Tutor
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5 Messages
Phone GPS location not detected
Hi everyone,
The GPS signal in my Samsung Galaxy S9+ is not accurately detected. Often times, my GPS will indicate that my location is, at minimum, several blocks away from where I really am. If I'm driving, it could be up to miles and my GPS does not update itself with each turn I make. For example, I've been inputting directions from my home to work into the GPS everyday just to test it. The GPS will always begin by telling me to turn out of my street or give me some vague direction like "Head North". I live 30+ miles from my work, so it's not a straight shot to get there. When I'm literally pulling up into the parking lot of my work, it will still display whatever directions it originally had before I left my house, such as "Head North". I will periodically check to see if my GPS is updating during my commute and here's one thing I can tell you: I'm not heading north the entire 30+ miles.
Background information:
I can't remember the exact month of when this issue began, but it was for sure no later than October and when I still had an iPhone. At first, I thought it was just an error with Apple Maps so I downloaded Google Maps. This made no difference. I went to the Apple Store and they were resolve the issue. Assuming it was just a glitch in the software, I switched to the Samsung Galaxy S9+ at first opportunity. I've has my Galaxy for two weeks now and the issue is still not fixed after switching to a completely different operating system, so I only assume that this is an issue with the service, not my phones. I recently went to the AT&T store and they gave me a new sim card. I came back into the store an hour later after driving around testing out my GPS and nothing. The workers at the store told me there was nothing else they could do and sent me to a third party store that "they work with", claiming that the workers at this store was authorized to fix my phone and should do it without an issue. I got to the third party store and was instantly told there was nothing they could do and told me to call Samsung. I called Samsung and was told to factory reset my phone, which of course did not fix anything... I'm extremely fraustrated with the entire situation because every "professional" I've turn to has told me they're unable to fix my phone... Well who can? Surely enough, someone has to be able to resolve this issue. I've googled and tried almost every solution that comes up. My sound is on, location in settings is turned on, and calibrate my compass multiple times a day until the compass accuracy is listed as high.
Has anyone also experienced this fraustrating issue? I will be traveling abroad starting at the end of April and will need my GPS to get around so it's essential that this issue is resolved before I leave. I've been a customer of AT&T for almost two decades and the only other option I can think of at this point is to switch providers, which is something I really don't want to do, but will literally be forced to if it does not get fixed. Thank you.
ATTHelp
Community Support
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232.9K Messages
6 years ago
Good Morning @DelightfulD,
Welcome to the Community Forums! I can understand your concerns with your GPS not working correctly. I will be happy to assist you with this.
When you downloaded the app, and you received a pop-up asking you to allow the app to have full access to your contacts, photos, etc., did you allow this? The app needs to have full access in order for it to work correctly. Also, if you have a Best Buy in your area, they have something called the Samsung Experience and the people there will be able to help you troubleshoot your phone.
I hope this helps. Have a great day!
Donna V, AT&T Community Specialist
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DelightfulD
Tutor
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5 Messages
6 years ago
Thanks for getting back to me. Yes, I did allow this. I am reluctant to go to Best Buy because it is a GPS issue. They won't be able to do much because the only way to really demonstrate this issue is to drive around with it. Of course since they're on the job, I know they won't be able to leave the store to test it out. That's also the same experience I've had after speaking with representatives from AT&T, Apple, Samsung, and the third party store I was referred to by employees at AT&T.
I will go to Best Buy because it's worth a try, but do you have any other solutions? Thanks.
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ATTHelp
Community Support
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232.9K Messages
6 years ago
Good Morning @DelightgulD,
Since Google Maps is not an AT&T map, I can lead you in the right direction for more specific help. Open the Google Play Store>Search for the app by name>Locate and select the app from the search results>Scroll down to Additional Information>Review the contact information listed for the app's developer.
I hope this helps. Have a great day.
Donna V, AT&T Community Specialist
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DelightfulD
Tutor
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5 Messages
6 years ago
I know that Google Maps is not from AT&T. You’re completely missing the reason why I posted on this forum. My decision to post on here became a last resort after having disappointing and unsuccessful interactions with representatives from Apple, AT&T, the third party store AT&T representatives referred me to, and Samsung. As mentioned in my original post, this issue began occurring while I had my iPhone. Thinking that it was an issue with Apple, I switched to Samsung, yet the problem is still ongoing and has been for over FIVE months. I don’t understand why it is so difficult for a company to take fault and to fix it.
I suspect this issue is occurring due to some type of interference with AT&T. My data works perfectly. It’s only when I attempt to use my phone’s GPS to get from point A to point B. Again, as previously mentioned, I drive 30+ miles to get to work and the GPS will not update my directions. Not once. I keep my GPS on during my entire commute to see if it will update itself, but it doesn’t. During my entire drive, it will say “Head East” or whatever directions it wants me to take to get out of my street. However, I don’t drive east for 30+ miles to get to work. There are many turns along the way. If you look on a map, it’s actually to the west of where I live. The only time it will update itself is when I’ve pulled into the parking lot and tells me that I’ve arrived…. Well, that’s not very helpful is it? The point of the GPS is to provide directions to get to a destination.
Last, but not least, I’ve also downloaded Waze, a different map app, to see if the issue only exists with Google Maps – just like how I downloaded Google Maps when I was on my iPhone to see if the issue persisted. It did. So Donna, the issue here is not with Apple Maps, Google Maps, Waze, or any other map. It is an issue with AT&T. Please answer this question and let me know if there is anything your company can do to fix this issue. If not, I will be switching phone carriers. That’s all I need to know. Thank you.
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mv0013
Teacher
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6 Messages
6 years ago
This issue has been happening with more frequency also on my AT&T Samsung Galaxy S6 phone - no matter the navi app I use. It's the phone's GPS software not working right with the last software update(s). I'll be moving to Verizon if AT&T can't fix this pronto. I also checked with the GPS Satellite site and all 31 GPS satellites are working - not outages.
I also have Verizon phone for work and it's GPS is working just fine. It's AT&T.
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MapsHopeless
Tutor
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1 Message
6 years ago
4 iPhone 6s all have exact same problem. Both OC CA and Phoenix. Giving up switching to Verizon
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mikihaas
Contributor
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1 Message
6 years ago
I can understand your frustration as I suddenly had a similar problem in which I do not have a GPS signal on Google or WAZE. I downloaded an app to test my GPS signal and it noted there was no "fix" available. Oddly I received a message that popped up on my screen telling me that my offline GPS was going to end in 7 days and within a week it did. Like you I travel 30+ miles to work and on occasion I have to travel to destinations I am not familiar with and prefer WAZE far more than Garmin or TomTom. This has to be an AT&T inherent problem since everyone I have spoken or read about with similar issues has AT&T as their carrier. I am disgusted.
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mv0013
Teacher
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6 Messages
6 years ago
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DelightfulD
Tutor
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5 Messages
6 years ago
Hi everyone,
I found a solution... I switched carriers. It's a very very unfortunate situation and I am extremely disappointed that AT&T was unable to solve this issue or to even point me in the right direction -- only suggesting that I go to Best Buy, third party stores, and contact Google Map's developers. Are you kidding me? You're pushing this issue onto other companies?
Hopefully they fix it soon so other customers don't experience this issue. However, seeing that it's been an issue for me since October and that I have made multiple attempts to bring this issue to AT&T and its employees, and now seeing that other people are having also this issue, it doesn't seem like it will be fixed anytime soon.
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therocksays
Contributor
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1 Message
5 years ago
I have found the solution for an android phone (I have a note9).I was able to prove that its an ATT sim card issue. You will need to download the "GPS Status and Toolbox" app from google app store which is an app that helps your phone reset your GPS settings.
Initially on my phone when i went to the GPS Signal app I could see that it was not able to Locate the GPS signal (which is what the problem we are seeing in the navigation apps). I then replaced my sim card in my phone with my wife's sim card (which was also ATT) and then when i went to the GPS signal and toolbox app, it was able to detect the GPS signal. And then when i put my own sim card back and went to the app it was now able to locate the gps signal and that was because the app reset the gps settings on the phone. If you still see the problem with your sim card, get it replaced from ATT
Before this whole process even in Waze app i used to get Unable to locate gps signal. That is gone as well
Hope this helps!!
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