J Williams

Q: Maps will not find my location

When I launch Maps, I click on the location arrow and it literally does nothing, almost like the button is inactive. When tryin to get directions, it just spins because it cannot find location although no error is given.

I am using El Cap

I do have internet/wifi active

I have deleted a plist, plist.GEO or similar

 

The app seems to work, meaning it's not blank as other report, it just wont try to find my location.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Oct 8, 2015 9:59 AM

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Q: Maps will not find my location

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Oct 8, 2015 10:23 AM in response to J Williams
    Level 10 (207,926 points)
    Applications
    Oct 8, 2015 10:23 AM in response to J Williams

    Make sure Wi-Fi is turned on. Open the Date & Time pane in System Preferences and select the Time Zone tab. If the settings are locked, click the padlock icon in the lower left corner of the window and enter your password when prompted. Then check the box marked

              Set time zone automatically using current location

    if it's not already checked. Within a few seconds, a red pin should drop onto the map at your location. Does that happen?

  • by J Williams,

    J Williams J Williams Oct 8, 2015 5:22 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (11 points)
    Oct 8, 2015 5:22 PM in response to Linc Davis

    This is another good point. It is checked but it has never worked, it always says it unable to determine location.

    In the privacy section, I have Maps checked to allow location (as well as others).

     

    I really can't figure out where the fix is.

     

    Thanks for the response.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Oct 8, 2015 5:37 PM in response to J Williams
    Level 10 (207,926 points)
    Applications
    Oct 8, 2015 5:37 PM in response to J Williams

    Location Services (including automatic time zone selection, Maps, and "Find My Mac") relies on a database of Wi-Fi access points with known locations. You don't have to be connected to a wireless network, but Wi-Fi must be turned on and within range of one of those access points. Otherwise the machine won't be located at all, or the location will be wrong. Sometimes the location will be wrong because the database contains inaccurate data. That would happen, for example, if you moved from one place to another and took your Wi-Fi router with you. The router is still listed in the database, but the location is wrong.

    According to reports, if you connect to a Wi-Fi network with an iPhone, the location of the network will be sent to Apple and added to the database after a delay. An iPhone, unlike other Apple devices, has built-in GPS satellite navigation, and so can locate itself independently of Wi-Fi. The phone would have to be set to share diagnostic and usage information with Apple.

  • by nully101,

    nully101 nully101 Oct 20, 2015 12:08 PM in response to J Williams
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Oct 20, 2015 12:08 PM in response to J Williams

    I have the same problem - only since downloading El Capitan. If you go into settings to get the iMac to set date and time it will also not find your time zone. weather applications will also not work. They all need location services which for some reason El Capitan has blocked on our systems. I'm just hoping that apple will do an update fix, but it doesn't seem to be a common problem. Very annoying though!

  • by mess3mess,

    mess3mess mess3mess Dec 2, 2015 6:45 AM in response to nully101
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 2, 2015 6:45 AM in response to nully101

    I have the EXACT same problem and I'm still using 10.9.5 so it is NOT a new OS problem.  I suspect it is the location I have this particular Mac placed at.  It does not get a get a great  WIFI signal.  I have on occasion been able to get my current location by

    1. Turning my WIFI off,
    2. Turning my WIFIback on,
    3. Going to maps and using the View | Go to current location (wait a minute or two) and it will find me

    but it gets lost again and is sporadic if it can get it (sometimes it is quite a distance off from where I'm actually located).

  • by cbunag,

    cbunag cbunag Jan 6, 2016 10:46 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 6, 2016 10:46 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Linc Davis wrote:

    That would happen, for example, if you moved from one place to another and took your Wi-Fi router with you. The router is still listed in the database, but the location is wrong.

     

    That's exactly what's happening with me!  Usually the "Current Location" doesn't work, and when it does, it thinks I'm at my old house.  Do you know how to fix this?  You seem very knowledgable.

  • by bengarbi,

    bengarbi bengarbi Jul 12, 2016 12:12 AM in response to cbunag
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 12, 2016 12:12 AM in response to cbunag

    Same problem here: Apple Maps cannot locate my Mac, whereas all my iOS devices are doing it fine.

     

    The irony is that Google Maps in the browser is doing it fine too...

  • by appreciate,

    appreciate Jul 12, 2016 12:28 AM in response to J Williams
    Level 4 (1,276 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 12, 2016 12:28 AM in response to J Williams
  • by pedz,

    pedz pedz Sep 10, 2016 2:54 PM in response to cbunag
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Sep 10, 2016 2:54 PM in response to cbunag

    Find your location.  Click it.  It will display the old incorrect address.  There should be an 'i' with a circle around it.  Click that.  Click "Report an issue".  And one of the radio buttons is "Address is incorrect".  Click that.  It will allow you to fill out a form and submit it.