How to turn on GPS on your Android device

The location service or rather GPS (Global Positioning System) on your Android smartphone or tablet can be immensely useful. It helps you figure out where you are on a map or navigation grid. It’s surprising that a lot of Android users still do not use GPS to do useful things. This article provides some easy, hands-on guidance on how to turn on GPS functionality on your Android phone anytime on the go.Most of the top apps on the Android platform require a description of your location in order to work fully. For instance, a friend finder app might need to know which town or city you are in so that it can help you find pals who are within a reasonable distance of your location. On the other hand, more location intensive applications such as Google Maps and Waze need to use GPS to figure out your location on the road network in your city or town. These apps not only help you find your way to an unfamiliar destination, they also brief you on traffic situations and give you a time-to-destination estimate.The GPS feature in your Android device provides your accurate location so that you can find all kinds of things. You may want to find what shopping offers are rolling on nearby, or share your position with a friend who’s new in town. GPS usually works on Android phones, but it’s not hard to come across tablets that also have this capability.When you launch an application that needs to use GPS, it should prompt you to enable it right away. But it’s also important to know how to turn it on and off whenever you like.

1. Swipe down from the top to launch the notifications bar on your Android handset.
2. In case you have Quick Settings on your device, find and top on GPS or Location.
3. If this doesn’t work, launch the Settings app on your device and open the Location section (could be under Privacy). A simple tap will turn location services or GPS

Like with any other Android tutorial, there’s no one-size fits all for turning on GPS on your device. The layout varies from one phone to the other and so it’s easier to turn on GPS on some devices than others. But the steps outlined above should provide some measure of guidance, if not do it all the same.Keep in mind that GPS or Location Services are well-known culprits when it comes to battery drain. There’s also a privacy risk that comes with letting any other app figure out your location. So make sure that you’re selective regarding what app you allow to access location services. If you’re using Marshmallow, you can easily configure app permissions. All the same, turn off GPS when you do not need it.

Source: Android Central