/lib/geo.ts b/src/lib/geo.ts
index 775cbc41e..b8c647e14 100644
--- a/src/lib/geo.ts
+++ b/src/lib/geo.ts
@@ -169,6 +169,24 @@ export function resolveGeoProviderHost(): string {
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * How login IPs are placed on this host: from the mounted GeoLite2 databases,
+ * by the online provider, or not at all (`IP_GEO_LOOKUP_DISABLED`).
+ */
+export function geoLookupMode(): "offline" | "online" | "off" {
+  if (offlineGeoReady()) return "offline";
+  return envFlag("IP_GEO_LOOKUP_DISABLED") ? "off" : "online";
+}
+
+/**
+ * Whether the operator named the online provider (`IP_GEO_LOOKUP_URL`).
+ * An explicit provider is a decision about where login IPs go; the default
+ * is not, so the admin status only warns about the default.
+ */
+export function geoProviderChosen(): boolean {
+  return Boolean(process.env.IP_GEO_LOOKUP_URL?.trim());
+}
+
 /**
  * Directory the offline MMDBs are read from.
  *
diff --git a/src/lib/openapi/routes/meta.ts b/src/lib/openapi/routes/meta.ts
index 088cb1032..864da8252 100644
--- a/src/lib/openapi/routes/meta.ts
+++ b/src/lib/openapi/routes/meta.ts
@@ -239,6 +239,16 @@ const versionResponse = z
       .describe(
         "Host of the online geolocation provider the fallback would use, so an operator surface names the real one instead of assuming the default.",
       ),
+    geoLookup: z
+      .enum(["offline", "online", "off"])
+      .describe(
+        "How login IPs are placed (since v1.42): `offline` from the GeoLite2 databases, `online` by the provider above, `off` not at all (`IP_GEO_LOOKUP_DISABLED`).",
+      ),
+    geoProviderChosen: z
+      .boolean()
+      .describe(
+        "The operator named the online provider in `IP_GEO_LOOKUP_URL` (since v1.42). False while the default is in use.",
+      ),
   })
   .meta({
     id: "VersionResponse",