How to Use the iPhone Compass
Rotate your iPhone to see the direction your iPhone is pointing towards. To lock to a direction, tap on the compass dial. You can see a red band that shows how much you are off course by.
- Direction: This is the direction the dial points to, as you rotate your iPhone.
- Bearing: This is the exact direction in which you are moving. It shows the angle, which is the deviation from the reference line (vertical line in the plus-shaped lines) and the direction (northeast in our case) you are going towards. To get an accurate bearing measurement, place your phone flat and align the center point of the two plus-shaped signs.
- Coordinates: This shows the longitude and the latitude data of your position. The first set of numbers (12deg 53min 57seconds North) is the latitude numbers followed by the longitude numbers (77deg 33min 45seconds East). The latitude is a horizontal line that measures the distance north or south of the equator, and the longitude is a vertical line that measures the distance east or west of the equator.
- Geographical Location: The GPS Sensor on your iPhone determines this location.
- Elevation: The measured elevation of your current location from the sea level.
For Better Accuracy: Enable Location Services for Compass
The iPhone compass app requires permission to access location to provide you with detailed information.
Step 1: Open the Settings app and tap on Privacy and Security.
Step 2: Tap on Location Services and select Compass.
Step 3: Ensure you turn on While using the app to grant compass access to your location.
Step 4: Go back to the Location page and scroll down to find and select System Services.
Step 5: Turn on the toggle for Compass Calibration.
Also Read: How to fix iPhone Compass not working.
How to Switch to True North in the Compass App for iPhone
True north is the direction along the Earth’s surface towards the geographic North Pole. It is a constant and unchanging reference point used in navigation. By default, your iPhone shows the magnetic north – the north direction which varies based on the Earth’s magnetic field.
Enabling True North provides precise directions, and is especially useful for activities like hiking, mapping, or any situation requiring accurate bearings.
Step 1: Open the Settings app.
Step 2: Scroll down and tap on Compass. Turn on the toggle for Use True North.
Your compass will now point towards the true north instead of the magnetic north.
Also Read: How to use the Measure App on iPhone.
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Last updated on 19 May, 2024
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Regarding the iphone compass article there is a mistake in the definition of Longitude. ” longitude is the distance east or west of the equator.”
Lines of longitude are imaginary lines that divide the Earth. They run north to south from pole to pole, but they measure the distance east or west. The prime meridian, which runs through Greenwich, England, has a longitude of 0 degrees. It divides the Earth into the eastern and western hemispheres.
Your article was great at describing how the iphone works. Thanks.
The screen shots are confusing. It is not clear what they are showing. Moreover, the definition of bearing is wrong. When the phone is pointed in the direction you are moving, it shows your heading, which is different than bearing. In marine navigation bearing is the direction toward a place that is different than your heading. It is the deviation from the heading and is the direction you should move to get to that place. It is only then that heading and bearing are the same.