[Solved] How to get compass apps to work on my Nexus 5 with Lollipop?

[bbbarry]

Hi, since the upgrade to Lollipop on my Nexus 5 I can't get compass apps to work at all.

I've cleared the cache, tested & fixed GPS with "GPS Status" & pitched, rolled & yawed the thing repeatedly to no avail. I've tried more than one compass app, so it seems to be a general problem.

I've also noticed that the signal direction indicator on the "Open Signal" app (which looks kind of compass-like) is also not working.

If I check with Google Sky Map, the orientation of the map seems to be correct.

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[STARGATE]

Re: How to get compass apps to work on my Nexus 5 with Lollipop?

Hello and welcome to the forums at Android Central!

Maybe those apps aren't updated for lollipop.
Let me try to get some help from another member.

 

[Golfdriver97]

Re: How to get compass apps to work on my Nexus 5 with Lollipop?

I am inclined to agree. Lollipop might have broken those apps.

From an AOSP M8

 

[bbbarry]

Re: How to get compass apps to work on my Nexus 5 with Lollipop?

Hi

Thanks for your reply.

I reinstalled the app but I didn't reboot the phone. After all every time you install an app you don't reboot neessarily. After rebooting the phone it all works ok.

How can I flag my question as solved?

Cheers!

 

[Golfdriver97]

Re: How to get compass apps to work on my Nexus 5 with Lollipop?

Hi

Thanks for your reply.

I reinstalled the app but I didn't reboot the phone. After all every time you install an app you don't reboot neessarily. After rebooting the phone it all works ok.

How can I flag my question as solved?

Cheers!

Glad you got it running. Seems strange that a reboot is required. Hopefully the next update will address that.

As for marking it solved, a common way to do it is to edit your title to indicate it.

See you around the forums.

 

[Rukbat]

Re: How to get compass apps to work on my Nexus 5 with Lollipop?

Strange thing with the compass in phones (for anyone looking at this thread in the future to solve a compass problem):

Sometimes the compass gets uncalibrated (it's not a needle floating in a liquid, it's more of a Hall-effect semiconductor). That can be due to where you put the phone (even laying it on the steel hood of a car for a few minutes can do it) or how the frame of the phone is built (some few companies let the designers decide what materials to use, even if using them causes electronics problems - like the iPhone 4 that wouldn't work as a phone unless you kept your hand away from a certain part of the antenna - because of the case design).

If you constantly have to recalibrate your compass, run GPS Status & Toolbox and do the 3-axis rotation recalibration every time you need an accurate compass. (Or just run Maps with the GPS on, move a few feet and you'll see which way you're moving.)