Many owners of phones running the Android operating system are faced with a problem when the built-in GPS module refuses to find GPS satellites or finds them but cannot connect. There may be several reasons for this behavior of the module, let’s consider the main ones:

The parameters for connecting to satellites are entered incorrectly in the settings file;

An A-GPS module is installed, which often does not find satellites on the phone on its own;

The module is not working.

I would like to look into the problem with the A-GPS (Assisted GPS) module, since Chinese phones that have it in 98% of cases are now very popular and are pushing global brands out of the market.

How does A-GPS work?

The main difference from the standard GPS module is that it connects not only with satellites, but also with towers mobile operators, which significantly improves the quality of location determination. When this function is enabled, the phone often cannot connect to GPS satellites itself and requires a “Full restart”, even if it was just turned on. It's not the problem themselves Chinese phones, namely the A-GPS module, which costs a penny compared to GPS, and therefore works accordingly. Let's figure out how to set up GPS on Android.

How to determine whether an A-GPS or GPS module is on your phone?

If you have a phone with two SIM cards and made in China, there is a 99.9% chance that you have A-GPS. But to make sure of this, you can go to engineering menu. This will begin the process of fixing the issue of a broken connection with satellites.

To enter the engineering menu, you need to dial the following number in your phone: *#*#3646633#*#*. If the combination does not work, you can try entering *#15963#* or *#*#4636#*#*, however, in this case your menu may be different.

After entering the phrase, you are automatically taken to the engineering menu and will see a window with the following content:

You need to move to the left, scrolling through the settings pages to the “Location” tab.

Now select the first option “Location Based Service”. If you have the A-GPS tab, then follow the further settings. Otherwise, this article will not help you much.

Setting up GPS on Android

If you have an A-GPS tab, go straight to it. You should have a window that looks like this:

Compare the settings with yours, adjust if necessary, according to the screenshots:

If everything is written correctly, you can go back one level to selecting the “Location” items and go to “YGPS”.

Here you see that your GPS module does not find satellites, or rather, it finds, but does not connect due to incorrect inclusion:

You need the "Information" tab. The main manipulations will be carried out in it.

As you can see, the status is “UNANVAILABLE”, and TTFF is stuck forever searching. No matter how long you wait, nothing will change.

The essence of fixing the eternal search is to do full reset“Full”, and then, after 2-3 seconds, click on “A-GPS Restart”. Those. you reset the frozen search process to zero, thereby overwriting all preset settings, and immediately reboot the module. Not having time to pick up the standard configuration (incorrect), the module finds all the satellites from scratch.

After 10-20 seconds, you will see satellite signals on the “Satellites” tab, and after another half a minute the module will successfully connect to them.

The search was done from the 1st side of the house, on the balcony, respectively; nothing was found on the second hemisphere. You will find all your companions on the road.

All modern tablets and smartphones have a built-in location sensor (GPS). With its help, you can get directions to the desired geographical point. This function of your gadgets is especially good if you find yourself in an unfamiliar area. This device has only one drawback - the GPS sensor greatly drains the battery. You can help your smartphone or tablet run more efficiently by disabling this feature. But, you can do something smarter and configure the GPS sensor correctly. In this article we will tell you how to do this.

GPS sensor is an important component of modern mobile devices. Indeed, in addition to helping you correctly navigate the area, you can use it to activate reminders “tied” to a specific area. Some applications generally “refuse” to work on smartphones or tablets without enabling the location function. Therefore, you will not be able to completely disable the GPS sensor and fully use your gadget.

You can enable (and disable) GPS in the panel Android notifications. It is activated using this icon:

In order to determine its operating mode, you need to follow this path:

After this, a menu will appear with three options:

  • "According to all sources". This is the most accurate mode of operation of your device's GPS module. But it is precisely this “precision” that wastes the energy reserves of your battery. This mode uses satellites, Wi-Fi and mobile networks. If you have this mode enabled, it means that the module responsible for the operation of this function is constantly in the active position. It monitors the space and easily helps determine the location not only outdoors, but also indoors. Unlike navigators, devices that are used to plot routes, smartphones have the ability to use not only satellites, but also other sources. For example, the Internet. With its help, and with the help of certain utilities in your gadget, it can show the location even without connecting to satellites.
  • "By network coordinates". Actually, this mode is described in the previous paragraph. But, unlike the “By all sources” mode, it only uses wireless networks(Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile networks). When you select this mode, communication with satellites is disabled, which helps to significantly save battery power. At the same time, the accuracy of location determination does not suffer critically.
  • "By GPS satellites". Unlike the previous mode, this only uses GPS satellites and the device module that processes their signals. By selecting this mode and entering a room, your gadget will “lose the scent”, since the signal with satellites will be lost.

If you want to increase the life of the device from one battery charge to another, then set the “By network coordinates” mode. It's also a good idea to deactivate the location mode in your device's notification panel.

If the battery of your smartphone or tablet can handle the load, then turn on the “Across all sources” mode. Thanks to it, you can not only more accurately determine your location, but also use personalized Google search.

Configuration via the engineering menu

Unfortunately, not all devices can quickly find satellites, connect to them and maintain a stable connection. Some cheap smartphone models cannot boast of flawless operation of the GPS module. And this can affect you at the most inopportune moment. For example, when you need to figure out where to go while in an unfamiliar area.

One of the reasons for problems with the GPS sensor is its incorrect operation in the latitudes of our country. This happens especially often with Chinese cheap smartphones. But this situation can be corrected with the help of simple manipulations with such a sensor through the engineering menu. To do this, you need to have superuser rights (How to do this? Read).

Turn on your Wi-Fi connection and GPS and go out into the open. A balcony can also be used for this purpose.

Above are three engineering codes. One of them should suit your device. But, if none of the listed codes work, then use the program Mobileuncle ToolHero. With its help, you can access the engineering menu from devices that do not support the above mentioned engineering codes.

Mobileuncle ToolHero

You need to select a bookmark in the program Location. To do this, you need to scroll a little to the left. In this tab, go to the item Location Based Service.

In the tab EPO need items Enable EPO And Auto Download make active. EPO is a file in your system that is responsible for the coordinates of satellites and their trajectories. Initially, it is not active in all devices.

Now you need to go to the point YGPS(to do this, return to the previous level). In the Satellites section you can see the current satellite layout. If satellites are visible on the diagram, then the device also “sees” them.

Go to the tab Information and choose full. Wait a couple of seconds and press AGPS restart.

We return again to the satellite layout diagram (Satellites tab). The dots next to the satellites should turn green. This means that the device can connect to them.

IMPORTANT: Sometimes, even when correct settings A GPS device may not always be able to connect to satellites. This may be affected by interference, bad weather and other situations.

Reboot your device. After the steps described above, it should receive the signal better GPS, find and quickly connect to satellites.

As you can see, configure the module GPS and select the most optimal mode of operation of the function "Location" simple enough. If you still have any questions regarding this article, be sure to write them in the comments.

Video. How to fix and calibrate GPS on your Android device?

Any modern gadget has GPS in its arsenal. This is a special receiver that allows you to determine your exact location, indicate a short route, and view a map of the area.


If you need to constantly use GPS, then you should figure out how to turn it on on your tablet. First, let's look at the main points:

— connected Internet does not guarantee high-quality GPS operation;

— you should configure all the parameters yourself, since by default they may show inaccurate data;

— the absence of a signal indicates an incorrect choice of GPS type.

How to enable GPS on your tablet

Open the curtain at the top, you will see an item with a pointer icon (constantly in Google Maps used). Click on it. That's it, you have turned on the GPS.

Open some map app and see if it shows you everything correctly and how good the signal is. If nothing works, then you should wait about five minutes. Of course, you should stand on the street or close to the window. Naturally, it won’t work in the metro.

The GPS feature is very useful for tablet owners. This is especially true for people who are constantly on the move, traveling to different cities, or simply afraid of getting lost. Its connection occurs in a matter of minutes. Additional settings not required.

This universal device, serving not only for communication, but also for performing many other useful functions. One of the new features of the device is navigation. It became available thanks to the introduction of GPS sensors into the phone. How to choose and install a navigator on your smartphone?

GPS navigation on a smartphone

Most modern smartphones have built-in GPS sensors. This makes it easy to use your favorite device, for example, as car navigator to quickly find your way in unfamiliar places. It is very easy to take advantage of this opportunity.

Thanks to convenient applications install a navigator on a smartphone of any manufacturer possible in a matter of minutes. The only thing is that this process has its own nuances for different operating systems. Let's take a closer look, how to use a navigator on a smartphone, and what programs are best to use for this.

Useful programs and applications: how to choose a navigator

Using a smartphone as a navigator becomes possible thanks to the work of various programs and applications. They come in two types:

  • Online (Yandex Navigation, Google Navigator and others);
  • Offline (for example, Navitel).

The first option requires an Internet connection, so it is recommended to use them only when unlimited tariff. A significant advantage of these programs is that they are regularly updated. IN basic version these apps are free.

The second type of navigators can also be used when the Internet is turned off. All information is in internal memory smartphone, however, it takes up quite a lot of space. These programs are paid.

Setting up a navigator on the base

Setting up a navigator for your Android smartphone is very simple. You just need to download the desired program through Play Market. The action plan is very simple and includes several actions:

  • The first thing you need to do is create an account Google entry. This is necessary to work with the Play Market;
  • Using login and password account you need to log in on your smartphone;
  • Next you need to launch Play Market and select the right application, for example Navitel. To speed up the process, you can enter its name in the search bar;
  • When the application appears in the list of found ones, you need to click on its name and in the window that opens, click the “Run” button.

To use the navigator, you need to make sure that the GPS sensors are turned on. For example, to do this you need to go to the “Settings” menu, select “Location” and configure the appropriate connection parameters.

Android supports the following navigation applications:

  • Navitel;
  • 2gis;

Selecting a navigator based on

Now let's answer the question: how to set up a navigator on an iPhone? operating system iOS supports many navigators, including:

  • Navitel;
  • Navigon;
  • CityGuide and others.

You can download the navigator to your iPhone like other programs - via the App Store. You also need to download maps, since the pre-installed application is not always accurate.

To enable GPS on your iPhone, you need to sequentially go to the “Settings”, “Privacy” and “Geolocation” menus. In this section, you need to move the “Location Services” switch to ON.

Navigation based on Windows Phone

As a navigator in smartphones based on Windows Phone, For example, Lumia 640 using the Here app. It allows you to view both a schematic map and a panoramic map with photographs of houses. But you can download another navigator via Windows Store. Among the best options are the following:

  • Yandex.Navigator;
  • Navitel;
  • 2GIS;
  • Windows Maps.

Knowing how to use a smartphone as a navigator, you can quickly get directions, find the nearest cafe or gas station, and determine the location of loved ones. And this is really a very useful and necessary function for any smartphone owner.

Today, all modern smartphones are equipped with a built-in GPS module that shows your location. You can use your smartphone as a navigator while playing sports or driving, and you can also use it to get up-to-date news or weather information in your city. Now let's figure out how to check the operation of GPS on Android, that is, whether the location module works on your device or not.

There are 2 options to resolve this issue, simple using the application, and a little more complicated using the standard capabilities of your smartphone (engineering menu).

Checking and setting up GPS using the app

Based on all the applications that we tried, the simplest and most effective turned out to be. This program can quickly help you find all the satellites in your region, pre-configure them and, possibly, use other functions.

Features of the GPS Test program for Android

  • Shows information about visible satellites;
  • Shows active satellites currently in use;
  • Gives accurate data geopositioning;
  • Shows exact coordinates;
  • Gives information about the time zone at the location;
  • Indicates the position of satellites in the sky;
  • Can serve as an electronic compass;
  • Provides a variety of data, ranging from time and date to altitude;
  • Gives information about sunrise and sunset times in the place where the device is located.

How to check the status of your GPS navigator using GPS Test

We open the application, and if we see the inscription “ 3D Fix“This means that the navigator works correctly and performs all its functions without the slightest problem. Shows " No Fix"? Unfortunately, there is a problem with the device and its smooth operation is impossible.

Constant switching between the above modes may also be due to poor conditions for receiving a GPS signal. This is caused not only by being indoors; even unsuitable weather conditions, such as rain or strong wind, can affect it.

Shows " off"? Everything is simpler here. The receiver is simply turned off. To enable it, we perform an easy procedure: open “Settings”, go to the “Location” item. A new menu called "Location Services" opens. There are three modes in total:

  1. "By network coordinates"
  2. "GPS satellites"
  3. Supporting Data.

To most accurately determine a location, for example, in a car, we recommend activating all items at once. Of the networks, Wi-Fi works best, of course, but if conditions do not allow this (being on the street, etc., as is usually the case), use mobile Internet.

Using this program you can learn a lot useful information about your phone and its additional features.

Setting up and adjusting GPS through the engineering menu

This method will help you check the quality of the established standards that indicate how well the GPS on your phone works.

  1. To do this, you need to go to the engineering menu. Enter the code (where we usually write the subscriber number) *#*#3646633#*#*;
  2. Next you need to find the YGPS item (or something similar);
  3. As a result, a map should appear with many yellow dots on it. They may not appear immediately.

Just these points and talk about the number of satellites that were found. If you time the time from the start of the scan to full load of all found satellites, the quality of the installed GPS will become known. Later, this data can be compared with other devices, for example, by taking it from a friend.

Video instructions

Poor performance of GPS satellites indoors

But do not forget that GPS may have poor signal reception when you are standing indoors (especially in a high-rise building) or close to electrical appliances. So it is better to use the location function in an open area (street) or, at the most extreme case, by the window.

It's worth remembering that GPS is better Do not leave it on all the time, use it only when necessary. This will save battery charge two or even three times longer. Using widgets, you can turn GPS on or off on your desktop.


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