GPS problem can be quite frustrating especially when you are stuck in an unknown location and encounter difficulty in finding directions. GPS, the Global Positioning system is one of the most essential tools in your smartphone which helps in getting quick directions thus saving you lots of time. GPS problem can be related to wrong location detection or no detection at all. A perfectly working GPS can determine a location in about 30 seconds. If it takes time more than expected or detects wrong or no detection at all, there might be an issue with the GPS. Factors such as ROM, specifications, the configuration, and the software plays influence the quality of the GPS signal. Even the best of us start to panic on encountering such issues without knowing that these issues can be dealt with by ourselves. This article would help you analyze the issues would allow you to fix the Elephone GPS problem by yourself.
How To Fix Elephone GPS Problem?
Before going on with any methods given below, be sure if the problem really lies with the GPS of your smartphone. This can be easily checked by determining the level of precision you get in the detection of your location. Jump to Google Maps or any other mapping service. Look how big the ring is around the pin to see the precision in detection of locations. If you find the wrong location detected or no location detection at all, try the troubleshooting steps and fixes given below.
Step 1: Turn GPS ON/OFF
It could have been possible that the system didn’t turn ON the GPS service even if you turned it ON. Turn OFF your GPS or “Location access” for some seconds or a minute. Turn it ON. Allow it to research for the location. It may also help in fixing bugs and temporary issues that might have caused the service by restarting/refreshing it. Repeat the step for a few times and check if it works.
Step 2: Toggle Flight/Airplane Mode
Airplane mode disconnects all network services when turned ON. Toggling Airplane/Flight mode helps in refreshing the connection or reconnecting to the network which may fix bugs related to GPS problem. Switch Airplane mode ON. Wait for a few seconds and switch it OFF. This allows network connections to start again. This works most of the time especially if you are using mobile data to access your location. It re-establishes and refreshes the connection which may resolve GPS related problem.
Step 3: Reboot the device
Rebooting helps in fixing most of the issues, both hardware and software. It may be possible that the GPS didn’t even start due to some software crash that might have happened earlier during start-up. Turn your device OFF. Wait for some seconds or a minute and turn in ON again. It would refresh the whole device by closing all applications and also establish all connections. Try using the GPS again and check if the problem is resolved.
Step 4: Turn ON High-Accuracy mode
This method would sacrifice some battery but will give you the desired results. Turn ON ‘High accuracy’ mode by navigating to the settings of your smartphone. It would help in getting more accurate location and better performance by boosting the signals. Be sure to turn it OFF when GPS is no longer required to save battery.
Step 5: Turn OFF power saving mode
Power saving mode can be of great help when you are running out of battery. If you are not low on charge, the Power Saving mode should be avoided as it sacrifices on performance and disables useful functionalities such as Wi-Fi, GPS, etc just to save battery. Navigate to Settings»Battery/Power options. Check if Power Saving mode is enabled or not. Disable it if you have enabled it. Check if the issue is resolved or not.
Step 6: Remove obstacles
GPS signals get obstructed from a variety of things which can be thick walls and even your smartphone case. Try overcoming any such obstacles or any objectionable material. Other electronic gadgets placed nearby the device also hampers GPS performance and efficiency. Ensure that any such obstacles are removed.
Step 7: Check the line of Sight (LOS) to the Sky
A clear view of the sky to detect satellites and catch radio signals which can be obstructed by numerous things. Obstacles can also be walls or other surfaces which is similar to the way a Wi-Fi signal gets obstructed. To get the best results, move out of buildings especially basements under clear sky If you cannot remove or avoid obstacles, the best solution is to go outside under a clear sky to maintain a good line of sight with the GPS satellites.
Step 8: Recalibrate the GPS
A non-calibrated compass is the main culprit which leads to inaccurate location information by GPS. Calibration of GPS can be done simply by using a compass app. To perform recalibration, read or watch the instructions your compass app provides and follow the same. Check if the problem is resolved or not.
Step 9: Refresh GPS/A-GPS
The A-GPS, Assistant GPS, improves the GPS quality, efficiency, and performance of your device. Your device’s GPS often becomes corrupt due to poor network reception or other software related issues. Open Settings » Apps » All » A-GPS » Clear Data and Clear Cache. This would also increase GPS performance and efficiency. It is also recommended to try third-party applications such as GPS Status & Toolbox that help to refresh the GPS and A-GPS. Refreshing both GPS and A-GPS regularly avoids such issues.
Step 10: Update applications and OS
Every application including system apps and especially applications having access to GPS or location must be updated. This would also include all mapping services and applications. Apps often get updates to resolve bugs that might have accumulated over time causing an obstruction in device performance. Jump to Google Play Store » My apps and games » Update all. The smartphone OS and firmware should also be updated. Open Settings » About Phone » Software Updates. Check if you have any new software available for your device. This should be done from time to time to avoid any issues further.
Step 11: Clear cache data
The system apps or third-party apps have cached data which gets accumulated over regular use hampering the system’s performance. Open Settings»Apps and clear every app’s cache memory individually. Also jump to Settings»Storage»clear cache. Clearing cache data should be practiced from time to time.
Step 12: Perform a hard reset
If none of the above methods helps you to fix Elephone GPS problem on your smartphone, go for a hard reset. Switch OFF the phone. Simultaneously, press and hold the Volume Up key and Power key until you get onto the Android system recovery screen. Highlight the “wipe data/factory reset” option using the volume keys and use the Power button to select it. After the completion of a hard reset, you will get a fresh start to your smartphone by installing all applications again and getting the default system settings. Be sure to back up all important user data before going for a hard reset.
Step 13: Invest in an external GPS receiver
If you are often in areas where there is poor network reception or weak GPS signal such as rural areas, it is advisable to invest in an external GPS receiver to achieve reliable and efficient results. This investment would be worth if you really use GPS a lot.
Step 14: Get help from an authorized service center
If you cannot resolve GPS problem by yourself, the issue can be hardware or software related for which you have no option but to approach the service center of your smartphone. Make sure you do not approach a third-party repair service in order to prevent nullification of your smartphone’s warranty.
