If your iPhone’s Compass is not working after iOS 17 update here’s how you can fix it.
The Compass app shows you the direction iPhone is pointing, your current location, and elevation. If your iPhone Compass is not working after iOS 17 update, try the solutions listed below.
11 Ways to Fix Compass Not Working on iPhone in iOS 17
1. Close and Reopen The Compass App
A lot of the time when something isn’t working properly within an iOS app, a minor software glitch is causing the problem. If Compass is not working after iOS 17 update, closing and reopening the app can fix a lot of these smaller issues.
First, open the app switcher. To do this on an iPhone without Face ID, double-press the Home button. Then, swipe the Compass app up and off the top of the screen to close it.
If your iPhone has Face ID, bring up the app switcher by swiping up from the bottom to the center of your display. Hold your finger in the center of the screen until the app switcher launches. Then, swipe Compass up and off the top of the screen. Close Apps With The App Switcher
2. Allow Compass to access your location
If Compass doesn’t see your location, make sure you’ve turned on Location Services.
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services, then turn on Location Services.
Tap Compass, then tap While Using the App.
3. Calibrate Your iPhone Compass For Greater Accuracy
Calibrating the iPhone Compass can help fix problems that may have resulted from bugs or glitches. Calibration is important because it helps ensure your sensors are reading information accurately.
Just like resetting your phone, calibrating your Compass can help it run properly.
To calibrate your iPhone Compass, open the Settings app and tap Privacy & Security. Tap Location Services > System Services. Here, make sure Compass Calibration is turned on. Your iPhone compass should now be able to give you correct readings.
4. Keep Away All Magnets
The Compass app on your iPhone might show the wrong direction because of magnetic interference. While your screen or data isn’t threatened by magnets, your phone’s compass is. Magnets can affect the internal magnetic sensors located inside the iPhone and may even slightly magnetise some of the steel inside your phone. This magnetisation could then interfere with the compass on your iPhone.
Get rid of any nearby magnets. Keep in mind iPhone cases and pop sockets often have magnetic parts built in. If your iPhone gets unaligned due to the magnet interference, removing the source will help but you may need to restart your phone.
5. Disable True North in the settings app
By default, your iPhone will utilize True North for all compass readings. Compass gives accurate readings of both true north and magnetic north, and both are valid indications. True north, which is a GPS bearing linked to the geographical location of the North Pole, works when Location Services is turned on.
Magnetic north, on the other hand, depends on the Earth’s natural magnetism, which changes based on your physical location. It works when Location Services is both on and off. Because magnetic north changes at different latitudes, it can be a few to many degrees different than true north and even south of your latitude.
Depending on the compass reading you are trying to get it may make sense to temporarily disable True North and use Magnetic North for a while. Go to Settings > Compass and turn off Use True North.
6. Restart Your iPhone
If Compass still won’t work, try restarting your iPhone. This will give your iPhone a fresh start and potentially fix a minor software glitch causing the problem.
If your iPhone doesn’t have Face ID, press and hold the power button until Slide To Power Off appears on the display. If your iPhone does have Face ID, press and hold the side button and either volume button at the same time to reach the Slide To Power Off screen.
7. Update Your iPhone
If Compass isn’t working after you’ve restarted your iPhone, you may need to update iOS. Apple releases software updates for iPhones to fix existing bugs on their native apps like Compass. Often, these software updates can patch up existing software bugs that might be the reason Compass is not working on your iPhone.
To update your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update, then tap Download & Install if an iOS update is available.
8. Reset Location Data
Try resetting the location settings on your iPhone. That helps fix location-related and other underlying issues preventing the iPhone Compass from functioning correctly.
To do that, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset and tap Reset Location & Privacy.
After resetting, you may need to adjust your location settings.
9. Reset All Settings
If the above solutions didn’t fix the Compass problem you are experiencing, it’s time to reset all the settings on your iPhone. This will return your iPhone Settings to factory defaults. This can get rid of any bugs that may not have been ridden by other methods.
To reset all settings, open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to General > Transfer Or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings, enter your passcode, and tap Reset All Settings.
10. Reinstall the Compass App
If resetting all iPhone settings doesn’t work out, try reinstalling the app. Reinstalling the Compass app will fix all temporary glitches, replace corrupted files from the previous installation, and install the most updated version.
Press and hold on the Compass app icon until the quick menu launchs. Tap Remove App > Delete App > Delete to uninstall Compass on your iPhone.
To reinstall the Compass app, head over to the App Store and tap on the Search tab located at the lower right-hand corner of the display. Then, type “Compass” into the search box and tap Search.
The Compass app should be the top result. Tap the button to the right of Compass to reinstall it on your iPhone. Since the Compass app was previously installed on your iPhone, the reinstall button will look like a cloud with an arrow pointing down.
11. Repair Your iPhone Compass
If none of the above methods manage to fix your iPhone Compass, chances are it is damaged and needs to be repaired. If you have dropped your iPhone recently, then this explains the reason why Compass is not working. The Compass is very delicate and can be easily damaged by too much pressure.
We recommend taking your iPhone to an an authorized Apple repair center and letting the professionals handle it. Though it may be tempting to follow a YouTube video and try to fix it yourself, an iPhone is a delicate device that you should not attempt to fix without any knowledge.
Easily Fix Compass Not Working on iPhone After iOS 17 Update
You’ve fixed The problem and the Compass app can now show you the direction iPhone is pointing, your current location, and elevation. Next time Compass is not working on your iPhone after iOS update, you’ll know how to fix the problem! Feel free to leave any other questions you have about Compass app in the comments section below.