Your cell phone can become a compass with which you can orient yourself anywhere. We teach you how.
Having a compass can be very practical if you want to visit the countryside and orient yourself properly or even if you want to decorate your house following the principles of feng-shui. And while you always have the option of buying one or even using sensors on your bracelet or smart watch, there’s an easy way to know where you are at all times. Use your phone as a compass. Something that is very easy, since you don’t even have to install anything.
You have options to use Google Maps Or install a compass application for your mobile. We will explain how to implement each option.
How to calibrate the compass
The first step you need to take is to be able to use your mobile as a compass Make sure it is calibrated. All cell phones have multiple sensors including a compass, but these sensors on your cell phone may fail. And to make sure everything is working properly, it’s essential to calibrate it properly.
Go to Google Maps to proceed to calibrate your mobile compass. This application comes pre-installed as standard on practically any Android mobile, so in principle you don’t need to install anything extra. Once we open Google Maps, we must keep our finger pressed on the blue dot that tells us where we are on the map. After that, a blue screen will appear, where we have to select the option Calibrate the compass. Now you have to follow the instructions displayed on the screen to proceed with the calibration.
Screenshot of compass calibration on Google Maps.
The movement will basically consist of Move the mobile to size 8. Once you complete the process, the screen itself will indicate that the compass is already calibrated. Now you can start using it completely reliably.
Use the compass on Google Maps
As we said earlier, it is not essential to install an app to use your mobile as a compass, but you can do it directly Google Maps.
To do this, you just need to double-click on the location button displayed on the application screen, which has the shape and design of a compass. Once you do this, the mobile will be changed Compass mode.
While in compass mode, the map moves as we move instead of staying still. And there is also a hint of the answer, shown by an arrow that we see in traditional witches. At this point when the answer coincides with the top of the screen, in addition to finding the arrow pointing in the direction we will see that The letter N.
Thus, we can orient ourselves Without the need to carry a compass or install other additional applications. And whenever we want, we can delete compass mode and use Google Maps again as usual.
Other Apps to Use Your Phone as a Compass
You can use Google Maps instead if you want Specific application to use your mobile as a compass. Some of these applications simply offer a different interface that can be more user-friendly, while in others we can find some additional functions that can be practical to guide us when we are walking in the countryside. In the end, choosing between one or the other is just a personal matter, so you can be as comfortable as possible. Below we indicate some applications that may be practical.
- Smart Compass: This application allows us to use our mobile phone as a compass in different modes. We can find a camera mode, a night mode, a map mode, satellite mode or even put our most favorite image as a background image. In principle, it is a completely free application, although it also has a paid version with additional functions such as sharing our GPS location. It is a very practical tool to guide you anywhere and anytime.
Google Play | Bruzula Smart Compass
- Digital compass: If you are not looking for something that has a lot of extra features but is simply easy to use, then this app is for you. It has a completely minimalist design, which imitates the traditional compass that we can find in any specialty store. When you open it, you will be able to find a map where you can always see where the answer is. The app itself will explain how to calibrate it if needed.
- Mellonsoft Compass: This app stands out for having a variety of sensors that will help you know where you are at all times Thus, in addition to knowing where north is, you can also know the latitude and longitude, the rate of ascent or the angle of inclination of the device. All this with a fairly intuitive interface, and can connect it to Google Maps to get more precise results.
Google Play | Mellonsoft Compass
Compass app from Fullmine Software.
- Fullmine Software Compass: This app is only intended to be a simple but accurate compass. The idea is not to have a wide range of functions, most of which you will never use, but to offer you an easy-to-use compass that helps guide you wherever you are. And it has the advantage that we do not need to be connected to the Internet to use it, which is very practical if you go to rural areas where it is difficult to find coverage. You can see the compass from the unlock screen.
Google Play | Fullmine Software Compass
- AbcApps Compass: This application is very similar to the previous ones This allows us to always know where the answer is and points us to some additional options, such as the possibility of connecting to Google Maps. One of the issues we encountered is that it’s only available in English, but it’s so easy to use that you won’t have a hard time finding your way around it even if you don’t master the language.
- Steel compass: If you like to always be able to customize the interface of any application to your liking, then this app is probably what you have been looking for. This is a nautical style compass with a wide range of colors to choose from, so you can find the look that suits you best. It has two compass modes: true mode (based on true north) and magnetic mode (based on magnetic north).
- Compass map: The last application we recommend is specially designed to show your current location on any map. But its additional functions include the possibility of using it as a compass, other options such as calculating the area of a finite area. This is a simple application but very practical when we go to the field.
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