As a result, GPS doesn’t automatically turn off when you enable airplane mode on recent versions of either Android or iOS. While Wi-Fi, cell service, and Bluetooth all stop working in flight mode, there’s at least one important exception: GPS.īecause the GPS radio can only receive, not transmit, it’s not necessary for it to be disabled during flight. Most people assume that putting their phone into airplane mode disables all radio services, but that’s not entirely true. As a result, they’re not much good for navigating offline while traveling. Those cheaper models rely entirely on Wi-Fi triangulation, meaning they’ll track your location somewhat effectively if you have a Wi-Fi connection, but not at all otherwise. Models with cellular data include a GPS chip, but the Wi-Fi-only models don’t. In its infinite wisdom, Apple decided long ago to only put physical GPS chips into its higher-end iPads. That big circle comes from the cell tower and crowd-sourced Wi-Fi information, while the smaller, more precise circle comes once the information from GPS satellites gets added to the mix.Ī-GPS doesn’t work without data service, but the GPS radio can still get a fix directly from the satellites if it needs to.įinding the initial location will take longer with this method, and the accuracy will be more dependant on things outside of your control like terrain and surrounding buildings, but it does work. When you first load your navigation app, you’ve probably seen your location go from a big blue circle to a smaller, more precise circle. This uses the locations of cell phone towers and known Wi-Fi networks to figure out roughly where you are. When you have a data connection, your phone uses Assisted GPS, or A-GPS. Without getting too complicated, the GPS system inside your smartphone works in two different ways. On both iOS and Android phones, any mapping app has the ability to track your location without needing an internet connection. Which Are the Best Offline Maps Apps?Ĭan I Use GPS Without an Internet Connection? Can I Use GPS Without an Internet Connection?
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