Maps and navigation
Learn about navigation and positioning methods.
GPS
Learn how to use the GPS features of your phone.
About positioning methods
Your phone displays your location using GPS, A-GPS, WLAN, or cellular positioning.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system used for calculating your location. Assisted GPS (A-GPS) is a network service that sends you GPS data, improving the speed of the positioning. In addition, other enhancements to GPS may be used to improve and speed up the positioning. These may require transferring small amounts of data over the cellular network.
Wireless local area network (WLAN) positioning improves position accuracy when GPS signals are not available, especially when you are indoors or between tall buildings.
With cellular positioning, the position is determined through the cellular network antenna your phone is currently connected to.
To save on data costs, you can deactivate A-GPS in your phone positioning settings, but calculating your location may take much longer.
You can deactivate WLAN in your phone internet connection settings.
Depending on the available positioning methods, the accuracy of positioning may vary from a few metres to several kilometres.
The availability and quality of GPS signals may be affected by your location, satellite positions, buildings, natural obstacles, weather conditions, and adjustments to GPS satellites made by the United States government. GPS signals may not be available inside buildings or underground.
Do not use GPS for precise location measurement, and never rely solely on the location information provided by GPS and cellular networks.
Coordinate information may not be available in all regions.
Related topics
Deactivate assisted GPS (A-GPS)
Assisted GPS (A-GPS) helps your phone determine your current location more quickly. A-GPS is a network service. To save on data costs, especially when abroad, you can deactivate the service.
Select 
and Device > GPS and positioning , and deactivate Mobile data connection.
The Assisted GPS (A-GPS) network service retrieves location information using the cellular network, and assists GPS in calculating your current location.
Your phone is preconfigured to use the Nokia A-GPS service, if no service provider-specific A-GPS settings are available. The assistance data is retrieved from the Nokia A-GPS service server only when needed.
You must have a mobile data internet access point defined in the phone to retrieve assistance data.
The use of assisted positioning methods may involve exchanging your location data, wireless network identifiers along with your unique phone or network service provider identifiers with a location server. Nokia processes this information anonymously. Depending on your positioning settings and your use of location services, your phone may connect to other service providers’ servers, which are not controlled or operated by Nokia. Check the privacy policies of such service providers to understand how they process your location data.
Related topics
Tips on creating a GPS connection
in the status area indicates an active GPS connection.
If a satellite signal cannot be found, consider the following:
-
If you are indoors, go outdoors to receive a better signal.
-
If you are outdoors, move to a more open space.
-
If the weather conditions are bad, the signal strength may be affected.
-
Some vehicles have tinted (athermic) windows, which may block the satellite signals.
-
Make sure you do not cover the antenna with your hand.
-
Use an external GPS receiver.
The GPS receiver uses the phone battery. Using GPS may drain the battery more quickly.