How to Get Better Location Info on Android

One of the biggest weaknesses of the Android location feature that lets you know exactly where you are in a foreign location is that the lack of a strong cellular connection can prevent your current location from being regularly updated through GPS alone. Fortunately, Android offers a way for you to use the nearest available internet access point with nearby scanning.

Turning on the Feature

A large number of modern apps make use of location tracking to perform their tasks. As such, it becomes all the more important to have an accurate reading of your current location on your mobile. The following are the steps to activating this feature to help your phone get your most accurate and up-to-date location information.

Open the Settings menu on your phone.

Scroll down until you get to the Location tab. It can also be located within the “Security and Lockscreen” menu.

Tap on Location and scroll down until you find the Scanning option. Click on the tab.

Select the tabs that turn on the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning options.

When the Wi-Fi scanner turns on, your mobile will immediately start scanning all nearby available Internet access points that can be used to get a strong signal. While most private homes and offices have password-protected Wi-Fi networks, there are plenty of outdoor hubs like cafes and restaurants that offer free, open Wi-Fi or let their customers know the password for their Wi-Fi connection.

With Bluetooth scanning turned on, your device will search for Bluetooth-enabled devices such as the beacons used in malls and airports to get a speedy location fix. In many cases, the reach and dispersion of a Bluetooth beacon can be quicker than getting a GPS signal lock for triangulating your location.

Now, select whichever access point you have managed to gain access to and use it to pinpoint your location on Google Maps.

Avoid Overuse of the Feature

Once you have located a usable Wi-Fi access point, it would be a good idea to turn off the scanning option if you are concerned about battery life. This is because the scanning feature will continue to run in the background on your mobile and use up your phone battery until you turn it off manually. The Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning feature is a great boon for outdoor travel, but it need not be turned on all the time or constantly searching for a signal, such as when you are at home using your own private Wi-Fi network.

If you must use the location tracking feature while outdoors, try to use it in a way that does not make your phone’s battery reach a critically low charged state. Make use of a phone power bank while traveling, keep your phone plugged into your car’s dashboard, and most importantly, stop using poorly made location tracking apps that drain excess battery life.

Conclusion

With the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning feature, you will be able to use every available Wi-Fi source nearby and be able to pinpoint your exact location at all times while traveling through unknown regions. But try not to use this feature too often so as not to drain too much energy from your phone’s battery.