How To Fix iPhone XS GPS Not Working Or Location Bug After iOS 13.3 Update

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GPS or Global Positioning System has been a useful feature on smartphones nowadays. It allows you to roam around even at unfamiliar places without worrying about getting lost. But this feature may cause you some troubles if the gps will not work or you’ll experience a location bug. 

Based from the reports, several iPhone XS users are experiencing GPS problem after updating to iOS 13.3. This article has been created to fix GPS that is not working after the recent update on iPhone XS. Find out how you can fix the iPhone’s GPS issues by scrolling further. 

Also read: Common fixes for different app issues that occurred on iPhone XS Max after iOS 13.2.3 update

Troubleshoot your iPhone XS with GPS that stops working after installing iOS 13.3 update

Random bugs may affect certain functionalities on your device which could lead to some errors like GPS that’s not working. Software glitches could trigger such GPS issues to occur like a location bug. Satellite signal blockage like buildings, thick clouds, or even trees could also cause problems on the GPS functionality. If you have an iPhone XS that encountered a GPS problem after updating to iOS 13.3 even in an open area with no obstacles that could cause the problem, troubleshoot the issue with the solutions listed below. 

First solution: Reboot your iPhone XS

A lot of post-update errors can be fixed easily by restarting your device. Minor software glitches from iOS 13.3 update could affect how your phone will perform as they can attack certain features that could lead for relevant symptoms to occur. Your iPhone’s GPS issue may have been brought by these glitches and rebooting your device might do the trick in resolving the problem. Doing so allows a quick system refresh that could remove dump cache as well as rogue apps that might have been causing conflicts with your phone’s GPS. This could also help in expediting the implementation of necessary changes from the recent iOS update. 

You have two options on how to reboot your device. The first option is a soft reset. Here are the steps: 

  1. Press and hold the Power/Side button and either of the Volume buttons simultaneously for a few seconds. 
  2. Release both buttons once Slide to Power off prompt appears on the screen.
  3. Drag the Power off slider to the right to turn off your phone.
  4. After 30 seconds, press and hold the Power/Side button again until you see the Apple logo.

The alternative option is a force restart. Here’s how: 

  1. Press and release the Volume Up button quickly.
  2. Press and release the Volume Down button quickly. 
  3. Lastly, press and hold the Side button for a few seconds until you see the Apple logo.

As soon as your phone is up and running, attempt to use the GPS and see if it is working properly. 

Second solution: Refresh connections on your iPhone XS

Aside from the restarting your device, refreshing location services might also help in fixing the issue on your iPhone. Doing so will remove software bugs from iOS 13.3 update that might have been blocking GPS features and causing failure to its functionality. Refer to the steps below to refresh location services: 

  1. Access Settings from the Home screen. 
  2. Select Privacy. 
  3. Tap on Location Services. 
  4. Toggle the switch beside Location Services to turn the feature ON. If it is already turned on, toggle the switch to turn if off and wait for a few seconds then toggle switch to turn it on again. 

You may also reset the location details which might enhance the chance in removing GPS errors. Here’s how: 

  1. Access Settings from the Home screen. 
  2. Tap on General. 
  3. Select Reset. 
  4. Select the Reset Location and Privacy option. 

To add up, getting rid of iOS software glitches that causes connectivity-related errors like GPS that is not working is made easy by simply enabling and disabling airplane mode feature. This method has been neglected by many but could eventually fix the problem in an instant. Activating airplane mode will cut off all wireless radios on your iPhone including GPS and deactivating it will resume those connections, giving a holistic refresh. If you’re not familiar with this procedure, follow these steps: 

  1. Access Settings from the Home screen. 
  2. Check Airplane mode. If toggle is currently turned on, tap on it to switch it off. If not, tap the toggle to turn it on.
  3. While the Airplane mode is enabled, perform a soft reset on your device. 
  4. Wait for your phone to go back online after the reset then access Settings > Airplane mode. Tap the switch to disable the feature. 

Once connections are established on your iPhone XS, use your GPS and check if it is working properly. 

Third solution: Reset all settings on your iPhone XS

This may sound absurd but iOS updates can alter information on your device automatically. These changes may invalidate some details which could trigger different issues to come out after the update. To rule this out, performing an all settings reset may provide a gps-fix by removing all customized settings on your device including iOS overrides and revert them to their default values and options. If you wish to give this a try, here’s how it’s done: 

  1. Access Settings from the Home screen. 
  2. Tap General.
  3. Scroll down to and then select Reset. 
  4. Tap the Reset All Settings option.
  5. Enter your device passcode once prompted.
  6. Then tap to confirm all settings reset. 

Your iPhone will reboot automatically after the reset process is completed. Once it’s up and running, check if gps is not working issue has been resolved. 

Fourth solution: Factory reset your iPhone XS 

You might owe this kind of problem to complex system errors inflicted by iOS 13.3 if none of the solutions worked. For that matter, you’ll need advanced solutions like factory reset to deal with the issue. This process will wipe out all contents on your device including tough glitches that might not be susceptible to simple solutions. All information will be reverted to the default factory configurations, so it is recommended to create backups of  your important files via iTunes or iCloud beforehand. Once backups are created, perform these steps to master reset your iPhone XS: 

  1. Access Settings from the Home screen. 
  2. Tap General.
  3. Scroll down to and then select Reset. 
  4. Tap the Erase all contents and settings option.
  5. Enter your device passcode once prompted.
  6. Then tap to confirm all settings reset.

Once the reset is done, your phone will reboot automatically. Set it up like a new one to use the iPhone again and see if it is still not working. 

Still getting GPS issues on your iPhone XS 

The inputs above should be good enough in dealing with the issue on your iPhone XS. But there are instances where minor errors could become fatal system errors if the bugs from the iOS update has affected the entire phone’s system. This might be the reason why your iPhone’s GPS is not working up to this point. To deal with this, you might need to perform another advanced solution like recovery mode restore and DFU mode restore. They’re intended to clear or undo any stagnant iOS glitches or malware embedded on the recent update that might have been preventing you to use the GPS functions properly.

Contacting Apple support might be beneficial to you since they can provide additional guides and information as well as official recommendations on how to fix your iPhone XS GPS that is not working after iOS 13.3 update. If you happen to know the nearest Apple service center in your area, you can give them a visit and let their onsite technician check your device.