iPad: “Your Location Could Not be Determined”; Fix

Some iPad users have reported receiving the error message “Your Location Could Not be Determined” when attempting to use location services in Maps or other applications.

Note that Wi-Fi-only iPads may not be able to determine location if connected to a Wi-Fi network in a rural area or another location where hotspots are sparse and the device is unable to triangulate itself.

Your iPad’s Location Services uses GPS, Bluetooth, crowd-sourced Wi-Fi hotspots, and cellular towers to determine your location. Consequently, its accuracy in determining location may also vary widely (see this Apple Knowledge Base article for an explanation of how iPad location services work).

Related articles

• Find out which apps track your location in the background with iOS 13
• How Third Parties Track Your iPhone Location (Beyond Location Services)
• How To Share Your iPhone’s Location With Your Android Friends and Family (And Vice Versa)
• iPhone’s Location Services Always ON? Here’s Why
• Apple announces major location tracking 911 features in iOS 12

Potential Fixes for error “Your Location Could Not be Determined” on iPad

• Turn on Find my iPad: Visit your iCloud settings in Settings > Apple ID > iCloud and toggle on Find My. After a few minutes, location services may begin working again
• Check for any Restrictions. Verify that you do not have Screen Time or any restrictions enabled for privacy and location services
• Turn on your compass. Your iPad’s compass calibration might be turned off. Check Settings>Privacy>Location Services>System Services > Compass Calibration
• Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and make sure that Location Services and Maps is set to While Using.
• Check your iPad’s date, time, and time zone. Go to Settings > General > Date & Time. If possible, use Set Automatically or set it manually, if desired

  

• Make sure that cellular data and/or Wi-Fi is turned on, and that you have an active connection

  

• Restart the Maps app. Open your app switcher and swipe up on the app and pause, then swipe up again on the app preview to close it. Then open Maps again
• Restart or force restart your device
  • On an iPad with no Home Button and iPhones 8 or later: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Then press and hold the Side/Top/Power button until the device restarts.
  • On an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus: Press and hold both the Side and Volume Down buttons for at least 10 seconds, until you see the Apple logo.
  • On an iPhone 6s and earlier, iPad with a Home Button, or iPod touch: Press and hold both the Home and the Top (or Side) buttons for at least 10 seconds, until you see the Apple logo.
• Try a different location or switch to a different Wi-Fi network by going to Settings > WiFi
• Go to a public wifi location and see if your location works at that location

Submit location to Skyhook

Wi-Fi-only iPads use Skyhook Wireless to determine location. As such, if your area is not in Skyhook’s database, your iPad may not be able to determine location.

Navigate to this page and map your location, then determine your Wi-Fi network’s MAC address and submit it.

Report this issue from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

You can report an issue from these Apple Maps features:

• Map
• Search
• Navigation
• Transit
• Image quality

SK

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.