Turn on Android’s Location Accuracy, enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning, and check that the affected app has precise location permission if it needs it. These are separate settings: Location Accuracy helps the phone estimate its position, while an app’s permission controls how precisely that app can access it. The result depends on your phone’s hardware and the signals available where you are.
Turn on Location Accuracy
- Android 12 and newer: Open Settings > Location > Location services > Location Accuracy, then turn on Improve Location Accuracy.
- Android 11 and older: Open Settings > Location > Advanced > Location Accuracy.
Menu names and paths can differ between phone makers. If these labels do not match your phone, search Settings for “Location Accuracy.” Google documents the setting as part of its Android location settings guidance.
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Enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning
On Android 12 and newer, look under Settings > Location > Location services for Wi-Fi scanning and Bluetooth scanning. On older Android versions, these options may appear directly under Settings > Location.
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Check the affected app’s location permission
On Android 12 and newer, open the affected app’s settings, select Permissions > Location, and allow precise location if the app needs an exact position. The precise-versus-approximate choice is separate from the device-wide Location Accuracy setting: you can keep Location Accuracy on and still give an individual app approximate access. Google explains this distinction in its app location permission guidance.
Why location can still be inaccurate
Android’s Location Accuracy service can combine GPS, nearby Wi-Fi access points, cellular signals, and available device sensors, such as an accelerometer, gyroscope, or barometer. Google says combining these sources can help estimate location when GPS is unavailable or obscured, including indoors or near large buildings. Not every phone has every sensor, and signal conditions vary by place.
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Turning on the settings cannot guarantee a particular accuracy radius. A weak or obstructed satellite signal, limited nearby networks, app permissions, and differences in device hardware can all affect the result. Google’s Android guidance describes the available settings and signals, but does not promise a specific accuracy level.
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Understand the privacy tradeoff
Google says that with Location Accuracy enabled, its service periodically collects information about observed wireless signals and sensors to improve location estimates and location-based services. Its Location Accuracy privacy explanation describes the data it may process, including wireless-signal information, sensor data, IP address, device model, and settings preferences. Google says the service uses temporary, rotating identifiers not associated with a specific person or account, and that identifiers are deleted within seven days.
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If Location Accuracy is off, Google says its service does not use wireless signals; the phone relies on available GPS and sensors instead, which can affect location availability or accuracy. You can choose between enabling the feature for system-level location estimation and limiting a specific app to approximate access.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If the problem continues
If one app is inaccurate, check that app’s location permission first. If multiple apps are affected, review Location Accuracy and scanning settings. If the problem persists on one particular phone, the general Android settings do not identify a hardware fault; consult that model’s manufacturer for its official diagnostics or service guidance.
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