iPhone 8 GPS problems

After a phone swap (same result as you) I did a little more digging and downloaded an app called "GPS Diagnostic". It shows how many satellites and how good your reception is. My problem seems to be my car (2015 Subaru Legacy). When plugged into USB so I can use Pandora, the GPS completely loses Satellite reception. Its immediate and total. I think it relies on tower triangulation only at that point. Waze behaves as you describe...Apple Maps never reroutes and just says "proceed to route". The app is the best $2.99 I have spent and it helped me narrow down the possible culprit. I have a call opened with Subaru now.

@ashamansky.

Nake sure it isn't a software issue, by

1) reset network settings, turn location settings on/off/on, make sure only essential apps have locations settings on, restart phone, test it

2) if that fails, back up to iTunes,

3) use the "restore iPhone" (not "restore from backup") function on iTunes to reset your phone to the latest iOS (don't use the internal settings on your iPhone to reset as that will just reset your iOS to the one installed at the factory).

4) after doing the above to initialize your iPhone, test its GPS by using Apple Maps (the blue circles should be constantly pulsating/radiating outward if you have a GPS signal. If not, you will just get a stationary blue circle around a dark blue center).

5) after that you could try installing the GPS Diagnostic app and use it to see how weak your signal reception is.

6) If none of that works, it is probably a hardware issue. See posts earlier in this thread and other threads by people who resolved their problems after replacing faulty chips in older iPhones.

[Edited by Host]

Are you sure it is pulsating - a dark blue center, with light blue circles constantly moving outward?

It should look like ripples on a pond after you throw a stone in.

If you only see a light blue circle that is not moving, it means you have Wifi and Cellular but not GPS.

Also, just to confirm: did you reset the phone to factory settings and not restore your old backup?

If the answer is yes to both, check the following:

Double-check that your Wifi and cellular data/mobile data are on

Set compass to True North (Settings, Compass)

Open Compass and try calibrating it by opening it, swiping left to get the "second page" of the app, and playing around with it until it is centered properly. I read somewhere that this might help.

Also download the GPS Diagnostics app from App Store and test GPS on that (give it a 10-15 seconds to find the signal without refreshing). Do this outside, of course, where you have a direct line to the sky.

If that doesn't work, take your phone in its initialized state to Apple, show them the GPS is not working, and ask for a repair/replacement.

Don't let them give you any B.S. with their diagnostic test, either remotely or in the store. It cannot test GPS chip function, especially when inside a store. If necessary, take the "Genius" outside the store with you to show how your phone is not picking up a GPS signal in Apple Maps and/or GPS Diagnostics.

Having the same issue with my Waze, Apple Maps, and Google Maps. Three separate iPhones (6s Plus, 7 Plus, and my 7 Plus was just replaced for a different issue).

If folks are plugging their phones into their car's USB port, this may be an issue. When I navigated with my phone NOT plugged into the USB port - it was locked on. To test, I plugged it back in and the erratic behavior started again (for me it's a heading issue and my navigation is constantly trying to reroute). Some folks (http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/138-gen-5-2015-present/407266-actual-fix-iph one-6s-gps-erratic-behavior.html) are reporting that when they do this, their car's navigation software may be interfering in some manner.

Just a thought but it is probably not your phone if it's being replicated on several phones.

Okay, I solved my problem. It was my car's Starlink navigation system. Somehow it prevents the GPS signal on my phone from working. If you're having difficulty in the car - try your GPS with the phone unplugged. That's a dead giveaway. Then search for a solution for your specific car make and model. Good luck!

Hey there! Are you using any sort of metal/magnetic mounts or cases? Apple has stated that with the iPhone 8/X, since there is a pretty large magnet under the rear glass for wireless charging, to stay away from any and all metal casings or car mounts as it can permanently or temporarily throw off the compasses calibration.

This worked for me. I have been able to use my GPS apps since I fixed the problem in May.

However, do it at your own risk; some sites advise against removing/inserting SIM cards while your phone is on:

Close all apps on your phone, remove the SIM, power off, power on, reinsert the SIM.

Then go outside and test the Maps app or whatever you use.

I still have to wait 10-30 seconds to get my first "fix" (it helps if I am stationary), but it works fine after that. Before I did this solution, I had no luck no matter how long I waited.

This may be irrelevant, but just in case, I try to avoid using location apps simultaneously and I have no apps with location services set to Always On.

You can also try resetting network settings.

If all that fails, backup your phone, do a factory reset, and then test the native Apple Maps App outside BEFORE restoring your backup. When you do so, don’t confuse the stationary blue circle (which indicates location based on Wifi and Cellular only) with the moving blue circles, which radiate out from their center, indicating you have an A-GPS-based location.

If that fails, take it into an Apple Store for replacement/repair.

Do you use an magnetic mount in your car?

You are correct. It works much better away from the magnetic mount.

I just wanted to report back that it’s been several weeks since I have refrained from using the magnetic mount and I have not had any gps issues.

I have just purchased a “beam electronics” cradle mount from Amazon and it seems to work fine. I am on my 2nd iphone 8 and both had an issue with the magnetic mount i had been using for 2 years with my iphone 6. Something is not right, either ios 11 or the new gps unit they are using, or the glass back.....theres an issue that needs addressed. I miss the ease of use of my magnet mount.

Hey guys! Good news! I just installed ios 11.2 Beta and the issue seems fixed! No more 'GPS Signal not found' errors in Low Power mode for iPhone 8 Plus!

iOS 11.2 Beta is about 2.1GB for OTA update so u guys better get connected to a wifi.

For those who are not sure on how to sign up for betas, here's a link with some explanation.

https://www.igeeksblog.com/how-to-sign-up-for-the-ios-public-beta-testing-progra m/

I got an iPhone X with an AT&T SIM card in it and had these same problems. I took it to the Genius Bar and they suggested the I wipe the phone and start from scratch and not a backup which I did and I had the same problems with the GPS. I returned the iPhone X and bought an iPhone 8 and they transferred the SIM card to the new 8 and again I had the same problems (also set up as a new phone). Today I went to AT&T and got the SIM card replaced and the GPS in Waze and Apple Maps now seems to be working (from my limited testing). Has anyone else replaced the SIM card and had success? I am worried that it may work for a while and then stop working again.

Interestingly enough i have a 2013 Sonata but I think all of my issues were due a magnetic mount which i used for years with my 6. I got my 8+ replaced and it did the same. In the end i just replaced my mount for a non magnetic one and it has been working fine ever since. Hopefully whatever the fix is lets me go back to my more convenient magnet mount.