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📍 System
88% Success Rate
8 minutes
Android GPS Not Working - Fix Guide
Fix GPS and location problems on Android phones with calibration and settings solutions.
Updated March 2026Easy difficulty8 minutes
📍 30-Second Quick Fix
- 1Pull down Quick Settings and toggle Location OFF then ON
- 2Go to Settings > Location and set to High Accuracy mode
- 3Go outside with a clear view of the sky and wait 30 seconds
Method 1: Set High Accuracy Mode
2 minutes
90% Success
- 1Go to Settings > Location
- 2Tap Location Services (or Mode on older phones)
- 3Select High Accuracy — this uses GPS, Wi-Fi, and mobile networks together
- 4On newer phones: enable Google Location Accuracy toggle (Settings > Location > Google Location Accuracy)
Note: High Accuracy mode uses more battery but is significantly more reliable for navigation and maps.
Method 2: Calibrate Compass in Google Maps
2 minutes
85% Success
- 1Open Google Maps
- 2Tap the blue location dot
- 3Tap Calibrate
- 4Move your phone in a figure-8 pattern three times until accuracy improves
- 5The compass accuracy should change from "Low" to "High"
Method 3: Clear Google Maps Cache
3 minutes
80% Success
- 1Go to Settings > Apps > Google Maps > Storage
- 2Tap Clear Cache (this won't delete offline maps)
- 3If still not working, tap Clear Data (this resets Maps completely)
- 4Restart the phone and test GPS again
Method 4: Check Location Permissions
3 minutes
85% Success
- 1Go to Settings > Location > App Permissions
- 2Find the app having GPS issues (e.g. Google Maps, Uber, Deliveroo)
- 3Set to "Allow all the time" or "Allow only while using the app"
- 4Also check that "Use precise location" is toggled ON (not approximate)
Method 5: Check Battery Saver Isn't Disabling GPS
2 minutes
75% Success
Battery saver modes often restrict GPS accuracy or disable it entirely to save power.
- 1Check if Battery Saver is on: Settings > Battery > Battery Saver — turn OFF
- 2Samsung: Also check Settings > Battery > Power Mode — set to "Optimised"
- 3Exempt your map/navigation app from battery optimisation
Why GPS Stops Working
- • Battery saver mode — restricts GPS accuracy to save power
- • Indoors or urban canyons — GPS signals can't penetrate buildings or are blocked by tall structures
- • Stale AGPS data — the assisted GPS data cache becomes outdated
- • App permissions changed — Android updates sometimes reset location permissions
- • Phone case interference — metal phone cases can block GPS signals
🛡️ Prevention Tips
- ✓Keep Google Maps and Google Play Services updated
- ✓Download offline maps for areas you visit frequently
- ✓Avoid metal phone cases — they block GPS signals
- ✓Calibrate compass monthly using the figure-8 method
- ✓Turn off Battery Saver when using navigation
When to Seek Help
📞 Hardware Issues If:
- •GPS never gets a fix even outdoors with clear sky — antenna may be damaged
- •Location is always wrong by several hundred metres
- •GPS stopped working after the phone was dropped or exposed to water
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