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Android GPS troubleshooting

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Frederik
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If you experience an issue with you Android device's GPS signal, these solutions might help you solve the problem. 
  
Solution 1: Turn your GPS on and off
The easiest and fastest solution to fix a GPS problem on an android device, is often just turning the GPS off and on again, so the signal can be updated and reconnected. You can quick and easy do this by dragging the message banner down by swiping down on your homepage, on your mobile device.
 
Solution 2: Turn Airplane Mode On and Off
This is another quick and easy solution to many GPS issues. Simply switching Airplane mode on and off restarts your phone's internet connection, which can solve a number of GPS issues. You turn Airplane mode on and off in the same way as in Solution 1, by swiping down on your home screen and then selecting Airplane mode.
 
Solution 3: Remove your mobile phone cover
In some instances, your mobile cover may block the GPS signal, so your trips will be displayed incorrectly. So simply try removing your phone cover and then check if your GPS issue is solved. If it helped to remove your phone cover, you should acquire a phone cover which do not affect the phone's GPS signal.
 
Solution 4: Power Saver Mode
If you tend to use the power save mode on your phone, there is a risk that your GPS signal will not work as expected. Power Save Mode often disables your WiFi connection and GPS signal, which may cause your trips to not be saved. To disable power save mode, you can either swipe the message banner down and from here disable it or you can go under settings and select battery. From here you can see if the power save mode is enabled and if it is, disable it.
 
 

Solution 5: Restart your Android device 

Restarting your Android device will update and re-establish the connection to both the Internet and the GPS signal. This can in some cases solve the GPS signal. It's a quick and easy solution if you do not have time to review several of the troubleshooting steps. You may find that many of the same problems resurface and therefore need to try the other solution suggestions.

 
 

Solution 6: Adjust your GPS settings 

You can often improve the calibration of your location by adjusting your GPS settings. Your device can be adjusted to take advantage of several parameters, such as. GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth and cellular towers, to better calibrate your device's location. 
By following these steps, you can adjust your GPS settings to your preferences: 

  1. Go to Settings on your mobile device
  2. Scroll down until you find Location
  3. Under Location, select Mode

(Note: In some cases, you may need to check, for example, Security and Privacy to find location settings) 
Note that there are three options. By selecting High Accuracy, you ensure that your phones signal is as accurate as possible.

 

Solution 7: Update Google Maps 

It's important that Google Maps is up to date for your mobile to have an accurate GPS signal. If you have postponed your updates to Google Maps, there is a risk that the map in the application is out of date, which may cause problems identifying your exact location. You should always make sure that Google Maps is up to date. 
To update Google Maps, please follow these steps: 

  1. Go to the Play Store
  2. Press the three lines in the upper left corner
  3. Then select My apps & games
  4. Scroll through your applications until you find Google Maps
  5. Press Update

 

When the application is done updating, restart your device. See if your GPS issue is resolved.


Solution 8: Clear Cache and Data from Google Maps

Sometimes your cache and data files pile up on your device. In some cases, these files may become corrupt, which may result in Google Maps behaving abnormally. To solve this problem, you should clear your cache and data files. To do this, please follow these steps:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Scroll down until you find Applications
  3. Then find Google Maps
  4. Then select Clear Cache and Clear Data

(Note: The steps may be different on other Android devices)

 
 

Solution 9: Download GPS Status & Toolbox 

GPS Status & Toolbox is a useful and user-friendly application that can provide you with a lot of information about your device's GPS settings. In addition, the application can help install necessary updates for GPS data, also known as A-GPS data. A-GPS data enhances your device's GPS performance.

You can download the GPS Status & Toolbox in the Play Store on your Android device. The application is free. Once downloaded, you can check your GPS performance and make adjustments that can help improve your GPS.
Check if your GPS works better after installing this application.

 

Solution 10: Safe mode 

Many applications make use of your device's GPS. When these applications end up with corrupt files, it may start to affect your device's GPS. To check if this is the problem, try using your phone in Safe Mode.

To use Safe Mode, please follow these steps: 

First method

  1. Hold down the phone's power button until the power off is displayed.
  2. Then hold your finger on the Turn off option, until a message pops up and asks if you want to restart in Safe Mode. 

Second Method 

  1. Turn off your phone
  2. When turning on your phone again, hold down the Volume Down button as soon as you see the manufacturer's logo
  3. Your phone should now start up in Safe Mode

Third Method

  1. Turn off your phone
  2. When you turn on your phone again, hold both Volume buttons down as soon as you see the manufacturer's logo
  3. Your phone should now start up in Safe Mode

 

Solution 11: Update your phone

If you have postponed a system update for your Android device for a long time, there is a chance that this may affect your GPS. Each update brings a number of fixes to errors and possible issues. Therefore, you should keep your device up to date, so your phone has the latest version of Android.

To check for updates, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Scroll down until you find About the phone
  3. Select Check now for update

 

Solution 12: Factory Data Recovery 

By restoring your phone to factory data, you bring the phone back to the stage it was in when you purchased it. When you restore your phone, all imported data and downloaded apps will be deleted. It is therefore very important to make a backup of all your imported data. You can choose to store this data on a Cloud server or you can transfer this data to another device.

To reset your phone, please follow these steps:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Look for Backup & Reset
  3. You can choose to back up your data here
  4. Then, select Factory Data Recovery

This process may take some time to complete because all of your imported data will be deleted. 
After the process is complete, you can restore your backup.

 

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