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The simple mariner’s compass was an important tool that helped shape the modern world. After hundreds of years, this is built into an iPhone, which does the job with a bunch of sensors. And if you’ve ever wondered How to Use Compass on iPhone and Android, you’ve come to the right place.
Your iPhone already has a manometer built in. This is a fancy way of saying “digital compass,” which means that your iPhone can tell which way it is pointing and, by extension, which way you are pointing.
Steps to Use Compass on iPhone
- Launch the Compass app from your Home screen.
- Hold your iPhone flat in the palm of your hand.
- Spin around, holding your iPhone in your hand until you hit the bearing (degrees) you want to follow. For example, 30 degrees north-northeast.
- Tap the compass face once to lock in that bearing.
calibrate the Compass app on your iPhone
- Launch the Compass app from your iPhone home screen. Or if you don’t have it installed maybe you deleted it in the past download it from the App Store.
- If this is the first time you’re using the Compass app, you’ll have to set it up by calibrating the compass.
- First, position your phone flat against your palm, with the screen facing upwards. Your iPhone has a built-in magnetic field sensor used by apps like Apple Maps, which you’ll be using to calibrate the compass.
- Next, move the red ball around the edge of the circle by moving your iPhone.
How to calibrate a compass on Android
- Install any compass on your phone. For example, you can work with the Just a Compass application. It can be downloaded for free to your smartphone via the Play Store.
- Run the application and give it access to location data. To do this, click «Allow». Then accept the user agreements by clicking the «Continue» button.
- Click «Settings» to go to settings. You can see a list of available parameters, manually calibrate the azimuth, enable or disable GPS, select true north instead of magnetic north.
- Return to the home screen and start calibration. To do this, it is enough to place the device horizontally (for example, put it on a table) and make several turns around the axis. Then place it vertically and again make some circular motions.
Best Compass Apps on iPhone and Android
Compass & Altimeter (iPhone)
Compass & Altimeter is a single tool for figuring out where you are in the world. You can check the altitude, longitude, latitude, weather, temperature, and boiling point of water where you are right now. There is also information about the air, the magnetic field, the direction of the wind, and so on.
You can use it to find exact directions and keep track of where you are. The GPS real-time speedometer is great, and so is the strong compass. It gives you a good estimate of your speed based on GPS. I also liked that it could be customized with a compass theme.
Digital Compass (Android)
Digital Compass might be the right choice for you if you want a simple design that shows both magnetic north and true north. You can use the app to find your bearing, azimuth, or degree, which is the direction you’re facing. Use the compass to find out where you are, the angle of the slope, your altitude, the status of your sensors, and the strength of the magnetic field.
An accelerometer, a gyroscope, and the force of gravity. So, you can use it to do things like adjust your TV antenna, look up horoscopes, and find the direction of Qibla. You can also use the app to add a direction pointer and calibrate readings that aren’t as accurate. If you can download this app, than you can visit on Google Play Store
Just a Compass (Android)
Compass is a app that doesn’t have any ads and doesn’t ask for extra permissions. It shows your true altitude and your latitude and longitude in a number of different ways. But you’ll need to connect your Android device to the internet in order to see where you are.
The useful app also shows the times of sunrise and sunset. It also supports UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) for assigning coordinates on the earth’s surface and EGM96 (Earth Gravitational Model) for geoid referencing.
Commander Compass Go (iPhone)
This iPhone compass app is for people who like to go on outdoor adventures and drive off-road. Commander Go can be used without GPS. It also has built-in topographic maps, a gyrocompass, a speedometer, an altimeter, a coordinate converter, and more. Using the GPS receiver, you can keep track of your waypoints and mark custom locations on the map.
The compass also has different modes and ways to set it up. The best thing about the app is that it uses 3D positioning of objects and gives directions and GPS data in real time. You can also use the Sun, Moon, and star finder to make the compass as accurate as possible. I liked that I could change the colours, that the dashboard was big, and that there was a map of the stars.
FAQ
Where is the Compass on my Android phone?
If you’re not sure if you have this on your phone, do a quick search. The easiest way to find an app is to tap on the Google search widget on the home screen and type in “compass.” If your app drawer doesn’t have a search bar, you can manually look for the app if you dare.
Does iPhone have a built in Compass?
The iPhone’s Home screen is where you can find the app. Before the first time you use the compass, you must set it up. This is done by turning the phone around in a full circle. In iOS 12, open the Measure app and then tap Level to measure the level.