GPS tracking issues: missing or inaccurate data

GPS isn't perfect. Sometimes a recorded route can be inaccurate, show unexpected jumps, miss parts of an activity, or record a different distance than expected.

Here's what may be happening – and what you can do about it.

Common GPS issues

Missing sections or straight lines
Your phone temporarily lost its GPS signal. When the signal returns, Qpaws connects the available GPS points, which can create a straight line across the map.

Route drifting away from where you actually went
GPS accuracy was reduced, causing recorded points to appear beside the actual trail or road.

Unexpected jumps
An inaccurate GPS point can make your route suddenly jump to another location and back again.

Distance too short or too long
Missing or inaccurate GPS points can affect the total distance calculated from your route.

Why does this happen?

Qpaws records the location data provided by your phone during an activity.

The quality of that data can be affected by:

Location permissions
Battery-saving or background restrictions
Buildings, mountains or dense tree cover
Poor GPS reception
Your phone temporarily losing its location fix

Android phones in particular may restrict location access when the screen is off or Qpaws is running in the background.

How to improve GPS tracking

Check the troubleshooting guide for your phone:

→ Fix GPS tracking on Android
→ Fix GPS tracking on iPhone

Why can Qpaws differ from Garmin, Strava or another app?

Two apps can produce slightly different distance, pace or route data from the same activity.

Different devices and services may record, filter and process GPS points differently. Some services may also correct or recalculate activity data after it has been recorded.

Small differences are therefore normal.

Large differences, missing sections or tracking that repeatedly stops are not — and should be investigated.

Can missing GPS data be recovered?

Usually not.

If your phone didn't provide location data during part of an activity, Qpaws can't reliably recreate where you went afterwards.

The best solution is to identify why tracking was interrupted and prevent it from happening again.

Still having issues?

Your phone model
A screenshot of the recorded route
A short description of what went wrong

We'll help you investigate.

Updated on: 14/09/2026

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