SkyDemon Forums

No GPS location on Samsung tablet

http://forums.skydemon.aero/Topic38730.aspx

By berndalfred - 2/25/2026 1:21:36 PM

Hi folks,

since my last flight about two weeks ago my Samsung Tablet S9 with Anroid 16 can’t get any location data from the built in GPS. My backup Samsung phone works correct.
At home the same problem occurs with an older Samsung Tablet S3 running Android 9. We use both tablets without any issues for years. All other GPS based apps like Google Maps or Windy are working correct. When I tap on the location button on the bottom right corner the GPS sign in the status bar on the top right corner appears for a few seconds followed by the message "Your location cannot be obtained at this time"
I’ve already tried restarting the tablets, using older SkyDemon versions, checking app permissions and settings and so on without any sucess.
The problem only occurs on the tablets, our Samsung smartphones SkyDemon retrieves the location data. All devices use the same permissions and settings!

Does anyone have any ideas?


Greetings
Bernd
By GalaxyzA11+ - 5/10/2026 10:45:33 AM

 
Boeingboy - 3/17/2026 3:36:35 PM
 
paalia - 3/17/2026 8:25:24 AM
Same issue here with a Samsung ActiveTab 3. Other apps work fine (e.g. windy), so I'm inclined to believe this is an issue with SkyDemon? 

I think Windy uses your internet IP address to locate you rather using GPS so you're not going to get a comparison that way. 


Hello,
You must avoid to mix different problems.
Older Samsung o.s. need precision localization to be set on. (For sure up to 13, not tested for 14/15)
Latest Samsung android 16 need (must have) precision localization to be set off🙄  and some other settings.
Giving answers that are not relative to the same android O.S. may introduce user in deep confusion !

The first setting is to get a gps fix before android 16. It's not an issue, it is a feature. (Set On)
The second setting is to avoid erratic jumping of the position in flight with android 16. (Set off + other settings)
These are two different situations.

In my mind I expected some support from SD, but I sincerely agree that SD is not responsible for the s*** going on between goggle and Samsung, adding to that, that Samsung sells the products without seeing the issue (lack of testing in case the user is moving) and Samsung was first trying to blame the developers,  and now they realized that it is an android 16 failure...as well as their own for not testing it "out of Sofa mode" before selling the products.

Don't buy devices with android 16 or pray for an update.
If too late, I can't give you the spoiler now, cause we are preparing an article for our french news paper comming out Jun.26. It will work but with restrictions on board. So choose something without android 16 if you don't want to drag a situation around like a ball and chain.
Hth.