How to check compass direction for an AR activity

An AR lesson may point objects in the wrong direction, rotate a model unexpectedly, or seem to drift as you turn. Before adjusting the lesson, check whether your phone or tablet is reporting a steady compass heading.

The Sensors Test can show compass data from the device you are using. Run it on the same phone or tablet as the AR activity, then compare its readings in the place where you plan to use the activity.

Test the compass direction

Open the Sensors Test in a browser on the phone or tablet you will use for the AR lesson. A computer usually cannot stand in for a phone's compass sensor.
Allow the browser to access motion or orientation data if it asks. If the page does not ask, check the browser's site permissions before assuming the sensor is broken.
Hold the device flat and still, away from speakers, magnetic cases, metal furniture, and other electronics. Give the reading a few seconds to settle.
Turn the device slowly through a full circle while keeping it level. Watch whether the reported direction changes smoothly and follows your movement rather than jumping or freezing.
Repeat the check in the exact room or area where the AR activity will happen. A reading that is steady at a desk may change near a metal table, speaker, or magnetic mount.

Use the same device position and pace for each check. If the lesson will be used while walking, first check the compass while standing still. Movement can make it harder to tell whether a heading change comes from the compass, the device's rotation, or the AR app.

What the result means

The heading changes smoothly as you turn

The browser is receiving compass data, and the sensor responds to your movement. This is a useful basic check, but it does not prove the AR app is interpreting the heading correctly. Open the lesson and check its own calibration or alignment instructions next.

The heading is steady but consistently points the wrong way

The device may be reporting magnetic north, while a map or AR activity expects true north. Magnetic north and true north are not the same, and the difference varies by location. A consistent offset may therefore be an app setting or conversion issue rather than a defective sensor.

The heading jumps, drifts, or changes when the device is still

Nearby metal or magnets can interfere with a compass. A magnetic phone case, speaker, laptop, tablet stand, or building structure may affect the reading. Repeat the check in an open area and compare the results.

No compass reading appears

The device may not have a compass sensor, the browser may not support access to it, or permission may be blocked. Many laptops do not include a compass, so a missing reading on a computer does not tell you whether your phone's sensor works.

The test looks steady but the AR object points the wrong way

The sensor may be working while the app uses a different reference, such as camera direction, location, or its own startup calibration. Check the app's setup instructions and restart its calibration with the device held in the position it requests.

How to fix an unreliable reading

Move away from magnets and metal. Remove a magnetic case or mount, and move away from speakers, metal desks, and large appliances. Hold the device in the open and repeat the same slow turn.
Check the browser's sensor permission. Open the browser's site settings for the page and allow motion or orientation access if that option is available. In Chrome, check Settings › Privacy and security › Site settings and look for the motion sensor permission. Reload the page after changing a permission.
Check Safari's motion access on an iPhone or iPad. Open Settings › Apps › Safari › Motion & Orientation Access and allow access if the setting is available. On some iOS versions, Safari settings appear directly under Settings › Safari.
Recalibrate the device. If the device maker recommends a compass calibration motion, follow its instructions in an open space. Move the device smoothly, not near metal, and test again. Do not shake it forcefully.
Close other sensor-using apps and reload. Close the AR activity and other apps that use the camera or motion sensors, then reopen the browser test. Restart the device if the reading remains frozen.
Check location access only if the lesson needs it. A location permission can help an AR activity place content geographically, but it does not turn on a compass sensor. On Android, review Settings › Location and the app's location permission. On iPhone or iPad, review Settings › Privacy & Security › Location Services.

On Windows 11 and macOS, location settings control location access, not whether a computer has a compass. Windows lists location under Settings › Privacy & security › Location. On a Mac, check System Settings › Privacy & Security › Location Services. If the lesson depends on compass direction, use a supported phone or tablet rather than treating a computer's missing reading as a permission problem.

When it may be a hardware problem

Test the same device in another open area, with its case removed, and compare it with another phone or tablet if one is available. If the reading still freezes or jumps badly in several places, while another device gives a steady response, the first device's compass sensor may be damaged or poorly calibrated. Check the device maker's support options, especially if the problem started after a drop or repair. A browser test can show the sensor's reported behavior, but it cannot inspect the sensor circuitry or certify AR accuracy.

Compass direction is not the same as AR tracking

A compass estimates direction from Earth's magnetic field. AR apps may combine that estimate with the gyroscope, camera, and location data to place objects. Those inputs serve different purposes: the compass helps with heading, while the camera can track visual features as you move. If the compass reading is stable but an object still wanders, the cause may be lighting, the app's camera tracking, or its calibration rather than compass direction alone.

For a fair comparison, test in the room where the activity will run and keep the device away from magnetic accessories during setup.