How to re-calibrate compass on your Android phone?

If your compass on your Android phone has stopped working or pointing into the wrong direction, you will need to re-calibrate it. The good news is that re-calibrating your compass is an easy process. The steps you need to take depend on the model of your device. Below are a few different methods, so just follow the easy steps in each method and your mobile compass will be back up in no time.

Calibrate Your Compass: Figure 8 pattern method

Works for most compass calibration problems on Android and is the default calibration method to point Google Maps beam in the right direction.

  1. Turn on your Android device
  2. Make a figure 8 pattern until your compass is calibrated. Usually, you will have to do the figure 8 motion only a few times.
  3. Open your app of choice and your compass should point to the right direction
Figure 8 Android compass recalibration


Calibrate Your Compass: Phone Tilt method

  1. Switch on your Android device
  2. Start tilting your phone backwards and forwards
  3. MOVE it from LEFT side to RIGHT side
  4. Tilt it again, but this time TILT to the LEFT and then to the RIGHT
  5. Keep repeating these steps until you see your compass re-calibrated.
how to recalibration your compass by tilting your phone


Calibrate Your Compass: Three Axis Rotation method (Rotate 360°)

  1. Switch on your Android device
  2. Rotate your phone around its axis forward (Turn it at least three times around)
  3. With phone screen facing up, rotate it around in a circle (form portrait to landscape and so on). Rotate it at least threetimes around.
  4. Rotate your phone around its axis to the right and continue around at least three times.
  5. Keep repeating these steps until you see your compass re-calibrated.

Calibrate Your Compass: Built-in compass calibration method

  1. Switch on your Android device
  2. Some devices have a built-in re-calibration wizard pop up which comes up once in a while to help you fix your compass issues.

How to calibrate your compass video tutorial