GPS Not Working? 15 Fixes for Every Device
We've tested every GPS fix on every platform. Here are the ones that actually work — organized by device so you only see what's relevant.
Key Takeaway
90% of GPS issues come down to three things: stale cached data, battery optimization killing GPS polling, or simply being indoors where satellites can't reach. Pick your device below and we will walk you through the exact steps.
What Device Are You Using?
Select your device and we'll show you only the fixes that apply. No scrolling through irrelevant instructions.
Universal Fixes (Every Device)
These work on everything. If the device-specific fixes above did not help, try these.
Restart Your Device
- 1Power off your device completely (not just sleep).
- 2Wait 30 seconds.
- 3Power it back on and wait for full boot.
- 4Open a maps app and let it acquire a fresh GPS lock.
Pro Tip: Sounds obvious, but a full restart clears the GPS driver state and forces a cold satellite acquisition. We always try this first.
Move Away from Interference
- 1Step away from metal roofs, concrete buildings, and dense tree cover.
- 2Move at least 10 feet from large metal objects or electronics.
- 3Avoid areas near radio towers, high-voltage power lines, or industrial equipment.
Pro Tip: GPS signals are incredibly weak — about 20 watts transmitted from 12,500 miles away. A metal roof or even a car windshield with metallic tint can block them.
Go Outside with a Clear Sky View
- 1Walk outside to an open area.
- 2Make sure you can see a large portion of the sky (not just a sliver between buildings).
- 3Wait 30-60 seconds for your device to acquire satellites.
Pro Tip: GPS needs line-of-sight to at least 4 satellites. Indoors, most of those signals are blocked. This is not a bug — it is a physical limitation of the technology.
Update Your Maps App
- 1Open your app store (App Store, Play Store, or Microsoft Store).
- 2Search for your maps/navigation app.
- 3Install any available updates.
- 4Clear the app's cache if the option is available.
Check Your GPS Accuracy Now
After trying the fixes above, use our GPS Coordinates tool to verify your device's accuracy. It shows your exact position, accuracy radius, altitude, and heading in real time.
Open GPS Coordinates Tool →How GPS Actually Works (And Why It Breaks)
GPS stands for Global Positioning System — a network of 31 satellites orbiting Earth at about 12,550 miles altitude. Your phone receives signals from these satellites and calculates its position using trilateration: measuring the time it takes for each signal to arrive. With signals from 4 or more satellites, your phone can determine latitude, longitude, and altitude.
The signals are incredibly weak by the time they reach Earth. Each satellite transmits at about 20 watts (less than a household light bulb), and that signal has traveled over 12,000 miles through space and atmosphere. This is why GPS struggles indoors, in urban canyons between tall buildings, and under heavy tree cover. The signal simply cannot penetrate solid obstacles reliably.
Modern phones supplement GPS with several other positioning methods. WiFi positioning compares visible WiFi networks against a database of known access point locations. Cell tower triangulation uses signal strength from nearby towers. Barometric pressure sensors estimate altitude. Accelerometers and gyroscopes provide dead reckoning between GPS fixes. This combination is called “fused location” and it is what your phone actually uses — pure GPS is just one input.
When things go wrong, it is usually because one of these inputs is feeding bad data. A stale WiFi location database, a cached satellite almanac that is days old, or an aggressive battery manager that kills GPS polling between screen wakes. The fixes above target each of these failure modes specifically.
Why GPS Is Worse in Cities (Multipath Effect)
In dense urban areas, GPS signals bounce off buildings before reaching your phone. Your device receives both the direct signal and these reflected copies, each arriving at slightly different times. This is called “multipath” and it confuses the distance calculation, causing your position to jump around by 10-50 meters.
The “urban canyon” effect makes this worse. When you are on a narrow street surrounded by tall buildings, your phone can only see satellites directly overhead. With fewer satellites and more reflected signals, accuracy drops significantly. This is why your navigation app sometimes shows you on the wrong street in downtown areas.
Newer phones with dual-frequency GPS (L1 and L5 bands) handle multipath much better. The L5 signal was specifically designed to resist multipath interference. If you are buying a new phone and GPS accuracy matters to you, check for L5 support. Most flagship phones from 2023 onward include it.
When Your GPS Hardware Might Be Broken
If you have tried every fix above and GPS still does not work outdoors with a clear sky view, your GPS antenna might have a hardware problem. This can happen after dropping your phone, water damage, or just age-related wear. Signs of hardware failure:
- GPS never acquires any satellites, even outdoors for 5+ minutes
- Location only works on WiFi (never on GPS alone)
- Accuracy is always 100+ meters regardless of conditions
- GPS worked before a drop or water exposure, then stopped
- Other location features (compass, barometer) also misbehave
In these cases, take your device to an authorized repair center. GPS antenna replacement is a relatively cheap fix on most phones ($30-80 at independent shops, more at manufacturer service centers).
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Frequently Asked Questions
GPS inaccuracy is usually caused by poor satellite signal. Buildings, trees, and weather can block or reflect GPS signals, causing your position to drift. Enabling high accuracy mode (which uses WiFi and cell towers alongside GPS) typically fixes this. Indoor locations are the most common cause.
Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Location & Privacy. This clears all location permissions and forces a fresh GPS lock. You will need to re-grant location permissions to your apps afterward.
Android GPS cold starts can take 30-60 seconds because your phone needs to download satellite almanac data. Enabling WiFi and mobile data speeds this up via Assisted GPS (A-GPS). Power saving mode can also disable A-GPS, making locks even slower.
Yes. Metal phone cases and magnetic mounts can interfere with GPS signals. The GPS antenna receives very weak satellite signals from 12,500 miles away, so even small amounts of interference matter. Try removing your case as a first troubleshooting step.
Yes, GPS itself works without internet — it receives signals directly from satellites. But without internet, your phone cannot use Assisted GPS (A-GPS), so the initial lock takes much longer. Map apps also need internet to load tiles unless you have offline maps downloaded.
Modern phones achieve 3-5 meter accuracy outdoors with clear sky. In urban areas, expect 10-20 meters due to signal reflection. Indoors, accuracy drops to 20-50 meters or fails entirely. Dual-frequency GPS phones (L1+L5) achieve 1-3 meter accuracy in good conditions.
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