Compass and direction in Maps constantly off (requested a replacement)

[Strife21]

Seriously hope I had a defective phone and the replacement fixes the issues. The Compass or beam was always 90 to 180 degrees off of the direction I was facing making it nearly impossible for me to use it to navigate in NYC without frustration.

Tried factory reset, figure 8 calibration, gps status tool and uninstalling maps updates but nothing helped.

 

[N4Newbie]

Are you using a magnetic car mount? Or, attaching the phone to anything with substantial metallic mass?

The compasses in smartphones are notoriously difficult to use properly; I honestly don't know why manufacturers include them since they must result in tons of support inquiries and bad feelings. If you enable GPS in your navigation app, it should quickly figure out which direction you are actually travelling in and override the false compass readings.

 

[Strife21]

Na Im just walking around. And I use no mounts in my car or anything like that.

 

[Strife21]

Thats the probem even in navigation mode when walking the arrow was pointing the direction opposite of what I was traveling.

I know its not going to be exact but would like it within 30-40 degrees if possible

 

[N4Newbie]

Check this out: https://support.google.com/maps/answer/6145351?hl=en

Also, you probably know this but I have to ask anyway - did you try tapping the compass icon near the bottom right of the screen (presuming we are talking about Google Maps):

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That changes the map display mode. Tap again to change it back.

 

[Strife21]

yea haha I know to tap that. and yea i mentioned I did the calibration figure 8 thing. Doesnt help.

 

[N4Newbie]

You're not using a flip/wallet case, are you? Many (most?) of them have a small magnet hidden in the cover which can throw a compass off.

 

[Strife21]

Nope I am 100% not using anything with a magnet at any time.

 

[wordfool]

I've rarely had a compass on an Android phone be close to accurate (and forget about it in a car). I'll calibrate, it'll be fine for a few hours, then off again. I doubt it's a problem with your phone... more just a general phone thing, especially in a very built up place like NYC where there's all sorts of potential interference.

Something I've always wondered is why compasses can't be set to self-calibrate using map data as you move. Instead, I'll be walking due south on a street and the little arrow that's me will still be pointing northeast as I mentally yell "I'm not walking backwards!"

My usual workaround in a strange place is to walk 20 yards to determine which direction I'm going based on the map. Annoying, but I've come to think of it as a normal part of navigating now and I usually only have to get my bearings this way once.

 

[Strife21]

Yea I mean NYC might be causing a problem. New phone will be here Monday so I will report back if its any different.