How the compass test works
Your phone's compass is a magnetometer: a tiny sensor that measures Earth's magnetic field in three directions. Maps, navigation, augmented reality and stargazing apps combine it with the gyroscope to know which way you're facing. This test reads the absolute heading your browser receives and turns the dial to match, so north on the dial should always point to real north.
How to test your compass
- Move away from laptops, speakers, magnetic cases, car mounts and metal tables.
- Hold the phone flat, screen up, at waist height.
- Turn your whole body slowly in a full circle. The heading should change smoothly through N, E, S and W.
- Compare with a known direction, such as a street that runs north–south on a map. Within about 10–15° is normal for a phone.
Compass pointing the wrong way? How to calibrate
- Figure-8 calibration: wave the phone in a figure-8 in the air 3–5 times, rotating it as you go.
- Remove magnets: MagSafe wallets, magnetic car mount plates and flip cases with magnets can pull the reading by 30° or more.
- iPhone: turn on Settings › Privacy & Security › Location Services › System Services › Compass Calibration.
- Android: in Google Maps, tap the blue location dot and choose Calibrate.
- If the heading never changes or jumps randomly after calibrating, the magnetometer may be damaged, which sometimes happens after a drop or a board repair.
No compass reading?
Some budget phones and most laptops don't have a magnetometer. On iPhone, tap Start compass and allow Motion & Orientation access. If your phone has no reading at all, check the gyroscope and accelerometer test to see whether any motion sensors respond, or run the GPS test for location problems.
Magnetic mount throwing off navigation?
MagSafe and Qi2 mounts are designed around the phone's own magnet ring and interfere less than metal plate mounts.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I calibrate my phone compass?
Wave the phone in a figure-8 three to five times, rotating it as you go, away from metal and magnets. On Android you can also tap the blue dot in Google Maps and choose Calibrate. On iPhone make sure Compass Calibration is on in Location Services › System Services.
Why is my compass pointing the wrong way?
Magnets and metal nearby, such as MagSafe wallets, magnetic car mounts, laptops or speakers, bend the magnetic field the sensor reads. Remove them and calibrate. If it is still far off, the magnetometer may be damaged.
How accurate is a phone compass?
After calibration, a phone compass is usually accurate to within about 5 to 15 degrees. Indoors and near steel structures it can be much worse.