Your iPhone 7 should be great at pinpointing your location — but if GPS stops working properly, it can throw off maps, navigation, and location-based apps. If your iPhone 7 is showing the wrong location, giving inaccurate directions, or GPS just won’t work at all, this guide will walk you through all the fixes you can try.
What Causes iPhone 7 GPS Problems?
Even though the iPhone 7 has advanced GPS hardware, several things can still mess it up:
- Poor Network Reception: Weak signal or network outages can cause GPS glitches.
- Software Bugs or Glitches: An issue with the iOS system or a specific app can interfere with GPS.
- Bad Updates: Sometimes a new iOS or app update can introduce bugs that affect location services.
- Incorrect Settings: GPS issues can happen if location services are restricted or incorrectly set up.
- Environmental Interference: Tall buildings, tunnels, or dense trees can block GPS signals.
- Hardware Damage: If your phone has been dropped or exposed to liquid, the GPS chip might be damaged.
How to Fix GPS Issues on iPhone 7
1. Check Location and Network Settings
First, make sure all your basic settings are correct:
- Turn On Location Services:
Go to Settings → Privacy → Location Services and make sure it’s on. - Disable Airplane Mode:
Go to Settings → Airplane Mode and make sure it’s off. - Set Date and Time Automatically:
Go to Settings → General → Date & Time and toggle Set Automatically on. - Check Your Network Signal:
Good network reception helps GPS accuracy, especially with apps like Maps and Uber.
2. Restart the App or Your iPhone
If a specific app is having location issues:
- Force close the app and reopen it.
- If that doesn’t help, soft reset your iPhone:
- Hold the Power button until you see “slide to power off.”
- Slide to turn off.
- After 30 seconds, turn it back on.
If your iPhone freezes, force restart it:
- Hold Power + Volume Down at the same time until the Apple logo appears.
3. Switch to 3G Instead of LTE
Some users found GPS works better when switching from LTE to 3G:
- Go to Settings → Cellular → Cellular Data Options → Voice & Data.
- Select 3G.
- Restart your iPhone and check if GPS improves.
4. Reset Network Settings
If your network settings are corrupted, GPS can act up. Resetting might fix it:
- Go to Settings → General → Reset → Reset Network Settings.
- Enter your passcode if asked.
- This will wipe Wi-Fi passwords, so be ready to reconnect.
5. Update iOS to the Latest Version
Software updates often include GPS and location fixes:
- Go to Settings → General → Software Update.
- If an update is available, back up your device first.
- Follow the prompts to download and install.
6. Factory Reset as a Last Resort
If nothing else works, a full reset might be needed:
- Backup your iPhone to iCloud or iTunes first!
- Go to Settings → General → Reset → Erase All Content and Settings.
- Follow the prompts and set up your iPhone as new.
You can also restore using iTunes:
- Connect your iPhone to your computer.
- Open iTunes and select your device.
- In the Summary tab, click Restore iPhone.
- Confirm and wait for the process to complete.