How to Use the iPhone Compass

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: March 28, 2024

This wikiHow teaches you how to use the built-in Compass app on your iPhone for checking directions, your elevation, and to measure the inclination of surfaces.

Using Your iPhone's Compass App

To use the Compass app for direction, tap the compass face, place your iPhone flat in your hand, and spin around until it's pointing in the right direction.
To use true north, go to Settings > Compass and toggle on "Use Truth North."
While there's no need to calibrate the Compass app in iOS 10 and later, you can do so on earlier iPhones by laying the phone flat and tilting the screen to rotate the ball.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Calibrating your Compass

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This app can usually be found in a folder labeled “Extras.”
This will balance the compass.

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3
Tilt your screen and roll the ball around in a circle. Follow the directions on the screen to move the red ball in a circle around the compass face. After the ball completes the circle, your compass will be calibrated and ready to use.
- If you are using iOS 10 or newer, your “Compass” app will not need to be calibrated. However, if you find that the app is not working correctly, you can calibrate your compass by turning your Location Services off and back on.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Following Directions on your Compass

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1
Open your Compass app. This app can usually be found in a folder labeled “Utilities.”
- The red arrow on the compass face will always be pointing North.
- The direction you are facing will appear in white below the compass face.
This will lock in the bearing (degrees) that you want to travel in on your compass. A red circle will appear on your compass face when you are not following that path.
The needle of your compass should stop moving.
Slowly spin, watching the orientation of the compass face. This will help you maintain a sense of direction.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Using True North on your Compass

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This is the app with the grey gears icon that can be found on your Home Screen.
You can find this near the bottom of the fifth set of menu options.
It will turn green when it is turned on. Compass will now use info from your iPhone’s GPS to determine the most accurate North direction, based on the location of the North Pole.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Using Your Compass For Horizontal Leveling

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This app can usually be found in a folder labeled “Utilities.”
This will take you to the leveling screen.
3
Put your phone on a flat surface. You will see two white bubbles on your screen. The degree of inclination will be at the center of the screen.
- You can make the screen easier to see by tapping your screen once to make the background red.
When the bubbles are aligned, that means the object you are measuring is in a level position. Your screen will turn green and the number at the center of your screen will be zero.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Using Your Compass For Vertical Leveling

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This app can usually be found in a folder labeled “Utilities.”
This will take you to the leveling screen.
Your phone should be parallel to your face. A horizontal line will divide your screen into a white and black area. The degree of inclination will be at the center of the screen.
4
Line up the black and white areas with the horizontal line. When the black and white areas each take up half of your screen, that means the object you are measuring is in a level position. Your screen will turn green and the number at the center of your screen will be zero.
- You can take another measurement off of that angle by tapping your screen once. Your new measurement will display in red.

Community Q&A

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Question

How many degrees is Polaris on the compass?

Dashen Siriwardana

Community Answer

From New York, it stands 41 degrees above the northern horizon, which also corresponds to the latitude of New York. Since 10 degrees is roughly equal to your clenched fist held at arm's length, from New York Polaris would appear to stand about "four fists" above the northern horizon.

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