How do I calibrate the compass on my phone?
On Android, open Google Maps and move the phone in a figure 8 until the beam from your blue dot narrows and points the right way, or tap the blue dot and choose Calibrate. On iPhone, open the Compass app and hold the phone flat so the crosshairs line up in the center.
Android: the figure 8, or Calibrate
Google’s help says to calibrate when the beam from your blue dot is wide or points the wrong way: open Google Maps and make a figure 8 with the phone until the beam narrows and points correctly, which you should only need to do a few times. Outdoors you can instead tap the blue dot and choose Calibrate. Where Street View is available, Maps may switch to a camera view; point it at buildings and signs across the street, not at trees or people.
iPhone: hold it flat
Apple’s Compass guide says to hold iPhone flat, with the crosshairs at the center of the dial, for accurate bearings. If the app shows no location, turn on Location Services for Compass in Settings, under Privacy & Security. Apple warns that magnetic or environmental interference can affect the compass, and that it is meant only for basic navigation.
What throws a compass off
A phone’s compass senses the Earth’s magnetic field, so magnets in a case, a car mount or a speaker, and nearby steel or electrical equipment, can turn the needle. Step away from them and check again before trusting a heading.
Magnetic north and true north
A compass points to magnetic north, which differs from true north by the magnetic declination. In October 2026 the World Magnetic Model puts it at about 15° east in Seattle, 4° west in Chicago and 14° west in Boston. The bearing calculator here gives both bearings between any two points.