Several users have reported issues with their GPS (Global Positioning System) not working or giving inaccurate information. A commonly reported problem is that the navigation apps are unable to work / retrieve a GPS signal. Solution: (Try each step below until you find one that works for you)
- Set your Date & Time to “Set Automatically” by tapping Settings > General > Date & Time and make sure that you have a cellular or Wi-Fi connection. These options will increase the accuracy of GPS.
- Toggle 3G settings: Settings>General>Network>Enable 3G and toggle to “OFF” then open the map app (make sure you have a Wi-Fi connection) and locate yourself; tap Settings>General>Network>Enable 3G and turn “ON”. And turn Wi-Fi off by tapping Settings > Wi-Fi.
- Try resetting your network settings: Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
- Restart your device.
- If you are having problems with a third party navigation app, ensure that you have the latest version of the app.
Note: GPS is not available on the original iPhone or iPad
GPS Issues with iOS 11, iOS 12 or later?
If you iPhone or iPad is experiencing GPS issues with the latest iOS or iPadOS, make sure to check our detailed troubleshooting guide below.
If you are having issues with Apple Maps and have been using Google Maps for a while, check these tips out to work with Google map offline features and other tricks.
- How-To Download Offline Maps & Routes in Google Maps iPhone App
- How to Use the New Google Maps Explore Bar on Your iPhone
Update: 07/27/2019
If you own an older iPhone, you will need to update your iPhone or iPad software to avoid issues with location, date and time. Apple released a patch for the GPS Bug. This affects iPhone models released in 2012 or earlier. Apple published a detailed white paper around this new update.
According to Apple:
“Starting November 3, 2019, some iPhone and iPad models introduced in 2012 and earlier will require an iOS update to maintain accurate GPS location and keep the correct date and time. This is due to the GPS time rollover issue that began affecting GPS-enabled products from other manufacturers on April 6, 2019. Affected Apple devices are not impacted until November 3, 2019.
Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the original editorial direction of AppleToolBox. He is based out of Los Angeles, CA.
Sudz specializes in covering all things macOS, having reviewed dozens of OS X and macOS developments over the years.
In a former life, Sudz worked helping Fortune 100 companies with their technology and business transformation aspirations.
Gavin says
This past winter 2023 I bought an iPad Air (5Th Gen) 256 with cellular and run Navionics. I have a SIM card too. I always keep the IOS and apps up to date. I have had continual problems with the Navionics app losing the gps signal and the tracking and speed calculations are not reliable. I never had any problems with my iPad Air (2nd gen) running Navionics. It worked properly all the time. The only reason I upgraded was I wanted to run Aquamaps as well and my old iPad didn’t have storage space left. I am also having problems with Aquamaps too so I suspect the quality of the GPS receiver is somehow not right on this new iPad. None of the suggestions on this page have helped.
Anne Bayly says
We can’t get GPS on our iPad 15.6.
Help please!!! We’re at sea, and need it bad.
Anne
Mike Fisher says
My iPad Pro gen 3 software 14.7.1 stopped GPS positioning whilst outside network range at sea whilst using navionics app. When back in at home on WIFI network, the GPS location became the nominated point for the service providers interpretation based on my home WIFI address
All the suggested fixes have been tried many times to no effect. The MUCH older iPad continues to work accurately.
ROBERT A SHERER seems to have identified the same problem 2 years back, but there was no answer addressing it.
Regards
Mike
Are you aware of the on-going issue of GPS signal connectivity loss that only affects the 2018 models of iPad Pro and iPad Pro 12.9?
The iPad Pro models, especially the 12.9 version, is used by boat owners as replacements for more expensive chart plotters used for marine navigation.
Naturally, repeated loss of GPS fixes negates their use for navigation and causes much anguish.
All of your suggest fixes have been tried and do not work.
There has never even been an acknowledgment by Apple of a problem – no progress on fixing the problem has ever been reported – can you help?
Submitted 8/22/2019 on Apple Feedback site:
iPad Pro GPS loss of fix
Problem: iPad Pro 2018 models (both the 11 and 12.9 inch are affected) intermittently lose GPS fix in all apps at the same time, especially when moving at speeds in the 3 to 10 mph range which is typical of sailboat speeds negating their use in navigation. Owners replacing their iPad Pro tablets have found it does not fix the problem.
This is a critical problem preventing the use of the iPad Pro in marine navigation – what is being done to address this problem?
We have the exactly same problem on our iPad Pro 11. I tried all options to fix the problem but it persists. Sailing in Turkey the Navsoftware and all other software that uses the GPS stopped gettin GPS usable data. Now back home, after more trials to fix the problem I get a GPS signal that updates the app about every 8k-12 seconds and shows a accuracy of 165m (besides I use a older iPad air 2 with the same software showing update every second or less an accuracy of 5m)
If I switch off WLAN I get no GPS signal at all (on my iPad air 2 I stll get the same good GPS data)
Anybody around with a idea to fix the problem?
My iPad Pro gen 3 software 14.7.1 stopped GPS positioning whilst outside network range at sea whilst using navionics app. When back in at home on WIFI network, the GPS location became the nominated point for the service providers interpretation based on my home WIFI address
All the suggested fixes have been tried many times to no effect. The MUCH older iPad continues to work accurately.
ROBERT A SHERER seems to have identified the same problem 2 years back, but there was no answer addressing it.
Regards
Mike
Great post! Thanks for the info on GPS, it helped me today.
Useless advices. sorry but it´s true
It worked perfect! Thanks a lot!
Have att service on iPod mini3 signal strength was good no gps or Internet connect then called att they reset my connection
Don’t know if it is going to work
I just powered off and on and it is working. Just a crabapple buggie!
I’m having the same gps not working issue as John Bishop. I also have verizon. I’ve reinstalled the latest verizon of the gls related apps.
I’m having the same problem as John Bishop, GPS isn’t working on any of my GPS related apps and I also am a verizon customer. I’ve reinstalled new/latest version of each of them. Please help.
I have tried all of these ‘fixes’ and my GPS is still not working!
my GPS function also suddenly failed on all app that use GPS such as Charity Miles and MapQuest.
I have latest software so I can not update again.
How can this be fixe
Sorry…Forgot to note…I am a Verizon Customer and I have an Iphone 4s. I am pretty sure the GPS has been working since my last update but it is NOT working now.
Need to get fixed right away… Use GPS related Apps very much each day.
NOTICE – A REAL SOLUTION :
Assisted GPS (A-GPS) is required to be functional, when indoors or horrible weather, and wifi off (no point presense mapping), in order to work on older Apple iPhone 3G. This is a fact. And normally ATT is not too stingy with sending out A-GPS logistics (they include the velocities and last locations of the constellation of satellites above, to reduce tracking setup from 54 seconds to merely 3 seconds).
BUT ATT HATES A-GPS overreliance and abuse and institutes AHRD THROTTLES, as do most other carriers to once per 5 minutes, or worse (in software previously, not at cell tower).
Some older techniques like rebooting your device, resetting network prefs, toggling aiplane mode, turning off 3g (using Edge), and other tricks sometimes work if the permanently cached prior true GPS reading in your phone has an erroneous FUTURE timestamp (such as using a-gps with your clock set to a future year).
In such cases only a total wipe would clear out the CACHED WITHIN FILE FILE date of erroneous timestamp.
I know this because I programmed A-GPS logic on 10 different devices for cell companies, but NOT THE IPHONE.
In my own code, i simply cleared timestamps from “the future” and also honored peoples wishes if they manually rebooted, regarless of 5 minute ban, but did display the cached GPS value until another was ever fetched, either GPS, A-GPS, google wifi, or other.
SLAMMING my phone on the desk did not fix my problem, I spent 2 solid days battling this problem THIS WEEK, hundreds of experiments, prior to considering class action lawsuit against att, but this immediately fixed the gps problem….
GO TO APPLE STORE WITH DEVICE AND AFTER SCREEN FULLY DRAWN ON A NON-WIFI NETWORK, ATT will stop banning your phone from getting A-GPS information from local cell towers and affiliate cell towers.
PERFECT FIX!
IT WORKS! I JUST DISCOVERED IT AN HOUR AGO
I had not been to the apple store using my phone in over 2 years, and for half a year no way in hell could my phone use A-GPS from att because att illegally and evilly seemingly blocks A-GPS from being sent from cell tower to my old OS IPhone 3g for some disgusting reason. They dont consider me an apple customer or something.
GOING TO APPLE STORE ON THE IPHONE IMMEDIATE AND PERFECTLY FIXED GPS AND A-GPS !!!
I cannot make it fail now in a basement , far from windows, from cold boot with long timeout between trials, but I have to drive 40 miles or more away with phone off during the drive, and then turn on in a large commercial building , indoor, far from windows, with wifi off, and see if the fix really worked.
I have no fear it will work.
I know my phone now is no longer banned from a-gps from ATT , and using Apple iPhone App store on device , with valid account cached in store for login purpose, was good enough to fisx the hell.
NOTHING ON THIS BLOG PRIOR WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO FIX IT.
iPhone 3gs. This worked for me. Connected to Apple store without wifi and boom now gps works and I have it back for the app I need it for. Much appreciated. Many thanks.
Resetting the network settings worked for me as well!! Thank you!
For me it didn’t work again if WiFi is turned off after resetting the network. 🙁
Hi,
Just like to say thanks to whoever posted the list of possible solutions. I had the GPS issue after installing accuweather app. GPS worked fine on wi fi ipad 2 until then. Reset the network connection and that fixed the problem.
Thanks again….. Darragh
I am with Fido, in Vancouver/Burnaby BC Canada. GPS is report inaccurate information and is off by three blocks. Using the new Find Friend App on my iPhone 5 to find a Friend who I work with (he has an iPhone 5, on Rogers). His is reporting accurately, mine is not. 🙁 778.867.0177, Apple ID: RwHorne@21Ultracom.com