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Samsung: Turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Scanning On or Off for Location Accuracy

If your Samsung phone places you several streets away from where you actually are, especially downtown or inside a building, GPS satellite signals alone are not reliable enough. Samsung adds a scanning feature that cross-checks nearby Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth devices to close that gap, and it can be switched on or off independently. Knowing when this setting helps and when it just drains extra battery makes a real difference for accurate tracking.

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Step 1 of 4: Tap on **Settings**

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Android 11 · One UI 3
Turn On/Off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Scanning for Location Accuracy – One UI 3: step 1 – Tap on Settings
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Samsung

Turn On/Off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Scanning for Location Accuracy auf Samsung

Satellite-based GPS needs a clear line of sight to the sky. In dense cities or indoors, buildings and walls block or bounce those signals, which throws off your reported position by dozens of meters.

Samsung compensates for this with a location enhancement feature. It uses nearby Wi-Fi access points and Bluetooth beacons as reference points, since their positions are already known from mapping databases. This works even when GPS signal is weak or unavailable, which is why location can still function inside malls or parking garages.

Where to turn it on or off

Go to Tap on SettingsTap on LocationTap on Improve accuracyTurn On/Off Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth scanning. Each toggle can be switched independently, so you can keep Wi-Fi scanning on while disabling Bluetooth scanning, or the other way around.

Turning both off can save a small amount of battery and stops the phone from scanning networks in the background, but expect noticeably worse accuracy indoors and in built-up areas. Leave both enabled if you rely on navigation apps or location-based reminders in the city.

Frequently asked questions

No. Wi-Fi scanning for location only reads nearby network signals to estimate position, it does not affect your active connection. You can disable it under Tap on SettingsTap on LocationTap on Improve accuracy without losing internet access.

Compatible devices

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Android 11 · One UI 3

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