To do this, we are not going to use just one way, but several ways to adjust the compass to have a choice or in case one does not work for us. Be that as it may, we have to fix it, because if the compass in Google Maps works badly, we are going to have problems when navigating or looking for an address, because it is not going to do it correctly.
In Google Maps we have a classic way to calibrate the compass in case it malfunctions, which is usually one of the most frequent problems in the Android application. The origin of this problem may lie in the fact that some of the sensors used for the orientation and distance measurement calculations are not working correctly and need you to calibrate it. The steps to calibrate it again are:
- Open the app on Android.
- Click on the blue circle that shows your location.
- Select the »Calibrate Compass» option at the bottom of the screen.
- Move the phone in a figure eight or infinity, following the onscreen instructions (do this three times).
- Restart the app.
Live View, a great helper for Google Maps
Not happy with this route, a new method was introduced more recently in the application with which to calibrate said compass, which many are sure sounds like. The way to do it is identical to the previous step, only now we are going to use Live View, the augmented reality of the app, so it is something that we can use while we are on the street, for example. The steps to calibrate the compass using this new method are as follows:
- Open Google Maps on Android.
- Click on the blue circle that shows your location.
- Select the Calibrate with Live View option.
- Click Start.
- Focus on buildings on the street until the app has located you.
- Restart the app.
Calibrate the compass from settings
These two previous methods are the most popular and used, but not the only foolproof. It may be that the compass is still not calibrated, something that Google Maps is not to blame. It is possible that the error comes from Google Maps settings, where there is an option possibly activated that prevents correct operation, making it always point in the same direction. Let’s find it and check if it is activated:
- Open Google Maps.
- Tap on your profile picture.
- Go into Settings.
- Click on Navigation Settings.
- Look for the option Keep the map with north up.
- Activate this option.
Use a third-party app
If the problem persists and the compass continues without calibrating, the problem may have a more serious and delicate origin. In other words, it may be that the device sensor not working properly, although it is not a very safe hypothesis. To clear this doubt, we can use a third-party app that checks the status of the GPS and its adjacent sensors.
For this, a good option is GPS Status & Toolbox, a tool that allows you to check the status of the sensors, perform a diagnosis, and solve some problems thanks to its maintenance. allows to make corrections in the GPS through the download of data in A-GPS, as well as that of the magnetic compass or its precision.
In the app, tap anywhere on the screen to reveal the menu bar and select the point there »Compass calibration» that appears. Then, rotate the device once or twice around each of its three axes and then press »Ok». There is no need to worry, this process will be explained by the app just before making the move.
