The GPS system is an integral part of navigation and map apps for smartphones, but what does one do when the app doesn't work properly? The good thing is that there are a number of features on your phone that could help you find your way.
Locating items on your phone: If you need to find a contact or location on your phone, simply type the name into the search bar and the contacts/locations will appear.
Google Maps: Another option would be to open Google Maps and plug in the address you want to go to as well as any other destinations if you know them. You can also pull up a map of your current location so you can see where you are going.
Spotlight: If all else fails, Spotlight can help locate specific contacts, photos
This article provides a roundup of possible solutions to fix a broken GPS on an android device.
Force stop the GPS app and restart it
Reset the phone to factory settings
Check if there is an update for the GPS app
Try restarting the device and check if that fixes any issues
Try changing your phone's network settings
What to do when your GPS doesn't work?
GPS is one of the most relied-upon technologies in today's world. When it doesn't work as expected, people feel frustrated and nervous. It can be really frustrating when you're lost and want to find your way around.
The simplest solution from Androidally.com is to check the power switch on the GPS unit. You may need to restart it by holding down the power button for a few seconds and turning it back on if this helps.
You also might need to re-set your GPS receiver with your device's menu using a specific code, but this would only be if you have a more sophisticated system such as with phones or cars.
Fix a Broken GPS on an Android Device
The navigation app, Google Maps, is an excellent way to find your way around. It's accurate and reliable, but there are rare instances when you will need to fix it.
This guide provides step-by-step instructions for how to fix a broken GPS on an Android device.
Fixing a broken GPS on your Android device is not very difficult. It typically only takes five minutes or less depending on the severity of the issue.
1. Restart your device and wait for a few minutes
When you restart your phone, the system clears its cache and other temporary files. This can help you to avoid app crashes and other problems.
If your device freezes up or is unresponsive, you should try to restart it. You can do this by pressing and holding the power button for a few seconds and choosing "restart" from the pop-up menu. Wait for a few minutes while your phone restarts before trying to use it again.
2. Make sure you have the latest maps downloaded and try again
As a good rule of thumb, you should check the map in your navigation app before each trip. Updates can be downloaded in a few taps and a notification will tell you when the maps are fresh.
In Google Maps, tap on the search bar and type “maps” to get to the update button. In Waze, go to Settings > General > Maps & Navigation > Update maps. In HERE maps, go to Settings > Offline maps > Update maps.
3. Check the date and time of the map on your device and make it April 1st 2017 or later
Changing your date and time on your phone will not make any changes to the map you are using. Once you change it, the map will lose all data and then reload with all new data. The old data won't be saved on the device.
4. Update the GPS settings in your settings menu
This modification is to ensure that the GPS works with your Google Maps and Waze apps.
In order to display your location on Google Maps and Waze, you need to allow the apps to access your location. Navigate down to 'Location' in Settings > Privacy > Location Services and tap on 'Google Maps' or 'Waze'.
5. Reboot once more and hope for the best!
In case of a factory reset, the device won't be able to get a location. The only way to get it back is to reboot it and hope for the best.
In some cases, this might be enough. However, if the GPS is not working properly on your device because of hardware failure or another reason, you need to try some other options too.
Reinstalling a new operating system will fix some software-related problems that could have caused the GPS not to work properly in the first place. You can also try some fixes that are more hardware-related such as replacing the SIM card or using different cables and chargers on your phone.