Don’t let GPS errors stop you from playing Pokémon Go!
Pokémon Go is everywhere, and that’s great for Android gamers around the world (or at least in the countries the game has launched. But if you’re getting a “GPS signal not found” error when you launch the game, here’s how to fix it!
GPS errors? Make sure it is enabled!
Many Android phones come with their GPS radios turned off by default in order to save battery life, since the technology is very battery-intensive. Here’s how to turn it on.
Note: This example was done on a Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, but these steps should apply to most Android devices running Android 5.0 Lollipop or higher.
- Tap on your phone’s Settings icon or access Settings through Quick Settings.
- Scroll down to Privacy and safety. Tap on it.
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Tap on Location.
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- Make sure Location toggle is in the on position.
- Tap on Locating method. This may also be called Location mode.
- Tap GPS, Wi-Fi, and mobile networks. This may also be called High accuracy.
- Ensure that Wi-Fi is also turned on throughout the game, even if your phone is not connected to a network.
Pokémon Go uses both local Wi-Fi (also known as Assistive GPS), your closest mobile network tower, and GPS satellites to accurately place you in the game world. Turning on just Wi-Fi and mobile network-based location tracking will make your character jump around and less likely to be placed close to Pokémon.
Still getting an error even with GPS enabled?
GPS satellites are finicky things. While the radios inside Android phones have improved significantly over the last few years, they’re still not perfect, and may sometimes have trouble locating you, especially indoors.
If you’re still getting GPS errors even after turning everything on, take a step outside and hold your phone steady for around 30 seconds. That should allow the GPS satellites to lock onto your phone and get things back to normal.
Can you still play the game without GPS?
Yes! If you don’t have a phone with GPS, or are using a Wi-Fi tablet that doesn’t have a GPS radio, it’s still possible to play Pokémon Go. Unfortunately, the experience won’t be as good, since you’ll need to be in areas that have strong Wi-Fi signals, such as restaurants, bars, coffee shops, or other businesses, that you can connect to. Since Pokémon Go relies on having an internet connection, it will be able to locate you with just a Wi-Fi signal — just don’t expect to compete on the same level as your Android phone-wielding friends.