Symptoms
- Blue location dot is off by a significant distance
- Location takes a long time to lock in
- Navigation app shows you in the wrong location
- Location bounces around while stationary
Likely causes
- CommonWeak GPS satellite signal indoors or in urban canyonsTall buildings and being indoors can block or reflect GPS signals, reducing accuracy.
- CommonLocation accuracy set to a lower modeSome phones let you choose battery-saving location modes that reduce GPS precision.
- PossibleLocation services or a specific app's location permission misconfiguredRestricted permissions can force an app to rely on less accurate Wi-Fi or cell tower positioning.
- PossibleOutdated maps or cached location dataA stale cache in the maps app can show incorrect positioning temporarily.
- Less commonGPS hardware issueIf GPS is inaccurate consistently outdoors in clear conditions, hardware could be at fault.
What to do
- Go outdoors to an open area with a clear view of the sky and let the phone reacquire GPS for a minute.
- Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and ensure it's set to 'High Accuracy' or similar mode.
- Confirm the navigation or maps app has full location permission, not just 'while using' or 'approximate'.
- Toggle Airplane Mode on and off to force a fresh GPS lock.
- Restart the phone to clear any stuck location cache.
- Update the maps or navigation app to its latest version.
- Check for a phone software update, since GPS accuracy bugs are occasionally fixed this way.
- If GPS stays inaccurate consistently outdoors in clear weather, have the GPS hardware tested professionally.
When to call a pro
If GPS location stays significantly off outdoors in clear conditions after these steps, a repair shop can test the GPS antenna and chip.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.