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How to improve location accuracy using Bluetooth on Android Marshmallow
If you have ever opened Google Maps only to have your phone endlessly search for GPS or prompt you to turn on Wi-Fi to improve accuracy, you’ll find this new Android 6.0 Marshmallow feature handy.
A strong GPS signal depends on a variety of factors, including the number of GPS satellites overhead, signal strength, weather conditions, internal components of a phone, and more.
Android can help improve location accuracy by triangulating your location off nearby Wi-Fi access points or cell towers. Combined with data available from your ailing GPS signal, turning on Wi-Fi will greatly improve location accuracy under most conditions.
With Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Google has added Bluetooth scanning support to further improve location accuracy.
How to enable Bluetooth scanning on Android 6.0 Marshmallow
To enable Bluetooth scanning, go to the Settings app, scroll to Location, tap on the Options menu (three dots in the top right-hand corner) and tap on Scanning. Now, toggle on the Bluetooth scanning option to allow system apps to scan for and detect other Bluetooth devices.
Next, go to the Settings app, scroll to Location, tap on Mode, tap High accuracy to use GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and cellular networks to pinpoint your location.
Proceed with caution: Low battery ahead
Note that the High accuracy setting could be quite power-hungry. Android provides a Battery saving option that uses only Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and cellular networks to determine your location.
Alternatively, set Location mode to Device only to use only the GPS to pinpoint your location. You can always switch on Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi scanning if and when you can’t get a good enough GPS signal.
Image credit: StockSnap via Pixabay
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