Help Weather Apps Cannot Find My Location

[Stuntman]

I just noticed as of late that none of the weather apps that I tried can find my current location. It seemed to work when I was in Europe and then back in Vancouver a couple of weeks ago. This week, I noticed there was a problem. My Maps app works fine. Both The Weather Network and The Weather Channel apps do not pick up my current location.

 

[EpicMindWarp]

Have you tried turning on GPS via the drop down menu? I know the phone can detect your loaction to x metres based just on mobile networks but the GPS setting is the main way.

 

[Hogan773]

Have you tried turning on GPS via the drop down menu? I know the phone can detect your loaction to x metres based just on mobile networks but the GPS setting is the main way.

Just be aware that leaving GPS on all the time will kill your battery

For a few days one time I was having weirdness with my phone and I assume it was something weird with the cell tower reporting data.....like I'd drive 3 miles away from my home in Chicago and in a certain little area all of the sudden the phone would think it was in a suburb of Texas. Always happened in that little area. I assume it was some coding thing where that cell tower was reporting itself as something other than reality. But I'm not sure.

 

[sdrawkcab25]

I just noticed as of late that none of the weather apps that I tried can find my current location. It seemed to work when I was in Europe and then back in Vancouver a couple of weeks ago. This week, I noticed there was a problem. My Maps app works fine. Both The Weather Network and The Weather Channel apps do not pick up my current location.

Have you tried reinstalling the app? Some apps also have a small popup that only appears right after install asking to use your location. You can also check in the settings of the app.

Just be aware that leaving GPS on all the time will kill your battery

For a few days one time I was having weirdness with my phone and I assume it was something weird with the cell tower reporting data.....like I'd drive 3 miles away from my home in Chicago and in a certain little area all of the sudden the phone would think it was in a suburb of Texas. Always happened in that little area. I assume it was some coding thing where that cell tower was reporting itself as something other than reality. But I'm not sure.

GPS won't kill your battery by leaving it on. GPS is only used when an app/phone is actively using it(navigation, geocaching, location based searches etc). Turning it off only creates an extra step for yourself if you need it. Only reason to turn it off would be if you never want the phone to be able to determine your exact location.

 

[Stuntman]

Have you tried turning on GPS via the drop down menu? I know the phone can detect your loaction to x metres based just on mobile networks but the GPS setting is the main way.

GPS is turned on. I checked it in the notification drop down menu. That is why Maps works and Google+ picks up my location when I read the "nearby" stream. When using these two apps, I do notice that the GPS icon appears in the notification bar. When using the weather apps, I don't notice this icon appearing at all.

Have you tried reinstalling the app? Some apps also have a small popup that only appears right after install asking to use your location. You can also check in the settings of the app.

I have reinstalled the app and even installed a second, different weather app. Neither of them can pick up my location. The pop-up does appear when I first launch it and a few weeks ago, I selected the option for the widget to pick up the weather at my location. The app just hangs there and is not able to pick up my location at all.

 

[Stuntman]

Looks like restarting the phone fixes this issue. All is well now.

 

[Hogan773]

Have you tried reinstalling the app? Some apps also have a small popup that only appears right after install asking to use your location. You can also check in the settings of the app.





GPS won't kill your battery by leaving it on. GPS is only used when an app/phone is actively using it(navigation, geocaching, location based searches etc). Turning it off only creates an extra step for yourself if you need it. Only reason to turn it off would be if you never want the phone to be able to determine your exact location.

Yeahhh but I still prefer not to let various apps that want to get location services use GPS because honestly most of the time a 10 foot accuracy isn't needed. This is a pretty common piece of advice for battery saving. I know it doesn't run CONSTANTLY but you're never sure whether your little weather app, or maps, or whatever will fire up GPS if it gets the chance. Why give it the chance? I just use the dropdown to turn ON GPS in those rare instances I need it, for example if I am driving and need navigation or exact location on a given street. For most other times, cell tower location is sufficient for a weather app to decide which TOWN it is in.......

 

[sdrawkcab25]

Yeahhh but I still prefer not to let various apps that want to get location services use GPS because honestly most of the time a 10 foot accuracy isn't needed. This is a pretty common piece of advice for battery saving. I know it doesn't run CONSTANTLY but you're never sure whether your little weather app, or maps, or whatever will fire up GPS if it gets the chance. Why give it the chance? I just use the dropdown to turn ON GPS in those rare instances I need it, for example if I am driving and need navigation or exact location on a given street. For most other times, cell tower location is sufficient for a weather app to decide which TOWN it is in.......

True... just a matter of personal preference really. I just don't mind apps trying to locate me lol makes my life easier for the most part

 

[Hogan773]

True... just a matter of personal preference really. I just don't mind apps trying to locate me lol makes my life easier for the most part

I don't mind the LOCATING, I mind the BATTERY DRAIN that GPS imparts. If my phone can find me within 300 feet that is good enough for most things like weather apps. It's not good enough for ensuring that your Navigator knows that you just turned at the wrong street in a city....for that you need GPS of course.

Since I don't trust which random apps would want to fire up my GPS (because I just don't really know and sometimes app developers throw in the kitchen sink on permissions) I just control it myself.