Compass not working properly on iOS 11.2.

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Level 1

4 points

Compass not working properly on iOS 11.2.

The native iOS compass is not working as expected on iPhone 7 Plus. I've adjusted Compass to show the true north and its calibration is active on location services. Besides that, I removed it from iPhone memory and called it again, away from metallic objects. I also used a common (analogic) compass to verify everething.

Unfortunately, it points the magnetic north instead the true one. I thought compass was not considering magnetic declination and, therefore, it is not working with true north. So I turned off "Use True North" on settings and this has worsen compass orientation. It doubled the compass orientation error! It seems the magnetic declination data is reversed, i.e. mag. declination West is East and vice-versa. Sometimes, compass points the East direction towards Earth's true north - a 90 degrees of error.

I would like to use Sun Seeker app back and fine again, but it depends on iOS Compass working well. Would you have an idea to sort this out?

iPhone 7 Plus, iOS 11.2.1

Posted on Dec 15, 2017 5:53 AM

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Answer 1

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mterra Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 16, 2017 7:24 AM in response to mterra

I have an update that sort out this issue.

First of all, I've launched Compass app with improved cel and wifi signals and I've marked a landmark for true north reference as well. The issues I've presented earlier were carring on until I realised that the level was not correct. Compass app has a spirit level, swiping left the compass screen. I was using iPhone steadly at the best horizontal position I could but the level informed more than 10 degrees of inclination. Then, I placed iPhone over a flat and horizontal surface to verify the new information, but level still informed 3 or 4 degrees out with a red background screen. To solve this problem, I touched the level screen once to set the zero level and the it became green. I've returned to compass screen and almost instantly it pointed the true North. Note: "True North" was on in Settings.

So, apparently a "hidden compass calibration" may be reached by zeroing spirit level in the application.

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