GPS and accuracy

What your phone’s GPS can and can’t do, and how to get the most accurate pins.

Phone GPS is usually accurate to about 16 feet (5 meters) under open sky, and less accurate under trees, near buildings or in deep valleys. That’s plenty to find your way back to a spot, but not to the exact hole.

• For a precise pin, tap the spot on the satellite or LiDAR rather than using My spot.
• Give the phone a minute outdoors after opening the app; the blue dot settles as it locks on.
• Keep the phone in a chest pocket or on top of your pouch rather than in a back pocket.
• Old maps are only as accurate as their anchors. More anchors, spread out, mean a closer fit.