How to Improve GPS Accuracy for Child Tracking

When a child not home on time or a kid late from school, most parents immediately try to locate child. You check the map, look at their route, and wait for the dot to move. But when the GPS not updating or the location seems off, it only adds to the worry.

Accurate child tracking helps parents see where their child is, understand their usual route, and notice any route deviation early.

In this guide, we will tell you how to improve GPS accuracy on your devices to track your child route effectively.

Device Settings That Improve GPS Accuracy for Child Tracking

Many cases of GPS not updating, wrong locations, or delayed tracking happen because location features are turned off or limited.

Here are some basic solutions to improve how accurately you can locate your child and monitor their route:

1. Turn On High-Accuracy Location Mode

The high-accuracy mode in devices uses GPS, Wi-Fi, and mobile networks together to give an exact location.

Here's how to do it on Android and iPhone:

Android

• Open "Settings > Security & Privacy > Location" and enable the "Use Location" option.



• Now tap on "Google Location Accuracy" and turn the toggle on for "Improve Location Accuracy."

iPhone

• Go to "Settings > Privacy & Security."
• Scroll to "Analytics & Improvements" and turn the toggle for "Improve AR Location Accuracy."

For additional accuracy, you can also enable the precise location for apps. Here's how:

• Go to "Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services."

• Now, scroll down to "Find My" and enable "Precise Location."

2. Allow Location Access "Always"

If an app is not allowed to access location in the background, tracking may stop when the phone is locked or the app isn't open. Therefore, it's important to keep the location access to "Always."

3. Disable Battery Saver or Low Power Mode

Battery-saving features often restrict GPS to save power. This can delay updates or freeze the location. You can disable this feature to improve GPS accuracy.

4. Calibrate the Compass

If the map shows your child facing the wrong direction or drifting off their actual route, the phone's compass may need calibration.

This can be done in 2 ways:

5. Use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Scanning

Even when not connected to a network, phones can detect nearby Wi-Fi routers and Bluetooth devices to refine location. GPS alone can struggle indoors, in dense areas, or near tall buildings. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning give the phone extra reference points, making it easier to locate your child accurately, especially when they are inside schools, malls, or apartments.

Environmental Factors That Affect GPS Accuracy

Even with the right phone settings, GPS is not always perfect. Real-world surroundings can interfere with signals and cause delays or wrong locations. This is often why a parent sees that their child not home yet, the GPS not updating, or route deviation.

Understanding these factors can keep you from panicking:

1. GPS Accuracy Drops Indoors and Between Tall Buildings

GPS works best in open spaces. When your child enters a school building, shopping mall, apartment, or an area with tall buildings, satellite signals can weaken or bounce.

Due to this:

• The location freezes or updates slowly
• The child appears on the wrong street
• The route looks broken or inaccurate

2. Underground and Moving Environments

Subways, basements, tunnels, and even school parking areas can block GPS completely. Moving environments like buses, vans, or cars can also cause temporary delays.

As a result, you will notice:

• GPS doesn't update while your child is traveling
• Sudden jumps in location
• Route deviation that corrects itself later

3. Magnetic or Metal Objects

Phones placed inside bags with metal objects, power banks, or magnets can interfere with sensors. This may affect direction, accuracy, or cause the phone to misread its surroundings.

This can cause the location to:

• Drift
• Rotate incorrectly
• Show your child slightly off their actual position

What Parents Should Do When GPS Isn't Perfect

When GPS is affected by buildings, movement, or indoor spaces, AirDroid Parental Control helps parents stay informed. Instead of relying only on live maps, it offers tools that confirm safety even when location data isn't perfect.

Location History: You can review where your child has been throughout the day. You can check the 30-day history.

Geofencing (Safe Zones): You can set virtual boundaries for places like home or school. You'll get alerts when your child enters or leaves.

Check Surroundings: If a location looks unclear, this feature lets you see what's around your child's camera, giving real-world context instead of guessing from the map.

Why GPS Route Drift Can Confuse Parents About Their Child's Safety?

When GPS route drift happens, it can quietly turn a normal, safe day into something that looks worrying to a parent. A simple walk home from school might suddenly appear messy on the map, with zigzags, short stops, or strange detours that never actually happened. Even though the child followed their usual routine, the inaccurate route can make it seem like something unexpected or unsafe is going on.

For parents, location tracking is often about reassurance. They check the map to confirm their child is on the way home, staying in familiar areas, and moving as expected. When GPS data drifts, that reassurance disappears. A child who is perfectly fine can look lost, delayed, or stuck in one place. If the child doesn't answer the phone right away, those small inaccuracies can quickly grow into real anxiety.

AirDroid Parental Control's Watch Surroundings feature helps fill that gap. Instead of relying only on a map that may be slightly off, parents can remotely check the surrounding environment through the child's device. Hearing background sounds or seeing what's around the phone can quickly confirm whether a child is walking home, waiting for a bus, or safely inside a familiar place. That real-world context often matters more than a perfect GPS line.

Conclusion

GPS tracking is a powerful tool for child tracking, but it isn't perfect. Settings, surroundings, and signal limits can all affect accuracy and cause delays, route drift, or GPS not updating. By adjusting device settings, understanding environmental factors, and using smarter tools like AirDroid Parental Control, parents can stay informed without constant worry. The goal isn't just to track a location; it's to feel confident that your child is safe.

FAQS

1. Why does my child’s location sometimes appear wrong?

Elsa

GPS can drift due to weak signals, tall buildings, indoor areas, or moving vehicles. This can make your child appear in the wrong place even when they’re safe.

2. What should I do if my child is not home, but the map looks inaccurate?

Elsa

Don’t panic. GPS may be delayed. Check location history, arrival alerts, or use tools like geofencing to confirm whether your child reached their destination.

3. Why does it look like my child changed their route?

Elsa

Short-term route deviation is often caused by GPS signal issues. If the location corrects itself after a few minutes, it was likely a drift, not an actual change in path.

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