Having GPS problems with iOS 8.4? Here are some tips to fix the issue

BY Gautam Prabhu

Published 1 Jul 2015

iOS 8.4 logo

Apple released iOS 8.4, which includes the all-new Music app that comes integrated with Apple Music, and also includes improvements for iBooks and other bug fixes.

However, a number of users are reporting problems with GPS after upgrading to iOS 8.4. As described by affected users, the GPS on their iPhone or iPad either refuses to lock down their position or its accuracy is very poor. The problem is occurring to all iOS users irrespective of whether the device was updated via OTA or through iTunes.

If you’re facing the problem then you can try some of the common troubleshooting tips to fix the issue.

Hard reset your iPhone

  • Press and hold the Home button and the Sleep/Wake (Power) button simultaneously.
  • Release the buttons after the screen goes blank and you see the Apple logo.

Disable and Re-Enable Location Services

If hard resetting your iPhone doesn’t fix the problem then try this solution.

  • Launch the Settings app.
  • Navigate to Privacy > Location Services.
  • Tap on the toggle next to Location Services to turn it off.

iOS 8.4 - Location Services

  • Hard reset your iPhone. Press and hold the Home button and the Sleep/Wake (Power) button simultaneously.
  • Release the buttons after the screen goes blank and you see the Apple logo.
  • After your iPhone has restarted, launch the Settings app again.
  • Navigate to Privacy > Location Services.
  • Tap on the toggle next to Location Services to turn it on.

This solution seems to have fixed the issue for some users.

Reset Network Settings

If disabling and enabling Location Services doesn’t help, then try to reset Network settings. Please note that you will need to reconfigure Wi-Fi and VPN settings after resetting Network settings.

  • Launch the Settings app.
  • Navigate to General > Reset.
  • Tap on Reset Network Settings.

Reset Network Settings

  • It will prompt you to enter the Passcode. It will then prompt you if you want to “Reset Network Settings.”
  • Tap on Reset Network Settings to continue.

Restore and Setup as new iPhone

If none of these tips fix your issues, the last resort is to restore your iPhone or iPad via iTunes, and set it up as a new device. This way, you start afresh, and get rid of possibly problematic customisations and settings on your device. Follow the instructions in the post linked below to do a clean restore to the latest version of iOS via iTunes.

➤ How to restore your iPhone or iPad with iTunes

Let us know how it goes.