Precise Coordinates
Latitude and longitude are shown to six decimal places — accurate enough to pinpoint a single tree, trailhead, or doorway.
GPS / Compass Test
See your exact latitude, longitude, altitude, and a live magnetic compass heading — all read straight from your device's own sensors, in your browser.
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Why It Matters
Your Device's Own Sensors, No App Needed
This tool simply reads the location and orientation sensors your phone already has, and displays them clearly — nothing is estimated or guessed.
Altitude Reading
When your device reports it, elevation above sea level shows alongside your coordinates — handy for hikers tracking climbs.
Live Magnetic Heading
The needle rotates in real time using your device's magnetometer — turn your phone and watch it track true magnetic north.
Speed & Bearing
While moving, the browser's Geolocation API also reports ground speed and direction of travel, shown in the sidebar.
One-Tap Sharing
Copy your coordinates or open them directly in your default maps app to share a pin with someone else in seconds.
100% Private
Your position is read locally by your browser and never leaves your device — nothing is logged or transmitted to any server.
The Process
How to Get an Accurate Reading
Two permissions and a few seconds outdoors is all it takes.
Allow Location
Tap "Start" and allow location access when your browser prompts you. This unlocks latitude, longitude, and altitude.
Allow Motion Access
On iPhone, a second prompt asks for motion and orientation access — this is what powers the live compass needle.
Step Outside & Wait
GPS chips need a clear view of the sky. Indoors or in a car, expect a wider accuracy radius and a slower first fix.
Read & Share
Once the accuracy figure settles, copy your coordinates or open them straight into your maps app.
Use Cases
Who Needs a GPS & Compass Test?
Anyone who needs to know exactly where they are, or exactly which way they're facing.
Hikers & Campers
Know your exact spot
Share precise coordinates in an emergency
Mark a trailhead or campsite waypoint
Check elevation gain on a climb
Travelers & Photographers
Orient and geotag
Find which direction to point a camera at sunset
Geotag a photo location manually
Orient yourself without a data connection
Delivery & Field Workers
Verify the exact drop-off point
Confirm you're within accuracy range of an address
Log a precise stop location for a report
Orient toward a building entrance in a large lot
Troubleshooting
Common GPS & Compass Problems
If a reading looks wrong or missing, here's what's usually going on.
Location Permission Denied
Check your browser's site settings and re-enable location for this page, then reload. On iPhone, also confirm Location Services is on system-wide.
Compass Not Moving
Laptops and desktops have no magnetometer and cannot show a heading. On mobile, move away from metal or magnets and calibrate with a figure-8 motion.
Wide Accuracy Radius
Indoors, in a car, or on desktop, positioning falls back to WiFi or IP lookup, which is far less precise than a GPS satellite fix. Step outside and wait 10-20 seconds.
Altitude Says Unavailable
Not every device or browser reports altitude — it's the least consistent field in the Geolocation API. This is a device limitation, not a bug in the test.
FAQ
GPS & Compass Test — Common Questions
What to expect from your coordinates, altitude, and heading.
Accuracy depends entirely on your device's hardware and surroundings, not this tool. Phones with a dedicated GPS chip typically report 3-15 meters outdoors with a clear sky view. Laptops and desktops without GPS hardware fall back to WiFi and IP-based positioning, which can be accurate to a neighborhood but not to a specific spot.
The compass needs your device's magnetometer, which only phones and tablets have — laptops and desktops cannot show a heading. On mobile, nearby metal, magnets, or a car dashboard can throw off the reading. Try moving away from metal objects and calibrating by moving your phone in a figure-8 motion.
Latitude and longitude will still show up on desktop using WiFi or IP-based location, but altitude and the live compass heading require sensors that only phones and tablets have, so those fields will show as unavailable on most computers.
Altitude is the least reliable field in the browser Geolocation API. Many Android devices and most desktops never report it, and even when GPS-equipped phones do, altitude readings can be off by tens of meters because they rely on satellite geometry that is far less precise vertically than horizontally.
Yes. Location access unlocks latitude, longitude, and altitude, while a separate motion and orientation permission (required on iPhone) unlocks the live compass heading. You can allow one without the other, but you'll only see partial results.
No. Your coordinates and heading are read directly by your browser and displayed only on your own screen. Nothing is sent to a server, logged, or shared with any third party.