If you make use of Google Maps to plan your route every day you won’t want it to malfunction. The accuracy of the Maps app is close to none. With Google Maps directive, you can escape traffic jams, and follow the fastest route to your place of work or home after the closing hour. However, if the Maps app starts malfunctioning it can ruin your plan and leave you stranded especially if you can’t wrap your head around it.
Fortunately, if the Google Maps app is not working there are a few steps you can take to resolve it. So, in this guide, we will guide and explain to you different walkarounds around Google Maps not working
Why is my Google Maps not Working
There are a few reasons why the Google Maps is not working which include but are not limited to a weak internet connection or if your internet connection is not secure the Google Maps may not work. Also, if you experience that the Maps app is not working when you are connected to a mobile or cellular data you can try Wi-Fi or switch networks to see if there will be an improvement in the internet connection.
Also, if the suggestion above fails, you may want to check whether there is an outage in your area that stops the Google Maps app from pulling real-time data in the area. So, if the server is due or it’s facing an issue it will affect the Google Maps service from pulling real-time data. In most cases, if there are any outages you will see it on the Google Maps site or Google status dashboard.
The hint above is supposed to give you the idea you need to fix the Google Maps not working on your Android or Samsung. However, if none of the hints above provides a a breakthrough, it could be that the app is outdated, phone cache, memory issue and a few others.
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How Google Maps App Tacks Locations
If you don’t know how the Google Maps app works it’ll be difficult to find out the causes of the problem that is stopping the Maps app from working or not being able to identify your location.
For the Google Maps app to work effectively, the app AI uses the following features on your Android and iPhone devices to pull real-time data.
GPS
The Google Maps app uses your phone’s GPS (if it has one) to track your location if not more than 20 meters above sea level. Anything above this may result in Google Maps location not found even when the Maps app is working fine.
WiFi
Your phone WiFi also helps to track your location with the Google Maps app on your device. Once your device is within this range, your location tracking app, Google Maps app, will work effectively but when you are outside the WiFi coverage, the Google Maps app might return the not working error.
Mobile Networks
Another way the Google Maps app works is to make use of your mobile networks and this gives accurate results as it relies on real-time data. As long as your mobile networks are working fine and the signal strength is not weak, then, the Google Maps error will not be a big deal.
How to Fix Google Maps not Working
For the Google Maps app to give you accurate location you must grant the app full permission to use your phone location. However, we highlighted the following ways to fix the Google Maps app location error.
Grant the Google Maps App Permission
If the Google Maps app permission is denied this will lead to the app not working fine on your phone. As a matter of fact, the Google app will not be able to access and track your location real time.
Therefore, to fix this error, you must allow Google Maps app permission on your phone by enabling your phone location.
- Go to the Settings app
- Scroll down to privacy
- Go to ‘Location Services’
- Toggle on ‘Location Services’
Clear Google Maps App Caches
You may want to clear the Google Maps app caches to make sure this app works according to the app settings.
- Go to your phone settings
- Scroll down and click on “Apps” or “applications manager“
- Find the Google Maps app and click on it
- Click on the storage icon
- Tap on clear caches
Then, restart your device to clear other remains of the app that are stopping it from working fine. If this still doesn’t clear the error message, follow the steps above to clear the data.
However, you need to note that when you clear the Google Maps app data all your settings including saved locations will be deleted and the app will be as new again. You may be asked to sign in with your Google account when you open the app.
Reset your Phone Network
Your mobile networks must be working fine to give accurate locations in real-time. However, if there is a deficiency in the network strength, make sure you are in a location where the network signal is not weak or changed to Wi-Fi.
However, you may also need to reset your mobile networks for this to work.
- Go to the Settings app
- Tap on General
- Scroll down to the Reset button at the bottom
- Tap on Reset Network Settings
- Enter your password to confirm your decision
These network settings differ from phone to phone. To reset your network settings you need to follow your phone configuration. If you are using a mobile phone such as Huawei, Oppo, or Samsung the network settings may differ from the above guide.
Update Google Maps App
If you are running the outdated version of the Google Maps app, you may end up with the Google Maps not working or responding on your phone because of the new features that are absent from the new app when you are trying to use the app or the new bug fix update.
- Launch the Google Play Store [App Store for iPhone]
- Tap on your “Profile Picture” at the top right.
- Click on “Manage apps & device.”
- Tap “Manage” and tap “Update Available.”
- Click on “Google Maps.”
- Tap on the “Update” icon
Once the app is updated to the latest version the not working error will disappear “IF” the error is caused by the new release.
If you don’t want to manually update your alls [all] in the Google Play Store you can set the app to automatic update so that your phone can update to the latest version as soon as there is an update.
Calibrate the GPS on your Phone
You can do this manually to make sure that your phone GPS is working perfectly and it’s not the main reason why the Google Maps app isn’t working.
- Open the Google Maps app
- Start by making a figure 8 until the GPS compass is calibrated
Once the GPS compass is calibrated, you should be fine with the GPS if your Google Maps app is using your phone’s GPS to track your location.
Enable High-Accuracy on your Phone
If you are not using the high-accuracy mode on your phone for your location tracker app you may find it difficult working with the app.
As a result of this, we’d advise you to enable the high-accuracy mode on your phone.
- Go to your phone settings
- Find the location option
- Tap on the toggle icon to enable location service
- Click on Mode
- Select high-accuracy
With the location accuracy set to high, we can be assured that when the Google Maps app is working, the exact location in real-time will be what you’d see and not a wrong or weak location description.
Check Location Service on your Phone
This is for iPhone users, you must ensure that the location service option is enabled on your iPhone. To do this kindly follow the steps below.
- Open your iPhone “Settings.”
- Scroll down and click on “Security & Privacy.”
- Tap “Location Service.”
- Toggle on this option to enable location service.
- Scroll down and click on “Google Maps.”
- Choose “While Using this App” or “Always” depending on your choice so that Google Maps can work independently.
Enable Background Refresh
You Google Maps might not work real-time if you disable background refresh. So, it’s advisable to turn on this feature to allow the Maps app to work in the background of your phone.
- Go to your phone “Settings”
- Click on “Connections.”
- Scroll down and select “Data Usage.”
- Tap “Mobile Data Usage.”
- Scroll down and click on “Google Maps.”
- Enable “Allow background data usage.”
With this guide, the Google Maps not working error will be fixed and you will be able to track your location using the location tracker app.