iPhone 17 Pro GPS tracking is inaccurate and unreliable

Everyone,


I’ve noticed a consistent issue with GPS tracking on my iPhone 17 Pro. When using running or navigation apps (e.g., Apple Workout, Strava), the GPS track often swerves and jumps and the recorded distance is inaccurate.


For comparison, I ran the same route simultaneously with an iPhone 13, and the track on the older phone was stable and accurate. Both devices were carried in the same position, under identical conditions, with location services set to “Always On.”


Has anyone else experienced unreliable GPS tracking specifically on the iPhone 17 Pro? Any insights on why this model might behave differently would be appreciated.EThanks in advance!

iPhone 17 Pro, iOS 26

Posted on Mar 2, 2026 9:16 AM

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Posted on May 14, 2026 6:25 AM


Thanks everyone for the replies. I found the cause of the problem; it turned out to be the case. Without the case, the GPS tracking worked perfectly. I bought a new case and now everything works fine again!

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5 replies

Mar 2, 2026 9:35 AM in response to ThomasSIp

Perhaps a long shot:


Do you have a 3rd party VPN installed, even if you are not using it? If so, delete the VPN profile in Settings/General/VPN & Device Management/VPN, then restart your device. Don't just turn it off; delete the profile. Updates sometimes "break" VPN, and it needs to be removed. If that fixes it, you can try reinstalling VPN, but probably shouldn't.

Mar 8, 2026 2:31 PM in response to ThomasSIp

Since I’ve been using the new iPhone 17 Pro, I’ve been noticing missing sections on my Strava rides. I’ve ridden these same routes for the past five years without any issues on my iPhone 12 and 15 Pro.


It seems strange that this has started happening much more frequently since getting the new model. It may just be a coincidence, but it’s noticeable that the failures tend to occur every time I stop for a break, when the GPS signal appears to drop and never resume until one notices at the end if the ride.

Mar 8, 2026 3:02 PM in response to VVillCarey

I’m just curious. I don’t have a solution or possible diagnostic. However, I’ve read on multiple communities that the Strava developer is very responsive to customer concerns. Have you contacted the developer and shared your experiences? I’m not suggesting it’s his app, but rather he may be able to offer up insights that will benefit the community.

iPhone 17 Pro GPS tracking is inaccurate and unreliable

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