Why GPS Accuracy Matters
When employees clock in and out using the Chronotek Classic mobile app, GPS tracking helps verify their location. However, many factors can impact accuracy, from environmental obstacles to phone settings. This guide covers what affects GPS tracking and how to optimize it
A Message from Our Chief Technology Officer about GPS Tracking
"A common misconception is that satellites track your location. In reality, they only send signals—your phone’s GPS receiver does all the work of calculating and tracking your position. GPS works best with a clear view of the sky, and anything that disrupts the signal can reduce accuracy."
Now, let's break down what affects GPS accuracy and how to improve it.
Factors That Affect GPS Tracking Accuracy for Employee Clock-ins
🔹 Obstructions
Being indoors
Tall buildings and skyscrapers
Your body (yes, water-based bodies can block signals—carrying your phone in a pocket may reduce accuracy)
🔹 Environmental Conditions
The sun’s magnetic field (a surprising but major factor)
Weather conditions
🔹 Phone Settings & Hardware
Low battery or Power Saving Mode (which limits GPS functionality)
The phone being too hot or too cold
Outdated phone software or Chronotek app version
Location tracking settings not optimized
How to Optimize GPS for Accurate Clock-ins
Recommended Phone Settings
✅ Set location tracking to “Always” (we only track employees when on the clock).
✅ Ensure Chronotek runs in the background while on the clock.
✅ For Android users: Set location accuracy to "High Accuracy" (Settings > Additional Settings > Privacy > Location > Set to High Accuracy).
✅ Keep the phone’s operating system and Chronotek app updated.
GPS Troubleshooting Tips for iPhone and Android Phones
iPhones
📌 Refresh Location Services:
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services
Ensure Location Services is ON
Find Chronotek in the list and set it to Always
Toggle Location Services OFF, wait a few seconds, then toggle it ON again
📌 Reset Wireless Signals:
Turn Airplane Mode ON, then OFF (Settings > Airplane Mode)
Turn Wi-Fi OFF, then ON (Settings > Wi-Fi)
Turn Bluetooth OFF, then ON (Settings > Bluetooth)
📌 Restart the Device:
Hold the power button, then slide to power off
Wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on
📌 Optimize Battery & Storage:
Disable Low Power Mode (Settings > Battery > Toggle OFF Low Power Mode)
Check for battery-saving apps that may restrict background activity for Chronotek
Clear Cache & Free Up Space:
Go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data
Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and review storage usage
📌 Check for Software Updates:
Go to Settings > General > Software Update
Install any available updates for iOS and Chronotek Classic
📌 Reset Location & Network Settings (if needed):
Reset Location & Privacy: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Location & Privacy
If issues persist, reset network settings (this will erase Wi-Fi passwords):
Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings
Androids
📌 Check & Refresh Location Services:
Go to Settings > Apps > Chronotek > Permissions
Ensure Location is set to “Allow all the time”
Toggle Location OFF, wait a few seconds, then toggle it ON
📌 Set Location to High Accuracy:
Settings > Location > Location Mode > High Accuracy (This may be under Privacy > Location on some devices)
📌 Reset Wireless Signals:
Turn Airplane Mode ON, then OFF
Turn Wi-Fi OFF, then ON
Turn Bluetooth OFF, then ON
📌 Restart the Device:
Hold the power button, then select Restart
📌 Optimize Battery & Performance:
Disable Battery Saver Mode (Settings > Battery > Turn OFF Battery Saver)
Whitelist Chronotek in battery optimization settings:
Settings > Battery > Battery Optimization > Chronotek > Don’t Optimize
Disable power-saving apps that limit background processes
📌 Clear Cache & Free Up Storage:
Settings > Storage > Other Apps
Select Chronotek, then tap Clear Cache
📌 Check for Software Updates:
Go to Settings > System > System Update and install any available updates
Open Google Play Store, search for Chronotek Classic, and update if available
📌 Reset Location & Network Settings (if needed):
Settings > System > Reset Options > Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile & Bluetooth
Final Steps if GPS Issues Persist (iPhone & Android)
📌 Test GPS in Other Apps
Open Google Maps or Apple Maps and check if location tracking works properly
If GPS issues persist across multiple apps, it may be a phone-related issue
📌 Try Using Wi-Fi for Location Services
Enable Wi-Fi even if you’re not connected to a network—Wi-Fi assists in improving GPS accuracy
📌 Check for Physical Damage
If the phone has been dropped or damaged, the GPS antenna could be affected
📌 Contact Chronotek Support
If you’ve tried all the steps and are still experiencing issues, reach out to our support team.
For help on other topics, check out our Help Center.😎 Be sure to bookmark it!
Take a peek at our new platform, Chronotek Pro.
