Google Maps may have trouble finding your location. If the GPS location of your blue dot on the map is inaccurate or missing, you can take steps to help fix the problem.
Tip: These steps will also improve your search results and make them more relevant to you.
Find your current location on the map
On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Maps app .
The blue dot on the map will show your location. If there isn’t a blue dot, go to the bottom right and tap Your location.
Tip: Tap the blue dot. In the new window that appears, you can turn your Device location or Location History on or off.
How Maps finds your current location
Maps estimates where you are from sources such as:
GPS: Maps uses satellites to know your location up to around 20 metres.When you're inside buildings or underground, the GPS is sometimes inaccurate.
Wi-Fi: The location of nearby Wi-Fi networks helps Maps know where you are.
Mobile tower: Your connection to mobile data can be accurate up to a few thousand metres.
Turn on location services
To help Google Maps find your location with the most accurate blue dot, turn on location services.
Quicklyorient yourself toyour surroundings andnearby landmarks in Live View. You can also find how far away certain landmarks are from you and howto get there. These landmarks can include iconic places, like the Empire State Building in New York City, or easily recognisable places, like local parks and tourist attractions.
There are two ways to orient yourself in Live View with the use of landmarks:
Search for a place or tap it on the map.Then, in the bottom right,tap Live.
Search for a category, like 'restaurants' or 'shopping centres', then tap View map.
Scroll through the selection of places, then choose one.
Tap Live.
Once you’re in Live View:
Follow the on-screen instructions to help Maps find your location. Tip: Point your phone camera at buildings and signs across the street, instead of trees and people.
Once Maps knows where you are, you’ll get the distance to your destination. You can also enter Live View walking navigation.
Tip: Your place’s information card might let you know if your destinationison a higher floor in a building.
Point your phone camera at buildings and signs around you, instead of trees and people.
Depending on Street View availability, Maps may or may not open the Live View Calibrator.
Your position on Maps becomes more accurate as more data is gathered on your location.
What the blue dot means
The blue dot shows your location on the map. When Google Maps isn’t sure about your location, there will be a light blue circle around the blue dot. You might be anywhere within the light blue circle. The smaller the circle, the more certain the app is about your location.
Tips
If the blue dot isn’t visible or is grey, Maps can’t find your current location and shows you the last location you visited.
If there’s something between you and any mobile towers, such as a multi-storey car park or tall buildings, then your blue dot might not be accurate.
Find your location on other sites & apps
To find your location in Google Maps on other sites and apps, follow the steps above. However, some features will be different:
You’ll use a different site or app, not Google Maps.
You must first give location permission to the site or app used, not Google Maps.
If you open Google Chrome or Safari, you'll only find your location on secure web pages. You'll find 'https' in the address bar.
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To improve GPS accuracy on an iPhone, you need to allow the device to automatically set your date and time based on your time zone. This way, the smartphone knows more about where you are and determine the GPS satellite it can connect to.
Make sure that you've set the date, time, and time zone correctly on the device in Settings > General > Date & Time. If possible, use Set Automatically.
To improve GPS accuracy on an iPhone, you need to allow the device to automatically set your date and time based on your time zone. This way, the smartphone knows more about where you are and determine the GPS satellite it can connect to.
Open Settings.Turn on the Location Services toggle switch, then scroll down and tap System Services.Turn on the Compass Calibration and Motion Calibration & Distance toggle switches. The iPhone uses your location data to ensure the gyroscope, GPS, compass, and accelerometer work properly.
1: Go to Settings > Location > Location Services > Google Location Accuracy, and toggle Improve Location Accuracy off or on. Most users get the best results when location accuracy is turned on. 2: Navigate to Settings > Location > App Location Permissions.
Your location is estimated from sources like GPS satellites, the closest Wi-Fi networks, and nearby cell towers. If you don't have a strong signal, chances are you won't have an accurate location. But you can try and change your cellular data settings to find a better connection.
The accuracy of a GPS receiver can be improved in several ways, including the following: Increasing the number of satellites being used: A GPS receiver will be more accurate if it can receive signals from a greater number of satellites. This allows the receiver to triangulate its position more accurately.
Wi-Fi fingerprinting can significantly improve accuracy. Fingerprinting uses historical RSS information as well as known locations to determine the position of an asset given its current RSS values.
The various location gathering methods that iPhone's use vary, typically using a combination of: GPS: In ideal conditions with a clear view of the sky and strong satellite signals, GPS-enabled devices can achieve high accuracy, typically within a few meters (4-10 meters).
Ensure that your iPhone has a stable internet connection. Find My relies on internet connectivity to update locations. If you are on a Wi-Fi network, try switching to cellular data or vice versa. Resetting network settings can resolve connectivity issues.
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Location Services.
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Calibrate with Live View