Improving the location accuracy on my Samsung Phone

Last Update date : Oct 29. 2020

Whether you're using maps to navigate through the city, ordering dinner online or using Find my Mobile to track your lost phone you will need to enable the location services to get the best experience out of your apps. If you are noticing that your location services need to be recalibrated follow the below guide to enable or disable the location service on particular applications, recalibrate and further improve your location accuracy.

 

Please Note: Screenshots were captured from a Galaxy S10 operating on OS Version 9.0 (Pie), settings and steps may vary depending on your Android OS Version.

There are two different ways to enable or disable the Location services on your Samsung phone, either via your Quick Settings menu or through your Biometrics and Security settings.


Enabling via Quick Settings


1 Swipe down your screen to access your Quick Settings and tap on Location to enable or disable this service.
Toggle on/off Location via Quick Settings

Enabling via Biometrics and Security

1 Launch your Settings > Biometrics & Security
Select Biometrics and Security

For Samsung devices operating on Android OS Version 7.0 (Nougat) & 8.0 (Oreo) head into your Settings > Connections > Toggle on Location.

2 Toggle on Location
Toggle on Location
1 Head into your Settings > Apps
Select Apps
2 Locate and select the app you're experiencing GPS issues with
Select Google Maps
3 Tap on Permissions
Tap on Permissions
4 Toggle on Location
Toggle on Location
1 Select Location
Tap on Location
2 Tap on Improve Accuracy
Select Improve Accuracy
3 Toggle on Wi-Fi scanning and Bluetooth scanning
Toggle on Wi-Fi scanning and Bluetooth scanning

For Galaxy devices operating on Android OS Version 7.0 (Nougat) & 8.0 (Oreo) head into your Settings > Connections > Location > Locating Method > select High Accuracy.

If you are noticing that the blue dot or location beam is facing in the wrong direction or the range is too wide, you may need to recalibrate the compass. Follow the below steps to calibrate your compass within Google Maps.

1 Launch your Google Maps
2 Make a figure 8 until your compass is calibrated. You should only have to do this a few times.
make figure 8 with phone
3 Once the compass has been calibrated, you will notice the blue dot's beam become narrower and point in the correct direction
Blue dot beam narrow and pointing in the correct direction

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