Gps network not working!!

Hi syed,

I don't use Waze as it tends to disable location services randomly.

I've always used Google Maps steadily however. The only time it gave me an issue was when my carrier was dealing with coverage as well as connection issues. Otherwise, it's been great.

Check in the app's settings directly. Look for location services. Make sure those are set to retrieve the most accurate data.

I'd also update to the latest iOS - 11.2.5

If that doesn't help, I'd reset location services next. The instructions are in the latter part of the following link:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203033

I finally found a solution after months of talking to all levels of Apple support: replacing the wifi antenna (optional but might as well) and the GPS antenna. It took me 3 hours by following the iFixit guide.

I thought it was a software issue because it happened just after upgrading to iOS11 and because my GPS Diagnostic app and the Genius showed that my GPS hardware was alright when really it was not.

It took me to almost throw my phone away before I had the courage, as a last resort, to buy the kit (15$), open my phone and do it myself. It's not for the unsteady hand but it was so worth it.

Now my GPS issue is finally over.

I thought, like you, for months that it was a software issue but it is not. Maybe the software made the hardware go wrong but in the end the solution is: change the hardware.

All the best.

I can give you the response Waze gave me:

To fix your GPS issue, please follow the steps below:

1. Open your phone Settings > Privacy > Location Services and toggle the switch OFF.
2. With the switch toggled off, please perform a hard reset on your iPhone. To do so, hold the Home and Lock buttons until you see the Apple icon. (Note: this will not affect any of the applications or data on your phone).
3. Go back to phone Settings > Privacy > Location Services once again and toggle the switch ON.

iOS 10 (or below) users only: If the issue persists, please try the following steps:

1. Install the application GPS Status from the App Store.
2. Open the app and check what is written next to GPS Status.
   • No fix or Poor fix indicates you have a poor GPS signal, and Waze won't work.
     1. If you keep your phone in a case, please try removing it. This oftentimes interferes with GPS signal.
     2. If you're in a vehicle, try moving your device closer to a window.
     3. If neither of these options improves your signal, please contact your cellular provider or a phone repair center.
   • Excellent fix indicates that your GPS signal is strong. Please open Waze and navigate.

If the above did not solve the issue, please log out from your Waze account by tapping Menu > Settings > Account & Login > Log out. Before doing so, make sure your email is linked to your account by tapping Menu > Settings > Account & Login > Email - this will allow you to reset your password should you need to do so.

There is nothing in software which you can configure to “break” GPS and there are millions of users who do not have a problem, so it is likely you have a hardware problem. That could be anything from a loose antenna connector, through to a dead GPS receiver. If you are sure your GPS is not working, Contact Apple Support and arrange to get your device checked by an official Apple Service Center. First stage is to hit the web link I posted above, and start talking direct to Apple.

If your iPad is new and still within warranty or AppleCare+ you should certainly contact Apple Support asap. It is possible they will be able to do remote diagnostics “over the air” from the comfort of your armchair and their office. I suggest the best route if it is available in your region would be the Request Callback option in the link I provided above. I used that method when I had a problem with a new Apple Watch and a support tech was on my phone within the hour, problem identified and a Genius Bar appointment fixed for a replacement device.

Have you reset your location services yet?

Did you have your battery replaced previous to the GPS going out?

I just spent 45 minutes on the phone with a kind, competent and understanding senior Apple technician who has forwarded my case to the engineering team. It seems that I am finally getting somewhere.

If you guys can do the same then maybe our problem can become better known and thus better addressed.

The steps I went through are:

• support conversation with @AppleSupport that downloaded a diagnostic,
• got called by Apple Support low level technician that downloaded another diagnostic,
• got a support appointment at the Apple Store to talk to a Genius who downloaded another diagnostic and reset my phone via iTunes to 11.2.5. GPS still did not work after that but the Genius confirmed my GPS hardware was functionning.

So I had the same things occur. Tried it all. Went to “genius” bar & they tried it all. Still nothing. Including spending 4 hours of my life with the apple store. So I go to Best Buy & inform the Apple expert there. I also mentioned that it happened shortly after my battery was replaced. He seems to think it’s a high likelihood that when the apple workers replaced my battery, that they messed up the gps part inside. He said it’s really easy to do such a thing & that’s why it’s not recommended that people do things to the hardware themselves. He also speculated the possibility of not having trained enough Apple workers well enough to replace the batteries considering the influx of need. Can y’all tell me how many of you with this GPS problem also had your battery replaced prior to the issue occurring? Thanks!

Hi Syed,

Thousands of people have the same problem since upgrading to iOS11. You will find many posts if you search this forum for GPS.

I've resetted the phone multiple times without using backups and the problem is still there.

The GPS is not broken because it works although very rarely.

Apple can't provide a solution.

I have tried getting Waze to work for months now and I don't believe it's ever going to work again...

Sorry for the bad news.

Have had this problem for over a month. Finally got through to a senior tech at Apple yesterday, who wants me to do another restore right after I just spent a few hours doing one & resetting all my other settings. Says I have to do a clean restore and not reinstall any of my apps then try it. I really doubt that's going to work, and don't want to go through that hassle again. He also told be something about turning off wifi, taking off the case, going outside, and just using the built in maps app & seeing if I got anything That didn't work. I have a GPS analytics app that shows all my hardware is working but phone isn't finding any satellites. Thousands of people on multiple threads have this same problem. Crazy that Apple hasn't come up with a fix, or even acknowledged there is a widespread problem.

I called Apple Support. They did a Quick diagnostic online but it did not reveal anything as the test does not check the GPS. They sent me an email with instructions to do all of the obvious stuff which I had already done, many times.

The only advice they could give was to go to ITunes and reinstall IOS as a new device and or bring to an Apple Service Center (which is not an option for me where I’m located out of the country).

The person I spoke with said there were no notes whatsoever of a systemic GPS related issue.

What I was really surprised about was that he said that I needed to have either a WiFi connection or a cellular carrier signal for the GPS to work on this Ipad4. If that’s true then I guess I discovered my problem!!

I bought the Ipad4 because it has a GPS receiver that can be used without cellular or WiFi to use for marine navigation. I bought it to replace the Ipad2 which did NOT have a GPS receiver and I had an aftermarket plug in receiver (called Bad Elf) that it as necessary to use.

How can Apple help resolve my issue when they arent even aware of the capability?

Am I off base on this??

I did not have my battery replaced. It was the original one. My phone was in mint condition even after a year, always in a case never dropped. I'm anal about my phone condition.

I use gps frequently, used it the night I updated the phone and it was perfect. Never ever had gps issues, it was perfect, not even degraded performance, it always looked instantly.

As soon as I updated that night, I tried using it in the morning and nothing. Countless restores, hours at apple store and as I tried to explain to them that it was perfect before the update, I had to stand there and watch them smirk as if I was some bumbling idiot.

Costco had a good deal on GS9 plus for $600 after $200 off. I couldn't be happier with the switch. I'm done with apple, theirs products and services went down with Jobs.