GPS configuration and improvements (Apple)

Below is a complete list of tips to correct GPS issues on iPhones.

General Apple issues

• Devices from before 2012 need a software update to fix a GPS bug.
• Devices with iOS 12 and earlier versions often have problems with GPS reception due to iOS software issues.
• With iPhone 6 (as well as other devices), a common problem is a faulty antenna cable. Call Apple support. They can do a remote hardware analysis of your device. A recovery solves the problem of a regular loss of the GPS signal. Some heavy-handed users report that the device sometimes works better after shaking/tapping it. This is proof that the antenna is not connected properly.

Make sure the apps have access to 'location services'

• Go to ‘Settings’ > our app > ‘Location’ > select ‘While Using’ or ‘Always’.
• Do the same thing for all apps that require a location (Settings > Privacy > Location Services > enable the relevant apps in the list).​

General tips

• Switch off Wi-Fi completely when running.
• Enable Apple Maps before starting our app. Apple Maps enjoys certain iPhone privileges that other apps do not. By keeping Apple Maps switched on, other apps can ‘hitch a ride’ on the GPS.
• Some covers with magnets or metal parts interfere with the GPS signal. Try first running with your device in a fabric/plastic cover.
• Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh > enable both Wi-Fi and Mobile Data.

Reset all of your iPhone location-based settings:

• Go to a new location, preferably with a clear view of the sky (GPS is satellite-based).
• Switch off your ‘Location Services’, Wi-Fi Bluetooth and LTE and then on again as follows:
  1. Settings > Privacy > Location Services > switch off
  2. Settings > Bluetooth > switch off
  3. Settings > Wi-Fi > switch off
  4. Settings > Mobile Data > Mobile Data Options > switch off
  5. Switch off your device completely and wait at least one minute before restarting it.
  6. Switch everything back on except for Wi-Fi!
  7. After doing a test, you can switch the Wi-Fi back on again.
• Switch to ‘Airplane Mode’ and then back to normal mode.
• Go to Settings > General > Date and Time > select ‘Automatic’.
• Important: With the following instructions, you also need to re-enter your Wi-Fi passwords and VPN settings.
  Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
• Go to Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls > enable ‘Do Not Disturb While Driving’.
  An iOS update will often switch this on automatically.
• Go to Settings > switch off ‘Do Not Disturb’ completely.
• Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data > switch off, wait 15 seconds and then switch back on.
• Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Location and Privacy.

Check again that the apps have access to ‘Location Services’:

• Go to ‘Settings’ > our app > ‘Location’ > select ‘While Using’ or ‘Always’.
• Do the same thing for all apps that require a location (Settings > Privacy > Location Services > enable the relevant apps in the list).

Reset all of your iPhone location-based settings

• Go to a new location, preferably with a clear view of the sky (GPS is satellite-based).
• Switch off your ‘Location Services’, Wi-Fi Bluetooth and LTE and then on again as follows:

1. Settings > Privacy > Location Services > switch off
2. Settings > Bluetooth > switch off
3. Settings > Wi-Fi > switch off
4. Settings > Mobile Data > Mobile Data Options > switch off
5. Switch off your device completely and wait at least one minute before restarting it.
6. Switch everything back on except for Wi-Fi!
7. After doing a test, you can switch the Wi-Fi back on again.

• Switch to ‘Airplane Mode’ and then back to normal mode.
• Go to Settings > General> Date and Time > select ‘Automatic’.
• Important: With the following instructions, you also need to re-enter your Wi-Fi passwords and VPN settings.
  Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
• Go to Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls > enable ‘Do Not Disturb While Driving’.
  An iOS update will often switch this on automatically.
• Go to Settings > switch off ‘Do Not Disturb’ completely.
• Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data > switch off, wait 15 seconds and then switch back on.
• Go to Settings > General> Reset > Reset Location and Privacy.

Check again that the apps have access to ‘Location Services’:

• Go to ‘Settings’ > our app > ‘Location’ > select ‘While Using’ or ‘Always’.
• Do the same thing for all apps that require a location (Settings > Privacy > Location Services > enable the relevant apps in the list).

Drastic measures

IMPORTANT: You will lose all of your settings as if you have bought a new device.

• Do a ‘Factory Reset’ of your device and, if necessary, a backup recovery via a computer connection (not ‘over the air’ or in ‘iCloud’).