Big Blue Circle On Apple Maps? Remove In 5 Easy Steps

Stuck trying to get rid of the big blue circle on Apple Maps?

If I told you how many people I’ve seen struggle with this issue, you wouldn’t believe me. Some users have even downloaded a different GPS app.

Honestly, I don’t blame them. After all, not being able to use Apple Maps because a big blue circle keeps getting in the way can be super annoying.

But the good news is that you’ve come to the right place for answers. In this article, you’ll learn all about this big blue circle.

Keep reading to remove it!

What A Blue Circle On Apple Maps Means

Before diving into the fixes, it’s very important that you understand what’s the meaning of the big blue circle. This way, solving the issue will be easier.

The circle means that you’re within that blue area, but your precise location can’t be determined.

You see, your device needs to have a clear view of the sky to locate GPS satellites and find where you are on the map.

Sadly, sometimes GPS accuracy can fail, resulting in a big blue circle around your current location. The bigger the circle, the less accurate your location is.

Keep reading to learn how to get rid of the big blue circle.

5 Ways to Remove the Big Circle on Apple Maps

If you’d like to get rid of the annoying big blue circle on Apple Maps, you’ll need to improve the GPS accuracy.

To do it, you’ll need to:

1. Check your location settings.
2. Set your date and time to “Automatic”.
3. Enable your mobile data and Wi-Fi.
4. Avoid GPS interference.
5. Update your device.

Read on to learn more about these fixes!

#1 Check Your Location Settings

Many people found that disabling their location helped them get rid of the big blue circle on Apple Maps

But, please note that this is a temporary solution, since it will only remove the circle to quickly take a screenshot or check the map.

If you want a permanent solution, I recommend refreshing your location and turning on the “Precise Location” feature.

Follow this quick guide to do it:

iPhone and iPad:

1. Open the Settings menu and tap on “Privacy”.
2. Choose “Location Services” from the list.
3. Make sure the switch next to “Location Services” is turned on. If it was already enabled, please turn it off and back on.
4. Scroll down and tap on “Maps”. Then, select “While Using the App” from the options.
5. Turn the switch next to “Precise Location” off and then back on. You must leave this switch turned on. Otherwise, you won’t be able to get rid of the big blue circle.

Mac:

1. Click on the Apple menu and choose “System Preferences” from the options.
2. Go to “Security & Privacy” and click on the “Privacy” tab.
3. Check if the lock at the bottom of your screen is closed. If it is, please click on it and enter your admin credentials.
4. Check the “Enable Location Services” and “Maps” boxes. If they were already enabled, please uncheck them, wait for two minutes, and check them again.

Once you completed the steps above, please relaunch Apple Maps and tap on the arrow icon located on the map.

#2 Set Your Date and Time to “Automatic”

If the issue persists after enabling your precise location, you might want to keep reading.

Setting your date and time to “Automatic” may improve GPS accuracy and get rid of the big blue circle on Apple Maps. Moreover, by doing this, you’ll prevent Maps from losing your location.

Follow these simple instructions to tweak your date and time settings:

iPhone and iPad:

1. Go to the Settings menu and tap on “General”.
2. Select “Date & Time” from the menu.
3. Turn on the switch next to “Set Automatically”.

Mac:

1. Open the Apple menu and select “System Preferences” from the drop-down menu.
2. Click on “Date & Time” and check if the lock is closed. If it is, please click on it. This way, you’ll be able to make changes.
3. Go to the time zone tab and check the box next to “Set time zone automatically using current location”.

If the “Set Automatically” option was already turned on, please disable it and turn it back on.

#3 Enable Your Mobile Data and Wi-Fi

If your device doesn’t have a clear view of the sky, it won’t be able to locate the GPS satellites, resulting in a big blue circle around your location.

To avoid this from happening again, I recommend connecting to a strong Wi-Fi signal or enabling your mobile data.

You see, when your device isn’t able to locate the GPS satellites, it uses Wi-Fi or cellular data to determine your precise location until it has a clear view of the sky again.

Follow this quick guide to enable your mobile data:

1. Choose “Cellular” from the Settings menu.
2. Turn on the switch next to “Cellular Data”.
3. Go back to the Settings menu and tap on “Maps”.
4. Turn on the switch next to “Cellular Data” to make sure Maps can access your mobile data.

If you’re using Apple Maps on your Mac, please make sure you have a strong Wi-Fi signal, or connect to your phone’s mobile data.

#4 Avoid GPS Interference

As you learned in fix #3, your device needs to have a clear view of the sky to locate the GPS satellites.

But, how do GPS satellites work?

Simple. They circle the Earth and send signals to your phone.

All modern devices have GPS receivers that listen to those signals to calculate the distance from four or more GPS satellites. This way, your phone can know how far away you’re from them and determine your precise location.

Unfortunately, GPS accuracy can fail if you’re underground, or near tall trees, buildings, mountains, or bridges, resulting in a big blue circle on Maps.

Try to get away from these obstructions to improve the GPS accuracy and remove the big blue circle on Apple Maps.

#5 Update Your Device

Finally, I’d like us to get rid of any bugs or errors that may be preventing Apple Maps from determining your precise location.

One of the most effective ways to do this is by updating your system.

You see, Apple’s IT team constantly releases updates that improve GPS accuracy and fix different performance issues that their customers may be experiencing.

Follow these simple instructions to install the latest software version and remove the big blue circle on Apple Maps:

iPhone and iPad:

1. Choose “General” from the Settings menu.
2. Tap on “Software Update”.
3. If there’s an available iOS update, please tap on “Download and Install” and enter your passcode or Touch ID.

Mac:

1. Open the Apple menu and choose “System Preferences” from the drop-down menu.
2. Go to “Software Update”. Your Mac will automatically search for any available update.
3. If there’s an available update, click on “Update Now”.
4. Enter your password to confirm the process.

Once you’ve updated your device, launch Apple Maps to see if the issue was solved.

Conclusion

There’s nothing more annoying than not being able to use Apple Maps because there’s a big blue circle around your location.

Hopefully, now that we’ve covered everything, you’ll be able to remove it and forget all about this issue.

Remember, the big blue circle on Apple Maps means that you’re within that area, but your phone wasn’t able to determine your precise location.

To improve the GPS accuracy and remove the big blue circle, you’ll need to refresh your location, turn on the “Precise Location feature”, and enable your mobile data and Wi-Fi. Moreover, make sure your device has a clear view of the sky and update it.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this quick article. If you found the 5 fixes above helpful, don’t forget to check out our other related content. Here at Tech Detective, we love solving all sorts of tech issues.

Good luck!