Database Users

How to fix magnetometer

I just fixed the magnetometer on my Vibrant, using advice found on another site. It took me a long time to find it, so I thought I should post it here to help other Vibrant users find it more easily. There is similar advice in forums for other Galaxy S variants, but nothing here.
About a week ago, I noticed that my phone was no longer sensing its position. The screen would not rotate, and the compass was not working. I ran the sensor test using the *#0*# code, and both the accelerometer and magnetic sensor were stuck on one reading regardless of phone position. Rebooting had no effect.
I found the following procedure on a different site. I would post the link to give proper credit, but I don't have sufficient forum privileges because this is my first post. It was on the dp.nonoo.hu blog.
Your Samsung Galaxy S phone’s compass is not working? Auto rotation is faulty? Check your hardware by dialing *#0*# – this is a factory test app for the phone.
If the compass is broken there too, here’s how you can fix it: delete /data/system/ms3c_yamaha.cfg, and if there’s a backup file, delete it too, then reboot.
If it won’t help, make sure the files are deleted and then run /system/bin/sensorcalibutil_yamaha from a root shell, follow the instructions and then reboot your phone.​
I deleted the file using RootExplorer and rebooted. The accelerometer and magnetic sensor were working perfectly.

Lol I fixed mine by simply flipping the phone a few times. Basically I first downloaded and installed the compass app from the market. Then in the app, I calibrate it normally (wave in a figure 8 pattern) a few times. It will still be pointing incorrectly so next all I do it flip the phone on it's vertical axis a few times then repeat with the horizontal axis. Then it will be correct. This always works for my phone, I do it every time after a factory reset since it uncalibrates the magnetometer every time. I've never had problems with the accelerometer though, only the magnetometer. It would always be out of whack no matter what until I figured out what to do.

Cheers Blue,
This fixed it for me.

I cannot find neither the .cfg fila and or the configuration app.

+1
These files do not exist in ICS AOKP on my Vibrant and my magnetometer still points in the wrong direction lol.
Trying everything I can find on the Internet.
Edit: Removing the battery does not work even after 15 minutes. However, flipping the phone end over end worked immediately. Seems strange that this is not mentioned by any of the Compass apps yet they tell you to draw figure 8's in the air which does nothing on my Vibrant. lol
Thanks to the individual who shared that tip.

same here, a few vertical and horizontal flips did the trick for me. (on ics passion)

Didn't find the "/data/system/ms3c_yamaha.cfg" on my GalaxyS running Slim ICS 3.2. Seems like ICS doesn't have this file. And some vertical/horizontal flips almost did the trick. Now the compass is moving, before it wasn't moving at all. It not showing very good direction like it used to when I first purchased the device almost 15 months ago.
And one more question, does anyone know, what is the testing code for ICS? Because *#0*# isn't working on ICS. I used this code while on gingerbread and it worked before. I thought this code is universal, but now it seems like, its not.

blueguitarbob said:
I deleted the file using RootExplorer and rebooted. The accelerometer and magnetic sensor were working perfectly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Doest it still work when the phone is:
- touched with a little magnet like in a standard vertical flip-case (with little magnet) or
- travelling by car/bus/train or
- plugged in headphones
In the one I had (I don't have it any more) while plugging in headphones, or travelling by car/bus/train, or putting it in an flip-case with a little magnet the arrow In Google Maps pointing the direction which a device is currently facing simply freezes. Compass app also freezes at the same time. The app called Android Sensor Box in the scale for magnetometer reaches its maximum level. While moving the little magnet, from mentioned before filp-case, around a phone the arrow travels with it. Move it away and it freezes. It simply won't move. While sticking S4 to the metal part of laptop table the arrow immediately points opposite direction. Only making 8s in the air helps but only for a bit. Neither S3 9305 nor S5 have this problem. Even when stuck with a magnet their arrows in GM works just fine.
2. Does deleting the file fixes the GM's arrow issue also?

Danstek said:
Lol I fixed mine by simply flipping the phone a few times. Basically I first downloaded and installed the compass app from the market. Then in the app, I calibrate it normally (wave in a figure 8 pattern) a few times. It will still be pointing incorrectly so next all I do it flip the phone on it's vertical axis a few times then repeat with the horizontal axis. Then it will be correct. This always works for my phone, I do it every time after a factory reset since it uncalibrates the magnetometer every time. I've never had problems with the accelerometer though, only the magnetometer. It would always be out of whack no matter what until I figured out what to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
**** this worked

[Q] How to calibrate the accelerometer?

Playing around with Android Sensor Box I noticed that the accelerometer on my device needs calibration. Right now, laid on a flat horizontal surface, it looks like it's tilted a little to the left. The problem is I can't find the option to calibrate on Jelly Bean. On my old Gingerbread phone I could do it from Settings > Display > Horizontal calibration.
Is there any way to do a system-wide calibration of the accelerometer?

OK for anyone having this problem: I turned the tablet off, laid it horizontally and turned it on again, which seems to recalibrate the accelerometer. Rather inconvenient, but it works.

Try the sensor tester app from the play store.
Sent from my Nexus 7

zamuz27 said:
OK for anyone having this problem: I turned the tablet off, laid it horizontally and turned it on again, which seems to recalibrate the accelerometer. Rather inconvenient, but it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have just tested that and it does not work for me.
veeman said:
Try the sensor tester app from the play store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, it seems that this also does works only sometimes - at first it solved my problem, but after few days and reboots (there was also a ROM change involved), it stopped working for me (well, the calibration seems to works well, but other apps sees only miscalibrated results now... Looks like I will have to have my Nexus replaced (which I realy hate) :crying:

kar10s said:
I have just tested that and it does not work for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For what it's worth, I've always been on stock Jelly Bean. When I first had issues with the accelerometer, powering off/on to recalibrate worked for me on 4.1.2, and I haven't had issues since, even after upgrading to 4.2 and doing a factory reset. Maybe you could give the latest stock ROM a try before replacing your Nexus 7.

[BUG] Compass not aligning properly [VIDEO ADDED]

Anyone else who has an N900W8 have weird compass issues? It sometimes doesn't rotate or does not align properly.
Strange issue on my Note 2's compass too, sometimes does not calibrate properly, AND is running 4.3 but on AOSP. Is there a build problem/Samsung problem? Or is it hardware and I have to get it changed?
VIDEO: http://youtu.be/T1U5qlPABRo

Nope, after a day of usage, it just locks into a position when I rotate my phone on a horizontal plane. If i tilt my phone left right forward and backwards the compass moves.
To calibrate it, I have to shake my device hard and spin it like I am opening a door knob many times. Then the compass will work perfectly.
Anyone have this issue? N900W8. Is this normal to calibrate a device? Is this a recurrent issue amongst users?

No one has this problem? Will I have to take it back for a replacement? It still works, after a rigorous shake, but is this calibration abnormal or not? Will there be a possibility that a software update could fix this?

I have kinda a similar problem, in maps if I'm using navigation the arrow doesn't align correctly to the direction I'm going, not much of a problem.don't know if it's related to the GPS or the compass in my case
Sent from my SM-N900 using xda app-developers app

*GalaxyDev* said:
I have kinda a similar problem, in maps if I'm using navigation the arrow doesn't align correctly to the direction I'm going, not much of a problem.don't know if it's related to the GPS or the compass in my case
Sent from my SM-N900 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can I safe to say that there is an existing Compass Bug in the software and not have to replace it? I will be uploading a video soon.

Posted Video!

Hello,
I have had the same problem. The solution is so simple:
1- dial *#0*#
2- choose sensor
3- here you will find that the status of your magnetic sensor is: "need to calibrate". So you wave your note 3 in 8 patterns for one or two times
4- and here we go, the sensor status now is calibrated and your problem is solved
P.S.: if you have a problem with *#0*# you can use any compass application or google maps, and then you continue with 3 and 4.
Hope that it helps you

Hi Kaderoid,
That's not really a calibration method, but thanks for your help. My device just spins and spins and spins no matter how I much I try to calibrate it. The only way I can fix it is by rebooting.
That's the difference, and plus magnetic interference happens too often it seems like it's a hardware issue.
Sent from my fingers to your face using my Samsung Galaxy Note 3!

So, do we have a solution or a fix to this issue? My Note 3 has the same issue.

I had the same problems, display didn't rotate, after a couple of days it seems fixed, but now doesn't rotate again.
I'm Italian, I'm hope that the English is enough good

Hello,
I had some issues with my Compass. When using GMaps it was not pointing in the right direction. I changed my device and the new device has the same issue unless I calibrate it. Once calibrated it works perfectly. I guess your device is having a hardware issue. Get a replacement.

I have the same issue on 2 Notes 3. I also had it on 2 of my previous HTCs. I think it happened after GMap update a few months back.
Sent from my SM-N900V using xda app-developers app

when you enter *#0*# and compass arrow is red just do some spins with phone. It turns green and compass works proper
This is calibration method

I did this, and my whole screen went green for a bit and the phone vibrated, the compass however has a blue line with 3 under it.

Heyallo said:
I did this, and my whole screen went green for a bit and the phone vibrated, the compass however has a blue line with 3 under it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it went green your phone's proximity sensor was triggered either by an object close to the top of your phone.
3 means it is calibrated at sensor level 3

I have a similar issue. If I restart my phone I have to recalibrate the compass. Once calibrated it works fine though.
Sent from my SM-N900W8 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

I have the exact same issue. Sometimes I will calibrate it and it will fix it. If the phone has to reboot it will not work again.
Using GPS Status & Toolbox, the compass was "locked" in the wrong direction.
So I rotated around and as soon as North indicator was actually pointing North, it seemed to lock-on and was working fine (without performing a calibration).
Weird and I hope it gets fixed in the next update.

compass not working?

I tried a few random compass apps and none of them seem to work (the needle does not point to a fixed direction as I walked around). I tried this with and without wifi/data/location. Can anyone confirm this?
I really like everything else about the phone and I would hate to RMA this just because of the compass.

case-sensitive said:
I tried a few random compass apps and none of them seem to work (the needle does not point to a fixed direction as I walked around). I tried this with and without wifi/data/location. Can anyone confirm this?
I really like everything else about the phone and I would hate to RMA this just because of the compass.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also have troubles with the compass. Tried calibrating it a few times, as per the guidelines Google give out. However it just doesn't seem to want to stick!
Anyone else confirm the issue?
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

I'm also having issues with the compass. Doesn't work as a compass should. Turning around 180dg the phone makes north 180dg from where it was before.

copong said:
I'm also having issues with the compass. Doesn't work as a compass should. Turning around 180dg the phone makes north 180dg from where it was before.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I still haven't been able to solve this, not sure if it's a software or hardware issue?

I've just managed to fix it, it was a calibration issue but I fixed it with a different calibration routine as the one in google maps did nothing.
Installed https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.brothers.compass
Then press the menu button at the bottom right. That goes straight into calibration mode with instructions.

copong said:
I've just managed to fix it, it was a calibration issue but I fixed it with a different calibration routine as the one in google maps did nothing.
Installed https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.brothers.compass
Then press the menu button at the bottom right. That goes straight into calibration mode with instructions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've managed to get it to work for a while, but the calibration won't stick after reboot.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Damn, same here. Anyone else?

No issues here.

There is a discussion on Google's forum at https://productforums.google.com/forum/m/#!msg/nexus/SK7gbrV5MhU/X4OdqoheBQAJ. Seems the 5X is also having the same issue. Post your problem there to hopefully help get it sorted out quicker.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

After I finally got the November security update tonight, some of my Play store apps needed updating too. (I'll get to the point in a minute, I promise) One of those apps was Google Maps. I opened it & tapped on the location icon (so the image will turn as I do) & a pop-up came up stating that my compass was not correct & to turn it in several directions in succession to fix it. It may pop up for you too.
If you do not see that, do this: It asks you to hold your phone upright screen facing you (while in Maps) & fan it towards you then away, towards you then away. Then turn it in the air like the 4H queen wave, just twisting your wrist. Then while still facing you, rotate it to the left & right, like you're going to bang the sides of the phone on a table. Do each motion 4 times.
After doing that, the compass is dead on! Unfortunately, it doesn't hold the calibration after shutting the screen off though & backing out of Maps but it's a start without installing an app to do the same thing.

copong said:
Damn, same here. Anyone else?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep me too. Thank god for XDA. I was thinking I was the only one with no compass (although a 5 minute drive showed navigation works fine). It isn't a deal breaker for me because...
Nearly everything else is just good on the money, great display but not natural white (bit like the old AMOLEDs from the Note 2 that I have) with no pink or yellow hues, great sound (except in calls, loudspeaker only uses bottom to play out the audio), superb fast and crisp camera especially the FFC (but bad stabilisation in videos), beautiful design esp in the frost finish, phenomenal imprint scanner, very good battery life seeing as I'm coming from the venerable Z3 (but it can vary wildly, rogue apps perhaps), excellent build quality as mine doesn't have any QC nicks or rattling noises (apart from the camera lens, which is par for the course), bluetooth works without cutting off via 'cupping', Maps is locked at 60fps for the first time in Android history (and uniquely on this Nexus only), charging is quick and I'm glad it is type C (very convenient).

compass wont work with any ROM

Hi, I have a problem with the compass on my UMI zero. When I use google maps or any compass app the direction pointed by the arrow is always the same whatever direction i rotate my smartphone at. Only sometimes it points in the right direction but slowly rotating to the same wrong one. What's going on? I tried to install different ROM but the problem was never solved, and at the beginning it was working, i cannot say flawlessly but at least acceptably.

Compass problem
i was facing the same issues as you are with UMI Zero's compass especially on its stock firmware (update 3.10), but i went ahead and got the rom from this thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/and...-miumizero-miuiv6-umi-zero-t3050090?nocache=1
and installed the firmware available on it.
i also made sure that all GPS settings were on before using the compass because without it (try using it with the data on for the first few trys), it kept telling me to wave the phone in the shape of an 8 to recalibrate it. it works now much better than before but it is still not completely accurate. i think the problem is within the hardware rather than the software.