How to turn on GPS (Samsung Galaxy)

Samsung Galaxy GPS

The Samsung Galaxy family of phones have 3 default location methods. High accuracy which uses GPS, Wo-Fi, and mobile networks to estimate your location, Power Saving which uses Wi-Fi and mobile networks (without GPS) to estimate your location, and Device only (also known as GPS only) that only uses GPS to estimate your location.

2 of the methods will enable GPS on a Samsung Galaxy phone such as a Samsung Galaxy S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, and S8. The only method that does not enable GPS is the Power Saving method (or mode).

In many cases, your phone may be set to the Power Saving mode by default. This means that you do not have GPS enabled. Power Saving only uses Wi-Fi and mobile networks to estimate your location.

With GPS enabled on your Samsung Galaxy phone you will be able to use a network of orbiting satellites that are able to pinpoint your exact location. GPS is optimal for many Samsung Galaxy apps such as Google Maps, Pokemon Go, and others.

1. Open your top menu and click location or hold location until a new menu appears.
2. In the location menu select Location Method or Mode.
3. Choose High accuracy to enable GPS, Wi_fi, and mobile networks to estimate your location or Device only (also known as GPS only on Samsung S3) to use GPS to estimate your location.