Having problems with GPS since the last three days

TheJase

Hi.
For the last few days, I've been having real problems using GPS navigation apps on my Pixel 6. At first I thought it was just Google Maps acting up, but today I noticed that another app, OS Maps (UK's Ordnance Survey mapping app) wasn't working either. Both have worked fine in the past.
In Google Maps, the problem I'm seeing is that it never seems to be able to get an accurate fix of my current location (a blue dot on the map), even when outdoors with unrestricted view of the sky. It just shows a grey dot that starts off in the right location, but if I try to start navigating to a destination while it's in this state, Google Maps just sits at "Finding best route..." for a minute or so, before giving up and telling me it "Can't connect to Maps. Try again in a few minutes".
If I then start travelling, the grey dot stays at my starting location and doesn't update at all. It appears that it's not even attempting to use GPS, even though I've got the green dot indicating that location services are being accessed. If I later completely exit Google Maps, then start it again the grey dot will usually update to my current location, but will then stick there again even if I move.
When I start OSMaps and tap on the crosshair icon to move the map to my current location and show my location as a little chevron, I again see the green location services dot come up briefly, but the OSMaps app doesn't update the location at all.
Both apps have Location permission allowed only while using the app, and Use precise location is enabled. I've also tried toggling WiFi and Bluetooth scanning off and on again, and switching SUPL and PSDS from the GrapheneOS proxy/server to the standard server and back again, but nothing makes any difference.
I downloaded and installed an app named GPStest, having seen it mentioned a few times while searching the web for a solution to this problem, and it shows that my phone is picking up plenty of satellites from GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou, so it doesn't look like there's a fault with the satnav receiver in the phone.
Can anyone make any suggestions as to what might be wrong here, or any diagnostic steps I might try?
Thanks.

treequell

In GrapheneOS, there are two options for location requests: (a) the default of routing them via the OS or (b) optionally routing them via Google Play Services if you have that installed. Let's start by assuming you are going for (a), since the use cases you described all work with (a).

Go to Settings > Location. Have you got SUPL and PSDS enabled? Those will help to get a location lock.
Have you got Google Play Services installed on your device? If so, go to Settings > Apps > Sandboxed Google Play, and make sure you have enabled Reroute location requests to the OS.
Open the GPSTest app whilst standing somewhere with a clear view of the sky. After it has asked for location and detected satellites, tap the context menu (3 lines) in the app, and then tap Map. Is the Map in GPSTest showing your correct locations.

Let me know whether these three steps help at all.

TheJase

Thanks for your response treequell.

SUPL and PSDS are enabled and set to the GrapheneOS proxy/server.
Reroute location requests to the OS is enabled.
GPStest app shows my real location and updates perfectly as I walk around.

The Google Maps and OS Maps apps are still misbehaving.

TheJase

treequell, your comment about Reroute location requests to the OS reminded me about the existence of this setting. I just tried disabling it, allowing Google Play Services to service location requests, and both Google Maps and OS Maps have started working as expected.
It appears that there may be something about the GrapheneOS location services that these apps aren't liking at the moment.
I'd prefer to use the GrapheneOS implementation though.

TheJase

This remains a problem and I'm still having to use Google's location services to get working navigation in Google Maps for now.

When I try to use GrapheneOS's location services, my settings are:

Apps
- Sandboxed Google Play
  - Reroute location requests to the OS: On
  - Google Location Accuracy
    - Improve Location Accuracy: On
- Google Play Services
  - Permissions
    - Don't allow
Location
- Location Services
  - Wi-Fi scanning: On
  - Bluetooth scanning: On
- Secure User Plane Location (SUPL): Enabled (GrapheneOS proxy)
- Predicted Satellite Data Service (PSDS): Enabled (GrapheneOS server)

When configured this way, the Google Maps app never shows my current location as a blue dot, even if I'm standing outside with a clear view of the sky. The dot remains grey, which represents my last known location according to a Google help page. When it's in this state, attempting to navigate from "Your location" to anywhere else will not work, getting stuck on "Finding best route...". If I manually my current location as an address in the navigate "from" field, it can calculate a route for me.

I make a lot of use of navigation in Google Maps, but don't want Google tracking me all of the time, so this is problematic.

treequell

As you are rerouting location requests to the OS, I would disable all of the following:

Google Location accuracy
Wi-Fi scanning
Bluetooth scanning
Location permission for Google Play Services

By the way, I can't reproduce your issue. Google Maps finds my location fine even when I'm inside.

TheJase

Those options are now disabled. It made no difference.

One more data point: When I want to navigate somewhere, but Maps is currently only showing my last known (grey dot), if I manually enter a "from" address that is very close to where I really am, then as soon as I start navigating, it will then get a fix on my actual current location and start updating in real time.

I've also tried removing and reinstalling Google Play Services and Google Services Framework.

PatrykMis

It seams that Google Maps navigation works well only with Google services (without rerooting to the OS). From almost 2 years I cannot get it working right unless I grant location permission to Google services. Maps is getting my location right but does not updating it while traveling unless I close and open the app. Is it well-known problem or specific to me?