AndroidAnswers

Why is my Android GPS or location not working?

By the AndroidAnswers Editorial Team · Updated

About 5 minutes · Wi‑Fi & mobile data

Illustration of a phone showing a map pin, with a compass on one side and a target symbol on the other

Steps to check

  1. Make sure Location is on and Airplane mode is off

    Swipe down from the top of the screen and look for the Location tile. If it is off, tap it to turn it on. You can also open Settings → Location and turn on Use location. While you are there, make sure Airplane mode is off, because Google Maps Help says Airplane mode can leave your location out of date. If Location was already on, turning it off and on once is a gentle way to wake it up.

    Samsung Settings → Location, then tap the switch at the top. The Location icon is also in the Quick panel when you swipe down.Pixel Settings → Location → Use location. To add a Location tile, swipe down twice, tap Edit, and drag Location into Quick Settings.

  2. Turn on Location Accuracy and scanning

    GPS works best outdoors. Indoors or near big buildings, your phone also uses Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile networks to work out where you are. Google calls this Location Accuracy (it used to be called Google Location Services). With it off, the phone relies only on GPS and its own sensors, which can make Maps slower or less accurate. Turn on Improve Location Accuracy, and turn on Wi-Fi scanning and Bluetooth scanning. Scanning lets the phone use nearby signals even when Wi-Fi or Bluetooth is off.

    Samsung Settings → Location → Location services. Turn on Wi-Fi scanning and Bluetooth scanning, then tap Location Accuracy and turn on Improve Location Accuracy.Pixel Settings → Location → Location services → Location Accuracy, then turn on Improve Location Accuracy. Wi-Fi scanning and Bluetooth scanning are in the same Location services screen.

  3. Check that the app is allowed to use your location

    Each app needs its own permission. If GPS works in one app but not another, this is the usual reason. Touch and hold the app icon, tap App info → Permissions → Location, and choose Allow only while using the app (or Allow all the time if it needs to follow you in the background). Also turn on Use precise location, so the app gets your exact spot instead of a rough area.

    Samsung Settings → Location → App permission, select the app, and choose an option. Samsung suggests Allow all the time for apps that need your location in the background.Pixel Settings → Location → App location permissions, then tap the app and choose its location access.

  4. Turn off Battery Saver for a while

    Battery-saving modes can limit location, especially when the screen is off. Google Maps Help lists Battery Saver as the fix when your location jumps around on the map. Turn it off while you navigate, then turn it back on later if you like.

    Samsung Settings → Device care → Battery → Power saving, and turn it off. Also check Background usage limits → Sleeping apps, and remove your map app from that list if it is there.Pixel Settings → Battery → Battery Saver, and turn it off while you test.

  5. Give GPS a clear view, then calibrate in Google Maps

    GPS uses satellites, so walls, garages, and tall buildings can block it. Step outside for a minute or two and keep mobile data or Wi-Fi on, which helps the phone find you faster. If your phone has a case or cover that is not made for it, try taking it off, since Samsung notes some accessories can affect GPS. In Google Maps, tap the blue dot, then tap Calibrate and follow the steps on screen. If the blue beam is wide or points the wrong way, hold the phone and move it in a figure 8 a few times to calibrate the compass.

  6. Restart, update, and know when to get help

    Restart the phone, then update both the phone and your map app. In Play Store, tap your profile icon → Manage apps & devices to update apps, and check for a system update in Settings. If location still fails in every app, even outdoors with all the settings above turned on, contact Samsung, Google, or your phone maker for help, because the GPS hardware may need a look.

    Samsung Settings → Software update → Download and install. Map apps can also be updated from Galaxy Store if you got them there.Pixel Settings → System → Software update.

Normal vs. not

Usually normal

A wide light blue circle around your dot indoors, a slow fix right after you step outside, or a dot that drifts a little between tall buildings.

Worth a closer look

No location in any app, even outdoors with Location, Location Accuracy, and app permissions turned on, or GPS that stopped completely after a drop or water exposure.

What people are saying

Common questions

Does GPS work without mobile data or Wi-Fi?

GPS itself uses satellites, so the phone can still find you. But a data or Wi-Fi connection helps it find you faster and more accurately, and Google Maps also uses nearby Wi-Fi and cell towers to place your dot.

Why does my location jump around or show the wrong place?

Weak GPS signal is the usual cause, for example indoors, underground, or near tall buildings. Google Maps Help also suggests turning off Battery Saver if your dot jumps around, and turning on Location Accuracy.

If I turn Location off, can emergency services still find me?

Android Help says emergency location services or your mobile carrier can still send your location to responders when you call or text an emergency number, even when Location is off.

Sources we checked

Menu names can differ by phone brand and Android version. See our editorial policy for how we check steps.