Why Does Google Maps Keep Losing GPS Signal and How Can I Fix It Fast?

Is Google Maps GPS Constantly Failing? Here’s the Simple Solution That Actually Works

Getting GPS signal alerts on your phone can be really frustrating. You’re driving somewhere new and suddenly Google Maps says “GPS Signal Lost” or keeps “Searching for GPS.” This happens a lot with Android phones.

Your phone loses GPS signal for several simple reasons. Sometimes Google Maps gets confused when your screen goes dark. Other times, your phone tries to save battery by turning off location tracking. Bad app updates can also break how GPS works.

Here’s what usually causes these problems:

• New Google Maps updates that have bugs
• Old saved data that got messed up
• Phone settings that block location access
• Battery saving features that are too strict
• Background apps that interfere with GPS

How to Fix GPS Problems in Google Maps

Step 1: Turn Your Phone Off and On Again

This might sound too easy, but it really works. Restarting fixes many GPS issues right away.

When you restart your phone, it cleans up temporary problems. It also refreshes your internet connection and resets the GPS sensors. This simple step solves the problem about half the time.

Step 2: Give Google Maps Full Location Access

Your phone might be blocking Google Maps from using GPS when you’re not looking at it. This causes those annoying signal lost messages.

Here’s how to fix it:

1. Open your phone’s Settings
2. Search for “Google Maps“
3. Tap on “Maps“
4. Choose “Permissions“
5. Select “Location“
6. Pick “Allow all the time“

This lets Google Maps track your location even when the screen is off or you switch to other apps.

Step 3: Clear Out Old App Data

Sometimes Google Maps stores bad information that messes up GPS tracking. Clearing this data gives the app a fresh start.

For Google Maps

1. Go to Settings
2. Find Google Maps
3. Tap “Storage & Cache“
4. Choose “Clear cache“
5. Then select “Clear data“

For Android Auto (if you use it)

1. Go to Settings
2. Find Android Auto
3. Tap “Storage“
4. Choose “Clear cache“
5. Then tap “Clear data“

After clearing data, restart your phone. This helps the changes take effect properly.

Step 4: Stop Battery Optimization from Blocking GPS

Android phones try to save battery by limiting what apps can do in the background. But this can stop Google Maps from tracking your location when the screen is off.

To fix this:

1. Open Settings
2. Go to Apps
3. Find Google Maps
4. Tap “Battery“
5. Choose “Unrestricted“

This tells your phone to never limit Google Maps, even when trying to save battery.

Step 5: Remove Recent App Updates

Sometimes new updates break things that used to work fine. If GPS problems started after a recent update, rolling back can help.

Here’s how:

1. Go to Settings
2. Find Google Maps
3. Tap the three dots at the top
4. Choose “Uninstall updates“
5. Confirm your choice

This brings Google Maps back to the version that came with your phone. You can always update again later if needed.

When to Try Each Solution

Start with restarting your phone. It’s quick and often works. If that doesn’t help, check your location permissions next. Most GPS problems come from these two issues.

If you still have trouble, clear the app data. This takes a few more minutes but fixes deeper problems. Only try removing updates if nothing else works.

Remember to test GPS after each step. Open Google Maps and start navigation to see if the problem is gone. This way you know which solution actually worked.

Keeping GPS Working Smoothly

Once you fix the problem, a few simple habits help prevent it from coming back:

• Keep location access set to “Allow all the time”
• Don’t let battery optimization limit Google Maps
• Restart your phone once a week
• Update Google Maps only when you have time to test it

Most GPS signal problems are easy to fix once you know what to look for. These steps work for almost everyone having trouble with Google Maps on Android phones.