• GPS does not work well on Android. GPS service basics. Video. How to fix and calibrate GPS on your Android device

    IN lately cases have become more frequent when on a smartphone GPS doesn't work, this is especially true for Chinese smartphones from not very popular brands. Today we will sort everything out and ultimately solve this problem. So what to do? How to set up GPS and why new Android Can't get GPS?

    Why doesn't GPS work?

    In fact, there are various sources of the problem, which include the following:

    • Bad GPS module (purely a hardware issue, you can’t do anything);

    • The cover covers GPS antenna;

    • Incorrect GPS.conf data in the system;

    • Software problem (in the firmware, for example).

    Defining the problem

    To determine what problem is preventing you from using GPS normally on your smartphone or tablet, you need to remove the case, go out into an open area and turn on GPS in the settings. Next, run GPS Test and wait 10 minutes (and such a mess happens).
    Check in the “About phone” section (Settings section) what firmware is installed on your device; if it is custom, then you can try to switch to the official one.

    Setting up GPS via GPS.conf

    GPS.conf is a GPS configuration file that can only be edited experienced users, which understand which line is responsible for what. And for ordinary users, it would be a more reasonable option to simply copy the working GPS.conf file.


    • File Manager ( or );

    • GPS Test;

    • GPS.conf file.

    Installing GPS.conf

    First you need to go to file manager and move the GPS.conf file to the /system/etc folder, agree to the replacement system file. Of course, you also need to set the permissions (as shown in the screenshot).

    Run GPS Test, in the settings select “Clear AGPS” to clear the cache. Restart your smartphone.
    Run GPS Test again and check the operation of your GPS module.

    How to set up GPS via FasterGPS

    The program itself edits GPS.conf, saving you from pluses with a tambourine. Of course, root rights are required for the utility to function.


    So, the program itself did all the necessary manipulations with configuration file GPS.conf. Now GPS module should work correctly, use it for your health. But do not forget that a smartphone is not a navigator.

    Today I once again thought about the topic of bad GPS reception signal on my Chinese smartphone Jiayu G2. But, unexpectedly for me, the problem was solved in just a couple of minutes - the “Chinese” finds satellites within 20 seconds. Now let's talk about everything in order.

    In October I received chinese phone, ordered on Aliexpress. The phone is excellent for the money, and everything would be perfect, but the GPS module found the satellites for a very, very long time, in about an hour, no faster. And this is with Wi-Fi turned on and A-GPS and GPS EPO assistance checked. This didn’t make me happy at all and I had to remember a useful post on the livejournal blog, the advice from which I used when setting up my first smartphone on Android. It came down to editing gps.conf auxiliary programs. This helped the “Chinese friend”, but after the first (and so far last) reset to factory settings, GPS reception began to get even worse - I left it outdoors for an hour to search for satellites and no results. And today I started looking again for that useful post on the livejournal blog and came across an update in the post header:

    "Fantastic!" I thought and immediately followed the link. Compared to the first post, this time even more specific actions were proposed, namely replacing the contents of the file gps.conf(you can find it along the way /etc/gps.conf, must be root-rights) to the following settings:

    NTP_SERVER=ua.pool.ntp.org
    NTP_SERVER=0.ua.pool.ntp.org
    NTP_SERVER=1.ua.pool.ntp.org
    NTP_SERVER=2.ua.pool.ntp.org
    NTP_SERVER=3.ua.pool.ntp.org
    NTP_SERVER=europe.pool.ntp.org
    NTP_SERVER=0.europe.pool.ntp.org
    NTP_SERVER=1.europe.pool.ntp.org
    NTP_SERVER=2.europe.pool.ntp.org
    NTP_SERVER=3.europe.pool.ntp.org
    XTRA_SERVER_1=/data/xtra.bin
    AGPS=/data/xtra.bin
    AGPS=http://xtra1.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin
    XTRA_SERVER_1=http://xtra1.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin
    XTRA_SERVER_2=http://xtra2.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin
    XTRA_SERVER_3=http://xtra3.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin
    DEFAULT_AGPS_ENABLE=TRUE
    DEFAULT_USER_PLANE=TRUE
    REPORT_POSITION_USE_SUPL_REFLOC=1
    QOS_ACCURACY=50
    QOS_TIME_OUT_STANDALONE=60
    QOS_TIME_OUT_agps=89
    QosHorizontalThreshold=1000
    QosVerticalThreshold=500
    AssistMethodType=1
    AgpsUse=1
    AgpsMtConf=0
    AgpsMtResponseType=1
    AgpsServerType=1
    AgpsServerIp=3232235555
    INTERMEDIATE_POS=1
    C2K_HOST=c2k.pde.com
    C2K_PORT=1234
    SUPL_HOST=FQDN
    SUPL_HOST=lbs.geo.t-mobile.com
    SUPL_HOST=supl.google.com
    SUPL_PORT=7276
    SUPL_SECURE_PORT=7275
    SUPL_NO_SECURE_PORT=3425
    SUPL_TLS_HOST=FQDN
    SUPL_TLS_CERT=/etc/SuplRootCert
    ACCURACY_THRES=5000
    CURRENT_CARRIER=common

    These settings are designed for residents of Ukraine, but for residents of Russia they are very easy to adapt by replacing ua.pool on ru.pool.

    On my own behalf, I can add that I use the GPS Status application, and after rebooting when I first launched the application, I reset the cache data: call up the menu in the program, then select Tools, there Manage A-GPS state and click Reset and then Download.

    I take my hat off to the author of the original post, dear mechanicuss. His advice helped not only me, and can help many more sufferers.

    That's all. Clear skies and a stable signal from space to everyone.

    Many Android smartphone users often complain about problems with GPS. Some claim that it can take forever for a smartphone to determine their location, while others may claim that GPS doesn't work at all.

    Most often, similar problems are encountered by users who have flashed their smartphone or who have brand new Chinese gadgets. However, some people note that they also have problems with GPS on new gadgets from trusted companies.

    In today's article, we will look at the reasons why GPS on a smartphone may begin to work poorly or stop functioning completely, and we will also look at several solutions for these problems.

    Ok, let's talk about the reasons why the navigator and GPS may not work well on Android. There are several reasons for this:

    • deactivated GPS module;
    • disgusting custom firmware for smartphone;
    • damaged GPS module;
    • inappropriate GPS Almanac;

    GPS stopped working on Android? Try the tips below!

    Solutions for problems with GPS on Android

    Activating the GPS module

    So let's start from the very beginning simple solution, which you’ve probably already reached yourself. Before using the navigator on your smartphone, do not forget to activate the GPS module. When starting some navigators, this module can be activated automatically, however, in some cases the user needs to do this independently. Make sure that the GPS module is activated and try using navigation again.

    Firmware change

    However, what should you do if this module seems to be functioning, but geolocation still does not work? If you recently reflashed your smartphone, then the reason may lie in the firmware. Read reviews from other users about this firmware version and see if they have similar problems. Install some proven Android firmware on your smartphone, where GPS works normally.

    Re-recording of the Almanac

    But what to do if the GPS module works and you haven’t reflashed your device? As we mentioned in the reasons, owners of Chinese smartphones often complain about poorly working GPS. For example, you can find many users on the Internet Meizu smartphones with a similar problem. Let's assume that you have approximately the same device.

    The cause of problems with GPS is Chinese smartphones concludes that they often contain an irrelevant Almanac for our hemisphere. An almanac is a type of data transmitted by a GPS satellite that contains the orbital parameters of all other satellites. To fix the GPS problem in this case, you will need to rewrite the Almanac. This can be done by following these steps:

    • activate in your settings smartphone A-GPS, and then GPS;
    • then enter engineering Android menu by entering the code *#*#4636#*#* into the dialing menu;

      Note: if specified secret code does not work, then you will need to find out the code for your smartphone on the Internet. Owners of smartphones with processor MTK In general, you will need to use the MobileuncleTools utility.

    • as soon as you open the engineering menu, go to the tab called “YGPS”;
    • now take a look at "Satellites" and check if signs of a signal appear;

      Note: if they appear, then the theory with the wrong Almanac has been confirmed and you can continue to follow the steps below.

    • go to the “Information” tab and press the following row of buttons one by one: full→warm→hot→cold;
    • next you need to click on the “Start” button in the “NMEA Log” tab;

      Note: it is precisely this action that will ensure the recording of a new Almanac corresponding to your region.

    If, for example, you bought your phone, and it came from China, then this article may be useful to you. After all, quite often people are faced with the problem of setting up GPS on their smartphone if the phone came, say, from another country. You received your new smartphone, checked everything, and about GPS coordinates you forgot and after a few days you turn on the navigator and notice that the GPS does not work on your new smartphone. Was there such a thing? If yes, then read on.

    Why doesn't GPS work?

    Usually everything is quite simple, here are a few possible problems:

    • Poor GPS module that searches for satellites very poorly in an urban environment
    • A case that covers the GPS antenna of a smartphone
    • Incorrect GPS.conf data in the smartphone system
    • Bad firmware.

    Now let’s determine why your smartphone does not pick up GPS. To do this, remove the case, go out into an open area away from tall buildings, turn on the GPS, open GPS Test and wait a while. It is possible that your smartphone may need even more time to connect; this is unacceptable for any GPS module in a smartphone.

    Check whether the firmware on your smartphone is official. To do this, go into the settings, make sure that your phone model is written there, and also look at all the settings for poorly translated text; usually manufacturers do a great job of translating everything in their smartphone.
    If you see problems in your firmware, then visit the 4pda forum and there you will definitely find the firmware for your phone and they will help you there, or download official firmware directly from your phone or from the manufacturer’s official website.

    Setting up GPS by setting the GPS.conf file

    It is much easier to download the appropriate file and simply copy it into the system; after such manipulation, GPS coordinates will be displayed much faster. Satellite search time GPS smartphone can drop to just a few seconds!

    You need:

    • Root rights
    • File manager, for example or
    • GPS.conf file, you can download

    Installing GPS.conf on the system:

    1. Open the file manager and transfer the downloaded GPS.conf to the /system/etc folder, confirm replacing the system file
    2. Set the permissions for the file as shown in the figure below

    3. Run GPS Test and select “Clear AGPS” in the settings, this will clear the cache of old data, restart your smartphone. Run GPS Test and check the operation of your GPS.

    4. Preferably in an open area.

    How to set up GPS using FasterGPS

    This program will edit your GPS.conf file itself. For the program to work, you need Root rights, as well as permission to read and write data in the system partition.

    1. Install the application then launch it
    2. Select continent and region

    Ready! the program itself rewrote the GPS.conf file. Now GPS coordinates will be available immediately after launching maps or games.

    That's all. Everything should work out for you and the phone is configured for correct and fast GPS work.

    At the first turning on GPS In a new Android phone, a situation may arise that the navigation does not work correctly: it takes a long time to search for satellites, and the connection often breaks down. Don't rush to blame your phone for bad antenna and a GPS receiving module. Most likely, this is due to the fact that EPO updating is disabled by default on the device.

    Many modern smartphones on Android have additional GPS function, which is called “EPO” (Extended Prediction Orbit). Your phone downloads an EPO file to help you find GPS satellites faster and reduce the time it takes to determine your location.

    To check the operation of GPS in your Android phone, I recommend using the "GPS Test" application.

    In my case, when I turned on GPS for the first time, the following picture was detected:

    That is, initially, 11 satellites were already predefined in the EPO file by factory settings. But, since the phone was assembled somewhere in China, it is logical that they will not work well in another region.

    Setting up EPO

    To update the EPO file, turn on the Internet on your device. It could be like WiFi connection, and mobile GPRS/3G Internet.

    After entering "Engineer Mode", go to the "Location > Location Based Service > EPO" section and check the boxes next to the "Enable EPO" and "Auto Download" options.

    Then go back a step and select the second item - "YGPS". On the "Information" tab, press the "full", "cold" and "AGPS restart" buttons in sequence.

    Go to the "Sattelites" tab and wait until the signal from the satellites is detected (this may take tens of minutes). At first there will be red circles on the compass, then they will turn green.

    Now you can exit engineering menu(press the back button on your phone several times). Turn off the Internet and GPS. Go to "Settings - My Location" and turn on navigation only by GPS satellites.

    Open the "GPS Test" application or any other one. The smartphone should establish a stable connection with satellites within 30 - 60 seconds. provided you are outside and the weather is good.

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