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Android GPS Troubleshooting

Olivia Radke
  • Updated
These steps will help solve the most common GPS and tracking problems encountered in the mobile app on Android mobile phones. Start by locating the GPS signal indicator in the mobile app. It is located near the top left corner of the map on the “Start Workout” screen.

 

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  • The mobile app says “Allow MapMyRun location permission to connect to GPS.”
  • Typically this indicates that the mobile app does not have your permission to request location data from your mobile phone.
    • Check that the mobile app has Location services permission.
    • Check that Location services are enabled on the mobile phone.
 
 
  • The mobile app is displaying a “crossed out” GPS signal indicator.
  • Typically this indicates that the mobile app has requested and is waiting on the mobile phone’s GPS hardware to provide location data, but no data is being received.
    • Ensure the mobile phone has a clear, unobstructed view of the sky.
    • Check that the mobile’s phone Power Saving mode is disabled.
    • Ensure the mobile phone has a working internet connection.
    • Shutdown and restart the mobile phone.
    • Check that the mobile phone is not overheating.
    • Check for a mobile app update.
    • Check for a mobile phone Operating System update.
    • Check that the mobile phone’s clock is set automatically.
 
 
  • The mobile app is displaying a partial red, orange or yellow GPS signal indicator.
  • Typically this indicates that the mobile app is receiving location data from the mobile phone’s GPS hardware, but the quality is low. Often the low quality is a result of the environment the mobile phone is currently in.
    • Ensure the mobile phone has a clear, unobstructed view of the sky.
    • Try using a different storage location for your mobile phone.
    • Shutdown and restart the mobile phone.
    • Check that the mobile phone is not overheating.
    • Check for a mobile app update.
    • Check for a mobile phone Operating System update.
 
 
  • The mobile app is displaying a full green GPS signal indicator.
  • Typically this indicates that the mobile app is receiving location data from the mobile phone’s GPS hardware and that the quality is believed to be good.
  • If you see a green GPS indicator but are still having a GPS or tracking issue, then select from the help topics below that best describes your issue.
    • The displayed distance is different from my known distance.
    • The blue dot on the map is not in the correct location.
    • The route line on the map is off from my actual route.
    • The route line has a gap or “straight line” section.
    • The mobile app stops tracking when I turn off the screen or store my mobile phone.
    • The Voice Feedback audio is late or missing.
    • Your workout is indoors or on a treadmill.
    • Your mobile phone is hot to the touch or shuts down unexpectedly.
    • Your mobile phone does not have an internet connection.
      How to enable Location (GPS) on your mobile phone.
      1. On your mobile phone, locate and tap on the “Settings” app.
      2. Tap on the “Location” section.
        1. On some phones, first tap on the “Connections” section, then tap the “Location” section.
      3. Ensure the “Location” toggle is enabled, 
        1. If a “Locating method” entry is available, set it to “High accuracy”.
       
      How to grant the mobile app Location (GPS) permission.
      1. On your mobile phone, locate and tap on the “Settings” app.
      2. Tap on the “Apps” or “Applications” section.
      3. Scroll down, locate and tap on “MapMyRun”, “MapMyFitness”, “MapMyWalk” or “MapMyRide”.
      4. From “Application Info”, tap on the “Permissions” section.
      5. Ensure the “Location” setting is enabled by setting it to “Allow only while using the app”
        1. On some phones, Ensure the “Location” toggle is enabled. 
       
      How to get a strong GPS signal.
      In order to obtain the highest quality workout tracking, the GPS hardware on your phone needs a strong signal from the GPS satellites in the sky. Please follow the guidance below to optimize this system. 
      • Ensure your mobile phone is used outside of buildings. The GPS hardware on your phone requires an unobstructed view of the sky.
      • Use a runners belt or another thin and light phone holder to ensure the antenna on your mobile phone does not have its signal blocked or interfered.
      • When first starting the mobile app, you may need to physically move away from or disable your phone’s WiFi connection to encourage the GPS hardware on your phone to activate.
      • Ensure your phone is ventilated and does not get warm to the touch.
      • Ensure your phone’s battery is charged above 20%.
      • Tall buildings, trees, lakes, rivers and heavy clouds are known to negatively affect the GPS signal quality.
      • Workouts that consist of moving in a relatively small circle (running around a track) are known to have a lower tracking accuracy due the turns and signal noise.
       
      How to disable Power Saving mode on your mobile phone. 
      Called “Medium power saving mode” or “Maximum power saving mode” on Samsung phones.
      1. On your mobile phone, locate and tap on the “Settings” app.
      2. Tap on the “Device care” or “Device maintenance” section, then tap the “Battery” icon.
        1. On some phones, tap on the “Battery” section (skipping the “Device care” tap). 
      3. Ensure “Power mode” is set to “Optimized” or “High performance”. Do not select any “Power saving” modes.
        1. On some phones, ensure the “System mode” is set to “Dynamic” or “High performance”
        2. On some phones, ensure the “Battery Saver” is disabled.
       
      How to ensure you have an Internet connection for GPS.
      For a mobile phone to be able to expedite the search for GPS satellite signals, an Internet connection is needed. This allows your mobile phone’s GPS hardware to request the current satellite positions via the Internet, allowing it to skip searching the whole sky on startup. Be aware that your phone may take longer to acquire a GPS signal when your phone is on the edge of a WiFi signal, but has not yet switched over to its cellular network (for example, on the street or driveway just outside your home). To mitigate this issue, when first starting the mobile app, you may need to physically move away from or disable your phone’s WiFi connection to encourage the GPS hardware on your phone to activate earlier and obtain the GPS satellite’s ephemeris data from your phone’s cellular network.
       
      How to shutdown and restart your mobile phone.
      1. On you mobile phone, locate the power button on the outside. Typically a single button.
      2. Press and hold the power button for 3 seconds.
      3. Tap the “Restart” icon.
      4. Wait for the mobile phone to return to the home screen. Typically about 1 minuet.
       
      How to help a mobile phone that is too warm or overheating.
      When a mobile phone is too warm or overheating, the system may choose to slow down or shut off services in order to protect the health of the battery. This will negatively affect the quality of the workout tracking. To prevent this issue, ensure your phone is ventilated and not in direct sunlight. Use a runners belt or another thin and light phone holder.
       
      How to check for a mobile app update.
      1. On your mobile phone, locate and tap on the “Play Store” app.
      2. Tap on the “Search for apps & games” area and type “MapMyRun”, “MapMyFitness”, “MapMyWalk” or “MapMyRide”.
      3. Select our mobile app from the results (for example, “Map MyRun by Under Armour”).
      4. If you see an “Update” button, tap it to install the update now.
        1. If you see an “Open” button instead, your app is already up-to-date.
      5. Tap the ⋮ icon (three vertical dots) to open a menu.
      6. Ensure the “Enable auto update” checkbox has a checkmark in it.
       
      How to check for a mobile phone Operating System update.
      1. On your mobile phone, locate and tap on the “Settings” app.
      2. Scroll to near the bottom and tap on “Software update” or “System” section.
      3. If you see “Download and install” then tap this option and follow the on screen instructions.
        1. On some phones, tap on the “System update” and follow the on screen instructions.
      4. Follow the on screen instructions.
       
      How to ensure the mobile app continues tracking when the app is not in the foreground or when the screen is off.
      It is our recommendation when using our mobile app to disable all power saving modes, battery optimizations, and settings that automatically put apps to sleep. Mobile phones may attempt to reduce battery consumption when the screen is off. This include pausing apps that are running and pausing GPS hardware. These actions are known to negatively affect the quality of workout tracking. In order to obtain the highest quality workout tracking data, your mobile phone must be prevented from pausing or terminate the mobile app while workout tracking is in progress. While these settings may be the default settings for apps on your phone, workout tracking is a special case that many phone manufacturers do not properly consider. Therefore it is recommended follow the steps below to ensure those settings are optimal for our workout tracking app.
      For more technical information on this mobile phone manufacturer issue, visit https://dontkillmyapp.com.
      • Samsung (Galaxy series) - Android 12 and greater
        1. On your mobile phone, locate and tap on the “Settings” app.
        2. Tap on the “Battery and device care” section.
        3. Tap on the “Battery” section.
        4. Tap on the “Background usage limits” section.
        5. Tap on the “Never sleeping apps” section.
        6. Tap on the + icon in the top right.
        7. Locate “MapMyRun”, “MapMyFitness”, “MapMyWalk” or “MapMyRide”, then check the checkbox.
        8. Tap the “Add” button.
      • Samsung (Galaxy series) - Android 11 and lower
        1. On your mobile phone, locate and tap on the “Settings” app.
        2. Tap on the “Device care” or “Device maintenance” section, 
        3. Tap on the “Battery” icon.
        4. Tap on the “App power management” section.
        5. Tap on the “Apps that won’t be put to sleep” section.
        6. Tap on the + icon in the top right.
        7. Locate “MapMyRun”, “MapMyFitness”, “MapMyWalk” or “MapMyRide”, then check the checkbox.
        8. Tap the “Add” button.
      • Google (Pixel 5, Pixel 6, and others)
        1. On your mobile phone, locate and tap on the “Settings” app.
        2. Tap on the “Apps” or “Applications” section.
        3. If the mobile app is not in the “Recently opened apps” list, tap on the “See all apps” section.
        4. Scroll down, locate and tap on “MapMyRun”, “MapMyFitness”, “MapMyWalk” or “MapMyRide”.
        5. Tap on the “Battery” section.
        6. Ensure the “Unrestricted” option is selected.
      • Huawei (P20 Pro, P30 Lite, P30 Pro, and others)
        1. On your mobile phone, locate and tap on the “Settings” app.
        2. Tap on the “Battery” section.
        3. Tap on the “App launch” section.
        4. Locate “MapMyRun”, “MapMyFitness”, “MapMyWalk” or “MapMyRide”.
        5. Ensure the toggle is disabled and “Manage manually” is displayed.
        6. Ensure the “Auto-launch”, “Secondary launch” and “Run in background” toggles are all enabled.
        7. Return on your phone’s home screen.
        8. Locate and tap on the “Settings” app.
        9. Tap on the “Apps” section, then tap on the “Apps” section again.
        10. Tap the ⋮ icon (three vertical dots) to open a menu.
        11. Tap on “Special access”.
        12. Tap on “Battery optimization”.
        13. If you see “Not allowed”, then tap it and select “All apps”
        14. Locate and tap on “MapMyRun”, “MapMyFitness”, “MapMyWalk” or “MapMyRide”.
        15. Ensure the “Don’t allow (May drain your battery more quickly)” is enabled.
      • Other Phone Manufacturers
       
      Why do other mobile apps show my location but our mobile app does not?
      Other mobile apps like the Google Maps app or our app may show your location as a blue dot on the map, this may be an estimated location. This does not confirm that your mobile phone has a GPS signal or that a GPS location fix has been obtained or that it is functioning properly. Mobile apps may choose to estimate location by using cellular networks or Wi-Fi, these estimates may be sufficient for locating a nearby store or displaying vehicles on large roadways, they are not sufficient for tracking workout activities like walking, running or cycling.
       
      Why does your mobile app not work with my mobile phone’s GPS?
      Android only allows our app to turn your device's GPS hardware on and off. Our app does not have permission from Android to diagnose and fix issues.  The quality and time taken to find a GPS signal is dependent on your Android device and its manufacturer.

 

 
 

 

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