If the blue dot on a Galaxy S25 jumps to the wrong street, lags behind you in the car, or takes a minute to appear, the phone's GPS is rarely broken. The S25 uses dual-band GPS and also listens to Galileo, GLONASS and BeiDou, so in open sky it is accurate to a few meters. What spoils it is usually permission and power settings: location set to approximate for one app, Power saving restricting background location, a metal or magnetic case that blocks the antenna, or a first fix indoors. Fix those in that order and then calibrate the compass in Google Maps.
Differential
Likely causes of “Samsung Galaxy S25 GPS or location is inaccurate”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Location is on but not set to improve accuracy
What separates it The dot drifts by a street in a built-up area
How to confirm Settings, Location, then turn on Improve accuracy so Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scans help
- 2
An app has only approximate location
What separates it One app puts you on the wrong block while Maps is right
How to confirm Settings, Apps, the app, Permissions, Location, then switch on Use precise location
- 3
Power saving restricting background location
What separates it The dot freezes when you lock the screen on a drive
How to confirm Switch Power saving off for the trip and let the navigation app run unrestricted
- 4
A metal or magnetic case or mount
What separates it Accuracy is worse in the car mount than in your hand
How to confirm Remove the case or move the mount away from the top of the phone
- 5
A cold start indoors
What separates it The first fix takes a minute or more
How to confirm Step outside under open sky and wait about a minute
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Which app and what goes wrong
- Whether it is indoors, outdoors or in a car
- The case or mount in use
- The One UI version and patch date
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedTurn Location on with accuracy help
ReversibleSwipe down and make sure Location is on. In Settings, Location, enable Improve accuracy.
Grant precise location to the app
ReversibleSettings, Apps, choose the app, Permissions, Location, then Allow only while using the app with Use precise location on.
Calibrate in Maps
ReversibleOpen Google Maps, tap the blue dot, choose Calibrate and draw a figure of eight with the phone.
Go outside for a fix
ReversibleStand under open sky for a minute so the phone locks onto several satellites.
Take off the case or mount
ReversibleTest with the phone in your hand and no metal or magnet near the top.
Restart
ReversibleA restart refreshes the location services.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- What the S25 listens to
- Dual-band GPS plus Galileo, GLONASS and BeiDou, with Wi-Fi and cell data blended in for a faster first fix.
- Common home causes
- A metal phone case, a magnetic mount and a phone left in a bag all reduce the satellite signal.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the position is wrong in every app under open sky after the steps, book a Samsung check
- !If only one app is wrong, contact that developer
- !If the compass points the wrong way, calibrate it in Google Maps
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Does the S25 have dual-band GPS?+
Its specifications list dual-band GPS together with Galileo, GLONASS and BeiDou, which helps in built-up areas.
Why is GPS worse in my car?+
Windscreen coatings, mounts and the way the phone sits reduce the satellite signal.
What does Improve accuracy do?+
It lets Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scans refine the position even when those radios are otherwise off.
Why does Maps show the wrong direction?+
The compass needs calibrating; use the figure-of-eight motion.