Why GPS Often Fails Indoors
Learn why a phone may show no location, stale speed or a wide accuracy estimate inside buildings.
Satellite navigation works best when a receiver can observe signals from the sky. Indoors, walls, roofs and reflective surfaces weaken or distort those signals. Phones may still estimate location using Wi‑Fi, cellular networks and other inputs, but the result can be less precise or may not include a usable speed estimate.
Signals through buildings
GNSS signals arrive at very low power. Concrete, metal-coated glass, basements and dense building materials can attenuate them. The phone may continue to show an old position while it searches for a new fix, so a speed tracker can appear frozen even though the page is still open.
Try an outdoor comparison
When safe, move to an open outdoor area and keep the phone still for a short time while a fresh position is acquired. Avoid standing under a metal roof or beside a tall wall. If the accuracy estimate improves and updates resume, the earlier issue was likely environmental rather than a broken page.
Why network location can differ
Wi‑Fi and cellular positioning can help a phone estimate where it is, especially indoors, but they may not provide a stable movement speed. A location service can know roughly which building you are in without having enough information to calculate your movement reliably. This is why location availability does not always mean speed availability.
When indoors is the requirement
If a task needs reliable indoor positioning, a general browser GPS tool may not be suitable. Dedicated indoor positioning systems use other infrastructure and calibration. Do not assume a phone's GPS speed value can track a person accurately through a multi-storey building.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the map show my location but speed stays at zero?
A rough position can be available without a reliable speed estimate.
Should I repeatedly tap Start indoors?
No. Check permission and move to an open area; repeated watches can waste battery without improving reception.
Technical references
These references explain the underlying browser and positioning concepts. They do not imply endorsement of this website.