Why is my GPS not working on iPhone X?

Try turning on Location services from Settings ....

Greetings - I exchanged my iPhone X three times ... GPS had worked perfectly on my 5s, but each X had a total GPS failure within 3-10 days. I was certain of a hardware or software defect - but why weren't MORE people having it?? With the fourth iPhone X, the Apple Store rep told me in no uncertain terms that it was my CORRUPT DATA being restored onto the new phone that was causing the failure. As she said, the ONLY way to have the phone work properly, was to start fresh, NOT restoring my old data(!!). Of course, I found this unacceptable. Furthermore, being a software developer myself, I did not see an easy connection between, say, a possibly corrupt address book entry and a total GPS system failure.

But I had another hint. My wife and I both got iPhone X's at the same time. Her GPS had worked just fine - and was continuing to work fine. But now I was on my fourth phone. Both of us had restored lots of data from our old phones, and, if anything, she tended to push her phone harder with more open apps, etc. But there was one difference in how we handled our phones: at the end of the day she would simply put the phone in AIRPLANE mode and plug it in to charge. I would plug the phone in and turn it OFF. With my old iPhone 5s (and earlier phones) this behavior caused no trouble. One might think this should not make any difference, but perhaps iOS 11 is doing some housekeeping once you leave it "idle"? I don't know. In any event ...

With iPhone X number four, at the end of the day I simply plug it in to charge (or place it on a charging pad); I may close the open apps, and I put it in Airplane mode. Its been several months now and the GPS is working without fail. So ... did I have three bad phones before, or did this change in behavior fix the trouble? I can't say for certain, but hope this may help some of you.

This https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207092

Especially in addition to the screenshots Carlos provided, is of great assistance and works 👍

What I found is when I place my iPhone X on my dashboard mount, the GPS will stop working after about 10 seconds. As soon as I remove and move away from my dashboard the GPS works fine. I can replicate this issue consistently. It is as if there is interference or something. I ultimately found a spot on the left side of my dashboard where the GPS works on the dashboard mount. This was in my 2013 Hyundai Sonata. I don’t have the issue at all in my other vehicle.

I didn’t realize it until you mentioned it, but if I just hold my iPhone X, without a case or car holder, in the same position where my magnetic cell phone holder used to be (on the dash right under my car’s navigation screen) the GPS goes whacky. It might possibly be something in the car’s navigation system or in the dash. I just ordered a non-magnetic cell phone holder, so I will let you know how that works when I install it.

> Tomorrow I'll be recording a video of both devices (iPhone 6s plus, iPhone X) with the GPS Diagnostics on while driving as well as test to see how both phones perform on google maps, maps, and waze.

I did just that: screen-recorded GPS Diagnostic app on two of my phones (X and 5S), riding side by side in a car continuously for almost half an hour. Here is breakdown of GPS signal strength I've got, as shown by the app:

Legend:

= GGGG: 4 green bars

= GGGA+: 3 green bars, 4th is amber or green

= AAAA: 4 amber bars

= AAAR: 3 amber bars, 4th is red

So both All-Amber and Amber-Red zones are much larger on X compared to my old 5S.

Both phones have the same version of iOS (11.2.5); both were running with the same step-by-step directions app in the background. Intervals of level lasting for less than 3 seconds were not taken into account.

The breakdown chart created manually, from two screen recording videos of GPS Diagnostic running in foreground.

paul221, would you share your progress?

Yes when I swapped out my X on Saturday it was one of the more suspicious Genius Bar visits I’ve ever had. They swapped the phone eventually and yes it’s working now (hopefully keeps working). But, they made a point to say if this doesn’t work it must be ATT. He said “we have had a lot of issues with ATT but not Verizon”. He then said well the diagnostic says the gps is ok but it’s not working for you when you are moving you say, then if this doesn’t fix it we will say it’s the carrier and you can report an issue to them.” I’m thinking, no, it’s not the carrier. All other iPhones in our house are just fine on ATT and if the X has an issue with ATT that is between Apple and ATT it’s not my issue as a customer. Very suspicious like they don’t want to admit there is anyone else besides me that complained of my gps failing for the first time since I’ve had iPhones dating back to the 3GS. I wonder if there is anyone having gps issues on the cdma version. Isn’t the cdma model A1865 vs the ATT A1901?

Dont overthink it.

1) I was home (a wifi network is available) and wifi on MY IPHONE was turned off. I turned it on.

Realizing my iphone wifi setting was turned off, I went to general settings on my IPHONE and turned wifi ON. When I did that, the gps reset.

2) I left my house (leaving my home wifi network). I was thinking "Uh oh, once I am on the cellular network is the gps going to act up again.?"

I drove all over town with my wifi turned on (knowing that I was now on my cellular network).

The GPS still worked correctly and is still working correctly.

I know, I know, it doesnt make sense. However, it solved MY problem. I am sorry that it didnt work for you. I hope you find a solution. I am far from being a technician.

I posted this hoping that it might possibly help someone since it did solve my problem.

Best of luck

I moved the magnet mount down about 4-5 inches(just below the hazard light button). This worked for me. Not optimal placement; but it works. Again this is just for my Hyundai Sonata. I do not have this issue in any of my other vehicles.

Problem could be either hardware or software at this point. I always install the latest software in my iPhone X. I and several others with the problem exchanged iPhone Xs and the problem did not go away. My guess is that the iPhone X has a less sensitive GPS chip or a less effective antenna than other iPhones and the signal from the satellites falls below required thresholds either by signal attenuation by the Hyundai front windshield or interference by electronics in the drivers side dash.

I'm now leaning to interference from driver electronics because two of us have reported the phone works when mounted on the center console at radio height and lower. That's ok but you need to look down to see it and I can't use the HUD I purchased to use on my dash.

Perhaps an IOS software fix could change the thresholds and fix the problem or it's just inherent in that particular GPS chip/antenna.

Had the same problem and after reading everything I could find, I finally found a solution. My iphone X GPS was not working in one of our cars but did in the other. Due to the glass back (glass is a conductor) and the location of my iphone in the car (mounted to the dash board air vent with a clip near the radio/electronics), something was interfering with the gps. Once moved away from that area of the dash, it works great. By the way, I returned the original iohone x i bought in December so this is the second phone with the same problem. It’s very disappointing that Apple doesn’t acknowledge this problem. My guess is the fix is complicated - replace glass back but it is needed for wireless charging and would be very expensive. Would be nice though to tell users the problem because by relocating the phone in the car is easy but disappointing. BTW, my iphone 6 works fine on the dash (has an aluminum back). BINGO!

update iOS 11.3 .. it will resolve your problem 🙂

I’m having what sounds like the same issue. My gps works fine if I’m stationary. If I’m moving/driving no gps found. Mapping apps like Apple maps and google maps don’t find my location again until I stop at a light or stop sign. I’ve had 3 calls with Apple support, two with whatever their tier 2 support is called. I’ve done all the things they have requested including restoring as new from iTunes without any of my settings applied. No luck. The 11.2.5 update today made no difference either. My gps worked fine prior to the last week of December. Apple made an appt for me at the “Genius Bar” this coming Sunday to do a diagnostic. I even sent the support person a video of my map as I navigated and the requested log files which didn’t show a gps malfunction. With all the discussion around magnetic interference I wonder if wireless charging is related to this issue, isn’t that an electromagnetic field? I did start charging wirelessly in December.

AE0KU wrote:

With all the discussion around magnetic interference I wonder if wireless charging is related to this issue, isn’t that an electromagnetic field? I did start charging wirelessly in December.

Yes but...

I don't know the "X" well. Do you charge wirelessly while driving? If not, I'd be more inclined to blame something else and my money is on the physical location of the iPhone inside the car. On the dash with a clear view of the windshield is best.

I have not tried to use wireless charging yet...the GPS issues relating to my iPhone X were apparently caused by the magnetic cell phone holder I was using. I just bought a another holder that attaches to a vent in my car. I will let you know if that solved the problem or not.