Fix Pokemon GO Error 11 [GPS Signal Not Found 2024]

Let’s face it, the only game that successfully made us interact with the real world is Pokémon Go. However, as the game progresses, you may encounter Pokémon Go GPS not found 11 error.

Unlike most games, this game requires permission to access GPS connection on Android or iOS and pinpoint your precise location. As a result, you may see an error message if there is trouble getting a GPS signal while you play the game. There could be many reasons for this.

Today I will mostly focus on how you can fix the GPS signal not found error and get back to collecting Pokemon again.

Let’s get started.

Why Pokemon GO can’t find GPS signal?

You can get GPS Signal issues in Pokemon Go for many reasons like your phone can’t properly catch the GPS signal. Also, if you didn’t give Pokemon GO location permission, or you are using a rooted phone where the Pokemon GO app can’t recognize the GPS signal, Error 11 happens.

If you do not get GPS on Pokemon GO, the location could be disabled from your phone’s settings. Plus, you also need to give additional permissions to the app to make all its functions work.

With the release of iOS 13 and Android 6.0, users could control which apps can access their location. You could also deny an app to access locations entirely.

But the very nature of Pokemon GO requires you to enable the location services. Otherwise, the app cannot fetch the map data, which helps to locate the Poke Gyms, Pokemons, and other items which you can collect.

So, let’s now find the location settings on your phone and enable them in the following section.

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How to Fix Pokemon GO Error Code 11

You can fix the Pokemon Go GPS signal not found 11 error by turning on or enabling permissions for location services on your Android device. If these don’t work for you, reset the app’s cache and your mobile network, toggle off the mock location, and reboot your device.

Follow these steps to fix Pokemon Go error code 11:

1. Turn On your Phone’s Location Services

The steps to enable GPS may be different depending on whether your mobile device is Android and iOS.

Turn on location in iOS:

Follow the steps to turn on location on an iOS device :

• Go to Settings.
• Now navigate to Privacy > Location Services.
• Turn on the toggle next to Location Services.

Now, let’s make sure Pokemon GO has full access to the location settings.

You have four different settings to limit the permission to use your phone’s GPS. Since you would only need the location only when playing Pokemon GO, choose While Using the App. Setting the location frequency to Always would only shorten the battery life, if nothing else.

These are the steps to change location access frequency for Pokemon GO:

• From the Location Services menu, scroll down and find Pokemon Go.
• Select While Using the App from the list of options.
• Turn on the toggle next to Precise Location.

Now close Pokemon GO from the multitasking screen and open it again. It should start working again.

Turn on location in Android:

To turn on location on Android, pull down the notification shade and tap on the Location icon.

As with iOS, you can also select Pokemon GO to only access the location while running the app on Android too. Now, this ability arrived with Android 10, so earlier versions will not have this setting.

Follow the steps on Android to set Pokemon Go to access location only when open:

• Long press the Location icon on the notification shade.
• Select App access to location.
• Scroll down and find Pokemon GO.
• Select Allow only while using the app.

Now, Pokemon Go is set properly, and the GPS should start working.

2. Clear Google Play Services Cache

Some Reddit users have found this solution to mitigate the GPS error on Pokemon GO. Now, this can happen if the cache files generated by Play Services interfere with the communication between Pokemon GO and the backend servers.

It is not a sure fix, but then again, you should clear cache memory from time to time, and it gives your device a little boost every single time.

Follow the steps to clear the Google Play Services cache on Android:

• Open Settings.
• Go to Apps and Notifications and go to See All Apps.
• Scroll and find Google Play Services.  
• Go to Storage.
• Tap on Clear Cache.

The options to clear cache may not be the same across all versions of Android OS, but if you go through a few settings, you will find it. The exact name and icons may be different for you.

3. Reset your Device’s Location

Sometimes due to heavy load, your Android phone can’t transmit proper GPS data to Pokemon GO, and you see the GPS Signal Not Found error message. In that case you need to reset phone’s location.

Here are the steps to do so:

• Go to Settings > Location.
• Toggle on the Location access.
• Set Allow for the Share location info with career option.

After completing the steps, you won’t see the GPS error in Pokemon Go.

4. Disable Mock Location

If you enabled mock location, from your phone’s developer option, Pokemon GO won’t be able to access the proper GPS. So you need to turn it off. To do that:

• Open Settings on your phone.
• Type Mock location in the search bar and select it from the search result.
• Touch on the Select mock location app option.
• Choose none in the next section.

After completing the steps, you won’t see the GPS error in Pokemon Go.

5. Switch Between Data and Wi-Fi

This is another fix, thanks to some Reddit users who found it working for them.

Now you may ask, how can I access Wi-Fi when I am out looking for Pokemons? And that is right. But if you happen to be nearby a place that offers Wi-Fi, you can switch your network connection. If you are already in your house, then try this and see if Pokemon GO connects to its servers.

Also, many people complained that 5G won’t work on their Samsung mobile while playing Pokemon Go. In that case, I recommend turning the airplane mode on and off at least once before switching data and Wi-Fi, as that can help reset the network.

Switching between Wi-Fi and data sounds more like an internet connection issue, but why not try it and see if this fixes the GPS problem for Pokemon GO?

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6. Install the Latest Version of Pokemon GO

Bugs and errors are common in terms of developing an application that camouflages your environment. It is necessary to keep the game up to date. Because Niantic is fixing these errors over time, don’t just pause the update application option from the play store.

Instead, Go to PlayStore and Search Pokemon GO. Update the app if there’s a recently rolled-out update.

If Pokemon Go is already installed, remove it and re-install a recent version.

Can You Play Pokémon GO Without Getting A GPS Signal?

Playing Pokémon Go without a GPS is not possible since the game heavily relies on your location to find and hunt Pokémon. The game uses GPS to play and to create the experience of augmented reality in the real world where players have to hunt for Pokémon in their actual physical locations.

This location-based gameplay creates a sense of immersion like no other in the gaming world. However, without a GPS signal, the game might not work as expected, preventing players from enjoying the game.

In some cases, the game might be triggered due to the weak GPS signal, and you might end up walking a lot without finding any Pokémon. While there are some workarounds, such as using the internet to simulate GPS, these methods are not reliable and might pose a security threat by the developers.

Nevertheless, almost any Android smartphone released in recent years should have GPS capabilities built-in, so it should be possible to play the game normally. In conclusion, while it might be possible to simulate GPS signals using the internet, it’s not a recommended method and should be avoided.

Pokémon Go is designed to be played while walking around in the real world, so it’s crucial to have a stable GPS connection if you wish to enjoy the full experience.

Why Can’t You Use Fake GPS app for Pokémon Go GPS?

Many players of the Pokémon Go game have tried to use a fake GPS app to spoof their location and catch virtual creatures. However, this method doesn’t always work, as the game has a built-in GPS system that detects the player’s real-time location.

If the Pokémon Go app can’t trace your location, it won’t work properly with the fake GPS app.

The trouble is that GPS and the internet work together to give the game accurate data about a player’s location. So, even with a fake GPS app, the GPS signal will still be coming from the same place, and thus, the game won’t recognize it.

Some users have tried to fix error 11 by turning off power-saving mode, enabling developer options, or changing the location accuracy settings, but these methods don’t always work.

Moreover, this approach can overload the servers and cause lag or freeze for other players in the same area. That’s why using a fake GPS app for Pokémon Go GPS could be considered a security risk by the game developers who aim to provide a fair and safe gaming experience for everyone. Therefore, it’s essential to stick to the rules and play the game legitimately.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to fix GPS signal lost in Pokemon GO?

To fix a GPS error in Pokemon GO, first, ensure that the location is turned on for both your device and for Pokemon GO. Pokemon GO must have good signal strength for your internet connection to sync your location with the servers.

How to refresh GPS on Android?

If GPS is not working in apps that need it, such as Pokemon GO, turn off Location from the navigation bar and tap on it to re-enable it.  You can also restart your Android phone to refresh the GPS address on Pokémon Go.

Why is Pokemon Go not showing a GPS signal on Wi-Fi?

It may happen because you are using an old/outdated version of Pokemon Go. Just update the app from the Play Store, and the GPS signal will start working on your Wi-Fi.

Final Thoughts

Error 11 on Pokemon GO is basically related to the GPS Location. GPS Locations don’t drift unless you are connected to poor internet. It’s better to switch to Wi-Fi while playing Pokemon GO indoors.

But, for Outdoors, connect your device to a 4G network to stabilize your location because the satellite cannot find your location if you are not connected to a proper internet.

So, did you fix the error on Pokemon GO? Do let us know in the comments.

Until next time, it’s goodbye.