Samsung Galaxy S21+ GPS or location is inaccurate

The checks in more detail

Stand in the open with a clear sky for a minute at the start of a trip so the phone has a fix before you move. The S21 series has had GPS complaints where the position jumps, and a cache partition wipe after an update has helped owners. Check that Battery optimization is not putting Maps to sleep, which stops background location. A phone that never gets a fix in the open needs a Samsung diagnostic, and the GPS test in Samsung Members shows satellite counts.

GPS Test apps that show satellite counts help judge the fix, and Samsung Members' own GPS diagnostic reports it; compare the count in the open and indoors. A phone that sees satellites but has a wrong position may be affected by multipath near tall buildings, and waiting in the open for a minute improves the fix. Samsung's GPS and the location history setting can also matter: a very old location cache can lead to a wrong first fix, and switching Location off and on, or restarting, forces a new fix.

If you navigate on foot, hold the phone so the top edge, which has the GPS antenna, is not covered, and avoid carrying it in a bag with metal items. If you use fitness apps that record routes, check that their permission is set to Allow all the time for location, since a phone that limits the app to While using may stop tracking when the screen turns off. Also check the app's own GPS settings and battery optimization, as these cause gaps in routes that look like a GPS fault.