You’ve just opened your family safety app and checked your child’s location—only to find it’s showing them several blocks away, stuck in a place they left hours ago, or even in the middle of a lake. Don’t panic. Inaccurate GPS readings are surprisingly common and usually fixable.
Whether you’re using a smartphone-based tracker or a wearable GPS device, several factors can interfere with location accuracy. In this guide, we’ll break down the 7 most common reasons why your child’s GPS location might be off—and what you can do to fix them quickly.
1. Weak GPS Signal or No Line of Sight to the Sky
GPS devices work by connecting to satellites orbiting the Earth. If your child is indoors, underground, or surrounded by tall buildings (urban canyons), the signal can weaken or bounce, causing inaccurate or delayed readings.
✅ Fix:
- Encourage your child to move outdoors briefly to refresh location.
- Avoid tracking from locations with poor signal, like malls, basements, or subways.
- If the device has Wi-Fi or cellular fallback, make sure it’s enabled.
2. Battery Saving Settings Are Disabling Location Tracking
Most smartphones and some GPS devices have aggressive battery-saving modes. These settings may pause background location updates to conserve energy—especially when the screen is off or the app isn’t active.
✅ Fix:
- Check the device’s battery settings and disable battery optimization for the GPS app.
- Ensure background location access is allowed in the phone’s app permissions.
- Keep the tracker fully charged, especially before school or travel.
3. Outdated App or Software Version
Using an old version of your GPS app or device firmware can cause bugs, delayed updates, and sync issues between your child’s device and your phone.
✅ Fix:
- Go to the App Store or Google Play and update the app.
- Check for firmware updates if using a wearable GPS tracker.
- Restart the app after updating to refresh location data.
4. Wi-Fi or Bluetooth Interference
Most devices supplement GPS with Wi-Fi positioning and Bluetooth beacons. While this can improve accuracy indoors, it may also cause confusion if the device locks onto an incorrect Wi-Fi network or signal.
✅ Fix:
- Turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on to improve indoor tracking—but be cautious of public networks.
- If possible, connect to trusted home or school Wi-Fi networks only.
- In wearables, disable unnecessary Bluetooth pairing with other devices.
5. Low or No Mobile Data Connection
Even if the GPS signal is strong, the device needs a reliable internet connection to send that location to your family safety app. If your child is in a no-coverage area or has run out of data, the app can’t update in real time.
✅ Fix:
- Make sure your child’s device or SIM-enabled tracker has active mobile data.
- If using Wi-Fi only, understand that tracking may pause when away from a network.
- Choose a family safety app that supports offline location caching and updates once connected again.
6. Device Was Left Behind or Is Turned Off
Sometimes, the problem isn’t the tracking—it’s the device itself. If your child left their phone at a friend’s house, or it’s been powered off, the last known location will stay frozen until the device is reconnected.
✅ Fix:
- Call or message your child to confirm whether they have the device.
- Check if the tracker shows a low battery or no signal icon.
- Use your app’s last seen location and timestamp to determine when tracking stopped.
7. App Permissions Are Not Set Correctly
Modern phones and operating systems require users to grant precise location access manually. If your child (or you) denied certain permissions, the app may only provide vague or outdated location data.
✅ Fix:
- On your child’s phone, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and confirm:
- The GPS app is allowed “Always” or “While in Use”
- Precise Location is enabled (not just approximate)
- If using iOS, also check Background App Refresh is turned on for the tracker.
Bonus Tip: Restart the Device
It may sound basic, but simply restarting the phone or GPS tracker often resolves temporary glitches. This forces the device to reconnect to satellites, Wi-Fi, and cellular towers, giving you a fresh, accurate location.
Final Thoughts
While GPS tracking for children is a powerful tool for peace of mind, it’s not perfect. Temporary inaccuracies are normal, but understanding why they happen helps you respond calmly and take the right steps to correct them.
To recap, here’s a quick checklist if your child’s GPS location seems off:
- ✅ Move to an open area for better signal
- ✅ Disable battery-saving features
- ✅ Update apps and firmware regularly
- ✅ Check Wi-Fi and mobile data connections
- ✅ Verify the device is on and with the child
- ✅ Adjust app permissions for accurate tracking
- ✅ Restart the device if all else fails
By staying informed and proactive, you can ensure your GPS tracking setup is as accurate and reliable as possible—so you can focus on what matters most: your child’s safety.