Location GPS not working during navigation - iPhone 17 Pro

I am experiencing very poor GPS location accuracy when using any and all navigation apps (Apple Maps/Google Maps/Waze). This happens when the app is run natively (not using CarPlay)


Things I have tried:

Reset network settings

Reset location settings

Restored handset and then used a backup of the handset from cloud

Restored handset and wiped phone (no backup used)

**Replaced phone** I thought the handset maybe faulty so replaced it with a new iPhone 17 Pro


To elaborate on the problem - Waze will say it’s trying to connect to GPS and doesn’t

When Apple Maps is running I see GPS symbol (arrow at the top) appear and disappear sporadically

Whichever navigation app you use, you do not get turn by turn navigation and the map updates based on an estimate of where you are - this is slow and sometimes massively inaccurate


I’m flat out of ideas. This is my first iPhone ever (I’ve always had an android in the past) so you might understand why I am disappointed with this.


In store, the customer assistants I asked said this was not a problem they had seen on the 17 pro.


Is anyone else having this problem? Or does anyone have a solution?

iPhone 17 Pro, iOS 26

Posted on Oct 30, 2025 12:51 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 21, 2025 12:16 AM

I have a new 17pro max 2T with eSim, never dropped the phone, never gone into water either. Having the same problem with weak GPS signal, causing problem with map navigation. I've tried everything I can including updating software, restart, turning on and off airplane mode, location button, precise location button, wifi, reinstall the apps, network reset, reset the phone, removing phone case, installing different sim cards, dial *3001#12345#* to have a complete network signal table, ... nothing worked out. So, at last, I went to Apple genius bar to replace a new PCB Circuitry Board (they refused to replace a new phone), and I went to service provider and replace a physical sim card (though they say it's the same), and now, the phone is working with all maps. Having to pay the money, and still have to go through all these is ridiculous ... !

98 replies

Oct 31, 2025 2:46 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Hey Lawrence


I’ve checked the things you’ve noted above

-location services are turned on

-location services are turned on for each navigation app

-tried in different environments

-checked GPSDiagnostics - signal is good when still and used at that moment in time


The problem appears to persist when trying to constantly stay attached to GPS while navigating


I am hoping the next ios26 update resolves the problem but still keen to see if anyone is experiencing these issues

Nov 4, 2025 5:18 AM in response to ahmedre88

Interesting! I came across this topic while in search for the same symptoms. Started noticing GPS lost on my iphone 17 pro while using Waze, but noticed that other GPS using apps (googlemaps, etc) have the same issue. I also noticed that one of my frequently used radio apps says there is no connection when pressing the play button, although the rest of the app incl recent news works just fine.


just received a call from my partner that has an iphone 17 and has the same issue while using carplay

Nov 4, 2025 9:57 AM in response to ahmedre88

Same on 17 Pro Max running 26.0.1. Noticed first time yesterday (11/3). I blamed CarPlay in a rental Chevy. Disconnected CarPlay and called it dirty names. But then today same thing happened using only Google Maps. My GPS location stuck at a fixed point. Switched to Apple Maps and was also stuck in same spot. Same issue in FindMy. Restarting navigation apps did nothing. Passenger put his iPhone 12 in my phone holder, and we continued our trip.

Nov 5, 2025 6:02 AM in response to ahmedre88

I'm on IOS 26.1 and noticed odd GPS issues. I have apps that use Location (Map apps & some other navigation style apps). I have some lag issues where I will speed up and the app that shows my speed is not even close to accurate. This persists beyond reboots and network resets. This is new to the 26.1 update. It is working but just seems to not be able to maintain a precise location. It will go from 30+ feet and randomly goes to 10 feet. Nothing else has changed with my setup. I was stopped and GPS showed I was going 20 MPH. I really hope this can be addressed as it seems to be more than just a me issue. Also, location services are on with precise location enabled on apps that need it. I'm currently not on a beta.


Just a mention, in the past, my Garman drive assist has been super close to my phone in accuracy. It's now not even close to as accurate as my Garmin.


[Edited by Moderator]

Nov 6, 2025 11:47 AM in response to ahmedre88

Same issue. Noticed it on google maps first, the GPS just freezes when I’m driving and then finds itself after about 10 minutes. Switched to Apple Maps and the same issue so it’s related to the GPS and not an app. I switched to iPhone this year after a lifetime of android. Think I’ll be going back unless this fixed soon.


People suggesting buildings and trees can block GPS, that’s ridiculous. None of my previous phones for the last 10 years have had an issue with the environment, why would the iPhone 17 Pro have that issue?

Nov 10, 2025 3:21 PM in response to ahmedre88

I am not sure why, I am having similar issues with GPS being with poor accuracy and sensitivity. I was on IPhone 13 pro before I switched to IPhone 17 pro, where iPhone 13 pro was completely fine and I am happy with its performance, but IPhone 17 pro has been terrible when it comes to GPS navigation, if the phone covers a bit by the dashboard parts well above the phone yet, GPS starts to say “trying to connect to GPS” and hangs. Very bad experience on GPS.

Nov 11, 2025 12:54 PM in response to Brian Rossman

I'm seeing the same issue while in wireless CarPlay. Google Maps works fine for maybe 5-10 mins. Then just freezes and stops updating my location. Voice prompts stop too. Apple Maps just has no idea where I am at all....same with Waze. Restarting the phone seems to fix it but this isn't always an option while driving 70MPH on the freeway. Plugging the phone in does seem to help. But I was just driving with Google Maps on and the phone plugged in and Google Maps froze for a few minutes again. Never a problem before ios 26.0.1.

Nov 11, 2025 7:33 PM in response to ahmedre88

Oh man, this has been driving me crazy for the past week or two! I'm on an iPhone 17 Pro Max 1Tb model running iOS 26.1, and this has been happening semi-consistently for me, starting with iOS 26.0.1.


As others have noted, my GPS functionality (regardless of which app I'm using) will just stop updating my location. It's extra frustrating when it works fine for a while (long enough for me to feel confident) and then stops mid-drive - I sailed right by my freeway exit several times this past weekend, got lost on my way to a Craigslist purchase, etc. Very annoying!


Really hope Apple is working on this...

Nov 12, 2025 5:09 PM in response to Brian Rossman

Wanted to update that I have the same issue here. Owned my first iPhone for about a month (17 Pro), and in recent days, my GPS has been going in and out while using navigation. I use wireless CarPlay and am running IOS 26, and I'm not sure what's prompting this issue now and not when I bought the phone. (I use Apple Maps and Google Maps interchangeably) And it's not only with navigation but with GPS as a whole. Find my can't find my iPhone, or Life360, or Google Maps. Apple Maps will show my location before it froze, and Google Maps will still say I am home. Restarting the phone is the only solution right now, sucks to have this as my first experience on iPhone, I never thought such a problem could happen at all.

Nov 15, 2025 8:19 AM in response to ahmedre88

This is happening on my iPhone 17 pro as well. My current location does not update for many miles. Was directed by Apple Maps many miles out of the way until I figured out was wrong. My wife got out her iPhone 16 and everything worked perfectly. We are both on iOS 26.0.1. Happens sporadically, maybe half the routes get stuck or can’t find my starting location when using the 17 pro.

Nov 17, 2025 6:34 AM in response to ahmedre88

Relieved in a way to see other people having the same problem. For me it’s been happening more recently than when I first got the phone. I will be able to set a destination and directions and the starting point is right on. Then, while driving, the map stops tracking me and just stays at my origin. This happened with Apple Maps as well as Google. It would take a reboot (I did pull over to do that) for it to get working again but then it would do it again on the way home. This literally just started in the past two weeks. Up until then all was good. I just updated to 26.1 this morning and I’ll see how that goes.

Location GPS not working during navigation - iPhone 17 Pro

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