GPS does not work well on Android. Why GPS does not work on an Android device: reasons and solutions

Modern mobile communication devices have GPS and GLONASS sensors. On devices with the Android operating system, in particular, this makes it possible to always determine your location and create routes using maps in your phone, without using paper counterparts. This is especially true for navigators installed in the car. But what to do if GPS does not function on Android? First of all, we will find out the reasons, and then we will try to correct the situation.

Reasons for GPS not working on Android devices

The simplest and most easily remedied reason that GPS does not work is an inactive navigation module. If your smartphone has not been set to operate the navigation module by default, you need to do it manually. Beginners may not figure out this reason until they open the settings. You need to sweep down and in the menu that opens, next to the clock and notification shortcuts, switch “Geolocation” to active mode.

After activation, navigators in applications will work as standard. In many applications with a navigator, the user is notified if the module is not active. Applications for creating routes on phone maps automatically redirect the user to the menu after activating the module before starting work.

If you have activated the module and turned everything on, but the GPS does not respond to your actions, you just need to wait up to 15 minutes for the data to load, they do not work in lightning-fast mode. Visibility from satellites and download speed depend on many factors, ranging from weather to the stability of the mobile signal from the tower. After the first download, the data will be installed and will be opened quickly in the future.

You also need time to recognize a new place when you arrive with your device in another region or country. The smartphone first determines its location and then operates quickly in this environment.

Other reasons why GPS may not work when first started:

• You are trying to start the navigator while driving - stop the car and allow the device to boot in a calm and stable position;
• You are in a place where there is no connection - GPS does not turn on indoors, unlike the Internet;
• You launch the navigator in an area with natural interference for the satellite - mountains, vegetation, buildings.

After you have found one of the listed reasons and fixed the problem, the navigator on Android will work. If this does not happen - you have problems with the device - contact the service center to set up the software.

If your GPS worked and then stopped, this indicates an internal failure of the device. Before sending it to the service center, try to fix it yourself, namely, reset the settings to the factory level, perhaps you have been tricky with the settings and confused the device.

Using the Chartcross ltd program you can do a GPS Test to check the satellite coverage area in your area. When the module is working properly on the device and there is no interference with the signal, you will see on the application screen a map of the sky above you with dots that indicate the location of the nearest satellites.

How to make GPS settings on Android

There is no need to make any special settings, everything works automatically. If you want to customize something, you can change the way the signal is detected:

• The signal will be highly accurate if you use all reception points - the phone’s GPS module, Wi-Fi Internet and satellite;
• Energy saving is a mode when telephone networks and Wi-Fi Internet are used;
• GPS only - satellites will work.

You need to go to the settings in the “Geodata” section, where you can tick the required item. The navigator will work using a special program. There are applications for smartphones, for example, Maps.me. Its functionality also includes convenient maps that can be used offline; its use is free.

Good question. Today, many owners of Android smartphones are interested in this question. Once upon a time, when I bought my first Android device, I also encountered the same problem. I am a driver and the first thing I wanted from a smart device was, of course, navigation. I bought a phone, turned it on and immediately started looking for satellites. So what do you think? I waited for about thirty minutes and still nothing. I already had the idea that the phone was defective, without a GPS module. In fact, everything is simple, I poked around a little in the settings and this is what I found:

• the first thing you need to do is go into the settings of your smartphone and find the “my location” item there;

• then activate the GPS module and click on the “via GPS satellites” option. You don’t have to check the boxes next to “access to my geodata” and “by network coordinates”;

• as soon as you have entered the settings of your GPS, you need to check the box next to “GPS EPO assistance data”, then click on the “EPO parameters” item;

• Now check the box next to “autoload”. If you have access to the Internet, you can immediately download data on the position of the satellites.

That's all, now that the satellite location data has been downloaded, your smartphone will find them almost immediately.

What is EPO?

EPO (Extended Prediction Orbit) translated into Russian means a system for predicting the position of the orbit of satellites. EPO is the property of MediaTek one of the innovations of using a server in offline mode based on A-GPS technology. The system provides a satellite orbital position forecast for up to 30 days, which can significantly improve the user's experience during the first determination of the location of GPS satellites.

The settings that I told you about apply only to devices running MTK processors from MediaTek.

I hope the article was useful to you and you were able to set up your smartphone.

Modern gadgets are already so sophisticated that you can determine your location without resorting to GPS navigators anymore. Sometimes this is necessary for applications to work correctly, sometimes to create the correct route. When GPS doesn't work on Android, it becomes difficult. What could be the reason for this and what should be done to solve this problem?

Any device does not receive a satellite signal well or does not receive it at all if it is located indoors. Therefore, it is better to determine your location on the street. Ideally, the space should be free even from tall buildings and trees, so that the sky is completely open, so that nothing prevents the gadget from searching for a working signal and connecting to the necessary satellites.

Incorrect GPS setting

All devices are equipped with two GPS modules. One is a standard receiver, which can be enabled in the settings (General - Location - Mode). When you select mobile networks or Wi-Fi, the device will determine the location using towers without connecting to GPS satellites. This method is the fastest, but it does not always give an accurate result.

When you select the “GPS Only” mode, the phone or tablet will connect to the satellites, but this will take the device some time. In this case, it is advisable to be outside in an open area or at least put the gadget on the windowsill. It is for the operation of the second module that the correct configuration is needed. How to check if the device receives a signal? To do this, you will have to download and install GPS Test, a diagnostic application.

After starting the program, select Update only in the AGPS settings, and Keep Screen On in Settings. Now you need to return to the main program window, the GPS test on your tablet or phone will begin. It is important that Wi-Fi and mobile data should neither be enabled in the Location settings nor currently in use.

If diagnostics show that the device does not find satellites, then you should check whether the GPS settings on Android are correct. How to set up GPS? To do this, you must first download any application that can process the GPS signal. If it does not help, you need to check the settings of the COM port of the communicator.

Unsuccessful flashing

After not the most successful attempts to flash a gadget or specifically a GPS module, not only the system, but also simply its individual parts, for example, geolocation, may stop functioning. It is also common for GPS to stop working on a Chinese device.

To correct this situation, you need to enable AGPS in the location and GPS settings. After this, you need to enter the engineering menu through the dialing window (the combination is different for all phones). If you cannot enter it, you will have to use any special program, but with root rights. Procedure in:

• On the Satellites tab of the YGPS tab, check if there is a signal, i.e. does the phone or tablet even try to find satellites;
• go to the Information tab and there, in order, press the buttons full, warm, hot, cold (this is necessary to reset previous settings);
• on the NMEA Log tab, click start;
• return to the Satellites tab and wait from 5 to 15 minutes until the device finds the maximum number of satellites and the GPS signal scales turn green;
• go back to the NMEA Log tab, click stop.

This method is shown in more detail in the video.

Primary binding and calibration

It happens that the device is located in some remote area. In this case, it is advisable to place it in an open area for a long time and wait until the search and binding takes place.
Sometimes navigation may stop working because the compass calibration is incorrect. Such a phone or tablet will be oriented incorrectly, resulting in a problem with the GPS on the device. To calibrate, you need to download a special application, GPS Essentials. After installing and launching it you need:

1. Click on the compass icon.
2. Choose a smooth, flat surface, place your communicator on it and remove all electrical appliances from it.
3. Smoothly rotate the device around each axis 3 times.

After this, you need to try to connect again and, if necessary, repeat the calibration.

Problems with the device itself

If a gadget, tested and configured in accordance with all the rules, still does not pick up satellites, only a service center will help you check the GPS settings and find the reason. It may be that the problem lies in the device itself.

GPS does not work on Android, what should I do?. Navigation systems on mobile devices (smartphones and tablets) have recently become necessary not only for motorists, but also for pedestrians, due to their good ability to build walking routes. But quite a lot of users have to deal with the fact that the GPS system on Android does not work or does not work well. This can result in different types of problems, depending on what exactly caused the failure.

Definition

What is GPS? This is a navigation system - strictly speaking, GPS / GLONASS is a navigation module that allows you to use many applications that use navigation. This Yandex. Cards, Google. Cards, displaying the weather in your city, determining your actual location and configuring the device taking this factor into account (weather, time zone, etc.).

Routes are most often set using this system. They can be by car, on foot or by bicycle. In fact, when working properly, such a module helps to find any object on the maps.

Problems

But in some cases, certain problems may be detected in the operation of such a module. Their nature is different, but they equally interfere with working with the system:

• Complete inability to determine locations;
• Inaccurate location determination;
• Slow data updating or complete lack of updating (for example, you move in space or turn around, and the pointer on the map does not change its position for a long time).

Most problems can disappear on their own when you restart or when you move to another area of ​​the map. But if this does not happen, then you need to know what causes them and how to eliminate them.

Rice. 2 Navigation

Possible reasons

There can be many reasons for this type of problem. But all of them can be divided into two large groups - hardware problems and software problems. We talk about hardware problems when there is a defect in the physical navigation module itself, and about software problems when something is incorrectly configured in the software of a smartphone or tablet.

Important! Software-type problems are quite easy to configure and fix yourself. When it comes to hardware failures, it is better to entrust the matter to a service center, since the repair process can be quite complicated for a non-specialist. And there is a risk of making the situation worse.

Rice. 3 Geolocation problems

Hardware

One of the most common problems occurs during the first launch of the module, that is, when you first launch an application that uses GPS on a new smartphone. Within 15-20 minutes, geolocation may not work, nothing will happen, the location will not be determined. This is a normal condition when you first start it, but this should not happen again in the future.

A similar situation may arise if you have traveled a significant distance, for example, moved to another country or region, with the navigation module turned off. In this case, when he first starts in a new place, he will also need time to “think.”

The problem may also occur when starting at high speed, for example, while driving a car - in this case, the module will “slow down” for the first time after switching on.

Keep in mind that GPS does not work in buildings - indoor navigation will not be carried out. Your approximate location in the building is determined using the location of wireless Internet zones and cell towers, but not GLONASS.

Rice. 4 Working navigator

Software

The GLONAS module can be disabled through the phone settings; often on new models it is not enabled by default. Therefore, many beginners who are not accustomed to using Android do not turn it on before starting to use navigation applications. By the way, most popular and modern applications of this type notify the user that he needs to enable navigation.

Inaccurate location determination may be due to the characteristics of the zone. The system does not work equally well in all areas due to the nature of satellite operation. There are “blind” zones that the navigator misses or does not detect accurately. It is impossible to fight this.

Rice. 5 Stable geolocation

Elimination

Troubleshooting is usually quite simple. But if after taking all the above measures the problem has not been resolved, it is possible that the problem is a faulty module and it requires replacement at a service center.

Hardware

There are no ways to “cure” the program freezing after the first launch of the navigation module. The user just needs to wait about 15-20 minutes after the first launch of the application - during this time, the electronic components of the navigation device will adjust to the current operating conditions and the location will be determined.

That is why it is recommended to run this module for configuration immediately after purchasing a phone, so as not to wait in a situation where you need it urgently.

Rice. 6 Location problems

Software

Turning on navigation on your smartphone is quite simple. Most often, the application itself “asks” whether to enable navigation when it is disabled. Then you need to click on “ YES" or " OK" in the pop-up window, and the application itself will enable geolocation. If such a notification does not appear, turn it on manually, following the algorithm:

1. On the unlocked screen, on the desktop, pull out the menu by sliding it from the top of the screen down;

) have recently become necessary not only for motorists, but also for pedestrians, thanks to their good ability to build walking routes.

But quite a lot of users have to deal with the fact that the GPS system on Android does not work or does not work well.

This can result in different types of problems, depending on what exactly caused the failure.

Definition

What is GPS? This is a navigation system - strictly speaking, GPS/GLONASS is a navigation module that allows you to use many applications that use navigation.

Problems

But in some cases, certain problems may be detected in the operation of such a module. Their nature is different, but they equally interfere with working with the system:

• Complete inability to determine locations;
• Inaccurate location determination;
• Slow data updating or complete lack of updating (for example, you move in space or turn around, and the pointer on the map does not change its position for a long time).

Most problems can disappear on their own when you restart or when you move to another area of ​​the map.

But if this does not happen, then you need to know what causes them and how to eliminate them.

Possible reasons

There can be many reasons for this type of problem. But all of them can be divided into two large groups - hardware problems and software problems.

We talk about hardware problems when there is a defect in the physical navigation module itself, and about software problems when something is incorrectly configured in the software of a smartphone or tablet.

Important! Software type problems are enough easy to set up and fix yourself. When it comes to hardware failures, it is better to entrust the matter to a service center, since the repair process can be quite complicated for a non-specialist. And there is a risk of making the situation worse.

Hardware

One of the most common problems occurs when starting the module for the first time, that is, when you first launch an application that uses GPS on a new smartphone.

Within 15-20 minutes, geolocation may not work, nothing will happen, the location will not be determined.

This is a normal condition when you first start it, but this should not happen again in the future.

A similar situation may arise if you have traveled a significant distance, for example, moved to another country or region, with the navigation module turned off.

In this case, when he first starts in a new place, he will also need time to “think.”

The problem may also occur when starting at high speed, for example, while driving a car - in this case, the module will “slow down” for the first time after switching on.

Keep in mind that in buildings, indoor navigation will not be carried out.

Your approximate location in the building is determined using the location of wireless Internet zones and cell towers, but not GLONASS.

Software

The GLONAS module can be disabled through the phone settings; often on new models it is not enabled by default.

Therefore, many beginners who are not accustomed to using Android do not turn it on before starting to use navigation applications.

By the way, this type notifies the user that he needs to enable navigation.

Inaccurate location determination may be due to the characteristics of the zone. The system does not work equally well in all areas due to the nature of satellite operation.

There are “blind” zones that the navigator misses or does not detect accurately. It is impossible to fight this.

Elimination

Troubleshooting is usually quite simple.

But if after taking all the above measures the problem has not been resolved, it is possible that the problem is a faulty module and it requires replacement at a service center.

Hardware

There are no ways to “cure” the program freezing after the first launch of the navigation module.

The user just needs to wait about 15-20 minutes after the first launch of the application - during this time, the electronic components of the navigation device will adjust to the current operating conditions and the location will be determined.

That is why it is recommended to run this module for configuration immediately after purchasing a phone, so as not to wait in a situation where you need it urgently.

Software

Turning on navigation on your smartphone is quite simple. Most often, the application itself “asks” whether to enable navigation when it is disabled.

Then you need to click on “YES” or “OK” in the pop-up window, and the application itself will enable geolocation.

If such a notification does not appear, turn it on manually, following the algorithm:

1 On the unlocked screen, on the desktop, pull out the menu, making a sliding movement from the top border of the screen down;

2 A menu with basic device settings will appear.– find the icon in it Geodata/Geodata transmission/Geolocation/Location determination or the like;

3 Click on it to make the icon active.