Galaxy Watch 4 - GPS issues

[RBnewnicknamw]

Hello,

For the past few months I haven't been able to use the GPS function to track my workouts on the Galaxy Watch 4. 

I have tried all fixes so far:

• many factory resets
• checked for software updates
• uninstalled and installed all related apps from the phone (Wearable, Samsung Health on a Galaxy A50 phone)
• Used the GNSS and Gear GPS Fix apps - no results found, ever
• Took it to Coolblue support - they said they couldn't replicate the issue so sent it back without a fix. 
• Took it to Samsung support - said that the GPS chip is working and that it is a software issue so write something here

The only way I can have a semblance of the GPS chip working is if I connect the watch to my phone and open google maps - i can see and track my location. However if in the same conditions I open samsung health or strava i can never get a GPS lock and location tracking.

So far I'm really dissatisfied with the product (all my devices are samsung and all the apps are samsung, I wouldn't expect to see integration issues; the support I got so far was not helpful at all at finding a solution). Any advice on what to do next?

[Neo001]

Best to contact Samsung Support and book for a repair again.

[MartijnK]

Hi @RBnewnicknamw, good afternoon.

Welcome at the Samsung Community and thank you for reaching out to us! You've tried a lot to resolve this 👍 In the Samsung Members-app you can also start a diagnostic test for the GPS at your Watch. What is the result of the test? 

Did you install the Watch with a back-up? 

Kind regards,

Martijn

[RBnewnicknamw]

Hi Martijn,

Thank you for the suggestion. I had already done that but you gave me an incentive to try it again and try the tool under different conditions.
On my Members app the only GPS related diagnostic test I can see is called "Location accuracy". It had always given me a result of Normal.
I tried it now under two different conditions:
1) phone location off - watch Location Accuracy test fails
2) phone location on - watch Location Accuracy passes.
I'm thinking this might have been what threw off the Samsung service team to have them say that the watch GPS is working when in fact it isn't.

I don't understand your second question. I don't have backups enabled on my watch if that's what you meant?

Best regards
Rb

[RBnewnicknamw]

Thank you for the suggestion. Yes I have been playing around with the permissions to no success

[MartijnK]

Well, you've mentioned you've did multiple factory reset, so my question was did you re-install the Watch with a back-up? And is the option for GPS switch on at the Watch itself? When this also doesn't make a difference a service request will be the next step. 

Kind regards,

Martijn