How to check motion tracking after a restart

After restarting your phone, a navigation app may show a drifting direction arrow, lag behind your movement, or fail to respond when you turn. The cause could be a sensor, a permission, or the app itself.

Test the phone's motion and compass readings first, then check location separately. The Sensors Test can show whether supported motion sensors respond on the phone you are checking.

Test motion tracking after a restart

1. Open the Sensors Test in a browser on the phone you restarted. A test on a different device cannot tell you whether this phone's sensors are working.
2. Allow the browser to use the requested sensor or location access if prompted. On iPhone, motion access may require a separate permission or a tap to begin.
3. Set the phone on a steady, level surface and leave it still for a few seconds. Note whether the motion readings settle rather than continuing to change sharply.
4. Slowly tilt and turn the phone, then return it to the same position. Check that the motion readings respond to the movement and that the compass heading changes when you rotate the phone.
5. Open your navigation app and compare its position and direction with what you saw in the test. Try again outdoors or near a window if location does not appear indoors.

Move the phone gently and keep it away from speakers, magnetic cases, metal stands, and other objects that could affect a compass. Avoid comparing readings while walking, since movement makes it harder to tell what the sensors are doing.

What the result means

Motion readings respond when you move the phone

The motion sensors are reporting changes to the browser. That is a useful sign, but it does not prove that every sensor is accurate or that your navigation app is receiving the same data. If the test responds but navigation still fails, check the app's location permission and settings.

The motion readings stay still or do not appear

The browser may not have sensor access, the page may need you to interact with it first, or this browser may limit sensor access. Try the permission steps below and reload the test. If the readings remain unavailable in another supported browser, the phone's software or sensor hardware may be involved.

The compass direction is unstable or wrong

A compass can be disturbed by magnetic objects and nearby metal, even when motion readings respond normally. Move to a clear area and repeat the turn slowly. If the heading is still unreliable there, check whether the navigation app offers a compass calibration prompt.

Motion works but location is missing or inaccurate

Motion sensors and location are separate. Location can take longer to settle indoors, and it depends on the phone's location services and permissions. A good motion result does not guarantee a GPS or network location fix.

The test works, but the navigation app still misbehaves

The sensors can respond while the app has a stale location, restricted permission, or a temporary software problem. Force close the app, open it again, and check its location permission. If other apps also show the wrong position, focus on system location settings rather than the navigation app alone.

How to fix it

1. Move away from interference. Take off a magnetic case or accessory, move away from a metal desk or speaker, and repeat the compass check with the phone held level.
2. Allow access in the browser. If the page asked for motion or location access, allow it and reload the test. On iPhone, check Settings › Apps › Safari › Motion & Orientation Access if you use Safari. The menu can vary by iOS version. For another browser, check that browser's own site permissions too.
3. Allow location for the navigation app. On Android, open Settings › Apps › [navigation app] › Permissions › Location and allow location while using the app. On iPhone, open Settings › Privacy & Security › Location Services, select the app, and allow location while using it. Menu names can vary by phone and operating system version.
4. Check system location access. On Android, open Settings › Location and make sure location is on. On iPhone, check Settings › Privacy & Security › Location Services. If you are testing location in a computer browser instead, Windows 11 has Settings › Privacy & security › Location, and macOS has System Settings › Privacy & Security › Location Services. These computer settings do not diagnose the sensors on your phone.
5. Restart the browser and navigation app. Close both apps fully, reopen the browser test, and then try navigation again. This can clear an app that did not reconnect to location services after the phone restarted.
6. Install available system updates. If the same sensor or location issue appears in several apps after permissions are correct, install pending phone updates and repeat the test.

When it's likely to be a hardware problem

Suspect a fault if the same sensor stays unavailable or gives erratic readings in several apps, after you have allowed access and tested away from magnetic objects. A drop, liquid exposure, or recent repair makes a hardware problem more plausible. Back up important data and contact the phone maker or a repair shop, especially if the phone is under warranty. A browser test can show a symptom, but it cannot identify which internal part is damaged.

Why a navigation app can disagree with the test

Navigation combines different inputs. Location estimates where the phone is, while a compass helps indicate direction and motion sensors detect changes in movement. The app may also use map data and its own filtering to smooth the display. That means a responsive motion reading does not establish that the compass is calibrated or that location is accurate.

For a useful comparison, keep the phone in the same case and location, repeat the test after a restart, and note which readings change. If only the navigation app fails, troubleshoot that app first. If the same readings fail across apps, contact the phone maker or a repair shop.