GPS & Compass Test
    System · GPS

    GPS & compass test

    Check how precisely your device can locate itself, how fast it gets a first fix, and whether its compass points the right way.

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    Phone check

    Step 3 of 4 · Sensors, touch screen, location and battery on a phone or tablet.

    1. 1Smartphone check
    2. 2Touch test
    3. 3GPS & compass test
    4. 4Battery check
    Next: Battery check

    About the gps & compass test

    Updated

    The GPS test asks your browser for high-accuracy location updates and shows latitude, longitude, the accuracy radius, altitude with its accuracy, speed and heading, along with the time to first fix, the number of updates and how long ago the last one arrived. On phones it also reads the compass from the orientation sensor and draws it as a compass rose. No map is loaded and nothing is sent anywhere. Desktops usually locate by Wi-Fi or IP address, which is far less accurate than GPS.

    How to use it

    1. Press Start and allow location access (and motion access on iPhone).
    2. Wait for the first fix and note the time to first fix and the accuracy radius.
    3. Go outside with a clear view of the sky and watch the accuracy improve.
    4. Turn on the spot with the phone held flat and check the compass follows you.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is good GPS accuracy?

    Outdoors with a clear sky a phone usually reports 3 to 10 metres. Indoors or between tall buildings it is often 20 to 50 metres, and a Wi-Fi or IP-based fix can be hundreds of metres or more.

    Why is my laptop's location so far off?

    Most laptops and desktops have no GPS chip, so the browser estimates the position from nearby Wi-Fi networks or your IP address.

    Why does the compass say not available?

    The compass needs a magnetometer, which desktops and most laptops lack. On a phone use Chrome on Android or Safari on iOS, and allow motion access when asked.