How to fix your Apple iPhone X GPS that keeps prompting location error after updating to iOS 12 [Troubleshooting Guide]

The latest iOS 12 update offers a number of new and enhanced features. And because of that, many people opted to update their devices. Unfortunately, not all of those who updated to iOS 12 ended up with positive outcomes as promised. In fact, some iPhone X owners are plagued with different types of problems including the GPS bug.  The problem is basically affecting the iPhone’s location services and particularly occurs when using location apps such as Waze, Apple Maps or Google Maps.

After implementing the iOS 12 update, some people aren’t able to get proper turn-by-turn directions with Google Maps and that results to delaying road trips. Among other relevant symptoms that emerged from that update include slow updating of location signals or no GPS signal at all.

But before anything else, if you have another issue with your phone, drop by our troubleshooting page as we have already addressed hundreds of issues reported by the owners. Odds are that there are already existing solutions on our website or at least, there are similar problems we already fixed. So, try to find ones that are similar or related to your problem. If you need further assistance, however, feel free to contact us by filling up our iPhone issues questionnaire.

How to troubleshoot iPhone X with GPS location error?

Before you troubleshoot your iPhone X, check and ensure that Location Services are turned on or enabled on your device. To do so, head over to Settings-> Privacy-> Location Services menu, then see if the location switch is set to on. If by any chance, the iOS update automatically turns off location services, simply toggle the switch to turn the feature back on.

Also check location permission settings for your maps app. The permission for apps to use and access location information might have been restricted. As a result, GPS won’t be available for that application.

To check location permission settings on your iPhone X, go to Settings-> Privacy-> Location Services menu. Make sure Location Services switch is turned on. Then scroll down to the list of location apps to turn grant location permission.

Find Google Maps or other GPS apps you’re having trouble with location data and make sure their respective switches are enabled.

Installing pending updates for third-party location apps can also help. The problem might be just isolated to the GPS application in use and can therefore be remedied by updating the app.

To manually check for and install pending updates for your GPS apps, go to the App Store-> Update section. Find the GPS app you’re having trouble with and then tap the Update button next to it. If the app isn’t listed, then it means that there are no pending updates for that app.

If none of that worked and your iPhone X GPS is still not working, then try performing any of the following solutions. Note that there’s no definite solution to this problem, so be sure to test your iPhone X GPS functions after performing each workaround to determine whether or not the problem is fixed.

First solution: Reboot your iPhone X (soft reset).

It’s normal for apps to act up especially after a major system transition. And this could be what’s occurring to your GPS apps. To rectify such glitches, performing a soft reset or rebooting your iPhone can help. So here’s what you should try doing first:

  1. Press and hold the Side/Power button and either Volume Up or Down buttons simultaneously and then release both buttons when the Slide to Power Off menu appears.
  2. Drag the Power off slider to turn off your iPhone completely.
  3. After 30 seconds, press and hold the Side/Power button again until the Apple logo appears.

Software-related issues including minor post-update bugs are usually remedied by a soft reset. More importantly, this process does not affect any saved information on the phone.

Second solution: Toggle Airplane Mode on and off.

Another possible and simple solution to try on is the Airplane mode trick. It works by quickly turning off network services and then back on again. So it’s like a quick reboot on the network functions. Surprisingly, this workaround is also able to address relevant issues. Here’s how it’s done:

  1. Navigate to Settings-> Airplane Mode menu.
  2. Then toggle the switch to turn Airplane mode on. Doing so will turn off network-related apps and services on the phone.
  3. With Airplane mode enabled, perform a soft reset or reboot your iPhone X.
  4. Then go back to Settings-> Airplane mode menu and then toggle the switch to turn the feature off again.

After applying this workaround, try and see if your iPhone X GPS is already working as intended.

Third solution: Reset Location & Privacy settings on your iPhone X.

The new update might have messed up your iPhone’s location and privacy settings and therefore results to GPS problems. To clear this out, try to reset location & privacy settings on your iPhone X with these steps:

  1. Open Settings app on your iPhone, then go to General > Reset menu.
  2. Tap Reset Location & Privacy.
  3. Enter your password and confirm your action.

Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the reset process.

Fourth solution: Reset network settings on your iPhone X.

If the previous reset failed to fix the problem and that GPS is still not working on your iPhone X, the next possible solution you can try would be a network settings reset. This will erase all your current network settings and then restores the default or original network configuration. Any error brought by the new iOS update to your iPhone’s network settings will therefore be eliminated in the process. Here’s how it’s done:

  1. Open Settings app from the Home screen.
  2. Then go to General.
  3. Tap Reset.
  4. Select the option to Reset network settings.
  5. Enter your passcode, when asked to continue.
  6. Then tap the option to confirm reset network settings.

Wait for the network settings reset to finish and then your iPhone X to reboot by itself. Default network settings will then be restored after your device power cycles. To reconnect to the Internet and use other network services, configure options and enable necessary features.

Fifth solution: Erase your iPhone X then restore factory default settings (master reset).

You’re likely dealing with a major post-update issue if it persists after exhausting all prior methods. The new update might have caused major system issues that totally ruined the GPS functions. In that case, a full system reset would be necessary. Doing so will wipe out everything from the iPhone system including complex system errors afflicting GPS functions. But before you do so, be sure to back up all your important data as they will also be deleted in the process. Once you’re all set, follow these steps to carry out a factory reset through your iPhone X settings menu:

  1. Open Settings app from the Home screen.
  2. Then go to General.
  3. Tap Reset.
  4. Select the option to Erase all content and settings.
  5. Enter your passcode, when asked to continue.
  6. Then tap the option to confirm factory reset.

Your iPhone will then instigate wiping data and and then restores the factory default settings on your device. When the reset is done, your iPhone X will reboot by itself. After it restarts, you can proceed with the initial setup process and use your device as new.

Is your iPhone X GPS still not working?

What you’re dealing with could be tagged among other major post-update problems from the iOS 12 platform implementations. In that case, you need to report the issue to your carrier or Apple Support so that they can make some further assessments on their end and if necessary, develop the required fix patch to get rid of the iOS 12 GPS bug affecting the iPhone X.

Connect with us

If you need more help with the use of certain functions and features of the Apple iPhone X smartphone, feel free to visit our Tutorial Page. There you can find a list of how-to contents, step-by-step tutorials, as well as answers to FAQs regarding iPhone X. If you have other concerns or encountered some troubles while using the phone, you can reach us through this form. Just be sure to tell us more details of the problem or device issue(s) you may have and we will be more than happy to assist you further.

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