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

Auto-rotate not working

Hi, today suddenly my phone didn't rotate the screen anymore when I rotated the phone to landscape. I had auto-rotate on. This problem had stayed for a while now and I have already rebooted my phone as well as turned off and on auto-rotate. I know the accelerometer is working because I used apps that use the accelerometer, so my guess is it's done software bug. I think it had happened before to me but briefly and it somehow got fixed. I'm wondering if this has happened to someone else and how you fixed it. Thanks!
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

If u were referring to it auto rotating in the home screen, the stock launcher doesn't not do it

No not the home screen, any screen (browser, Facebook, mail, etc..)
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

Try an app called ultimate rotate to force rotation in apps as a test
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

settings accessibility auto rotate

molesarecoming said:
settings accessibility auto rotate
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Way to read the OP.

This just happened to me....I have auto-rotate checked in accessability and display...any help would be appreciated.

Happening to me now as well. Not sure whats causing it :-/

Auto Rotate
It is happening to me as well.
I don't know if it pertains to you or no as mine is rooted and it does only on AOKP Rom.
For now what I had is to install Screen Orientation app. It lets you toggle Forced Portrait / Forced Landscape mode from notification bar.
And i have checked auto rotation enable in settings.

Open Instagram, it forces portrait..

help
This is happening to me right now but much worse, I've toggled, rebooted, wiped, reflashed, flashed old backups, different kernels, different roms I was originally running AOKP with faux kernel and my auto-rotate had been working fine then I downloaded temple run and I couldn't tilt from side to side, I would re-calibrate but every sensor app I download says that my; Accelerometer, compass, light sensor, proximity sensor, temp, gyroscope, gravity sensor, linear acceleration, and rotation vector sensor don't even exist, the apps say there not there. I have no idea what more to do to reset them or fix them, they were all working fine before and then they just stopped.
Any ideas or information would be appreciated, the last thing I'm going to try is a full Odin flash back to stock everything (if that is even available yet for the nexus 4)

tech.central said:
This is happening to me right now but much worse, I've toggled, rebooted, wiped, reflashed, flashed old backups, different kernels, different roms I was originally running AOKP with faux kernel and my auto-rotate had been working fine then I downloaded temple run and I couldn't tilt from side to side, I would re-calibrate but every sensor app I download says that my; Accelerometer, compass, light sensor, proximity sensor, temp, gyroscope, gravity sensor, linear acceleration, and rotation vector sensor don't even exist, the apps say there not there. I have no idea what more to do to reset them or fix them, they were all working fine before and then they just stopped.
Any ideas or information would be appreciated, the last thing I'm going to try is a full Odin flash back to stock everything (if that is even available yet for the nexus 4)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i read something about losing sensors by using the 4.2.2 radio With a 4.2.1 Rom. anyways it's a documented issue. try going through the 4.2.2 threads. i believe that's where i saw it mentioned.
EDIT: here it is!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=37977813&postcount=3
searching the thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/search.php?searchid=146897726

smacking it worked
read on another forum that "a decently hard smack" would correct it.
they were right, Its working again.

solved mine
in my case, it was an app called gravity screen. uninstalled it, reboot phone, and the auto rotate is enabled now

[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).

[5.1] Strange issue with auto-rotation (lock has no effect) sometimes

Just wondering if anybody else has this issue.
For some reason, when I set Auto Rotation to OFF (I.E. quick settings tile says "Portrait"), my Z will still auto rotate as normal in any app that usually does.
EDIT: It has started working now for me, after rebooting a few times, but I didn't really do anything special :\
EDIT2: It is random and recurring. However I "calibrated" accelerometer yesterday (26th November) by spinning the phone around a few times on all three axis, so far so good *fingers crossed*
Only apps like E.g. MX Player which have their own internal rotation lock ever work. Other apps like Chrome and Tapatalk and so on will still just ignore the setting and rotate automatically.
Does anybody else experience this on the stock Lollipop ROM? I have it in stock and also now in kamarush's 5.1.1 AOSP build. Possible hardware issue? I don't see how, though, that doesn't make sense!
Thanks in advance.
Sent from Xperia Z via Tapatalk

Having the same problem on my XZ1, it's a shi*** bug .. very very annoying bug .

Well mine has started working randomly, now, after rebooting a few times.
Very strange, I had this bug for a LONG time on stock ROM (but now I'm on a custom AOSP build).
At least I am not the only one who had the same issue, I thought I was going crazy
Only real thing I did was toggle the Auto Rotate setting under Settings > Accessibility (not Display) a few times, didn't solve it but I have rebooted since. Maybe it's just a broken Setting that needs to be switched off > reboot > switch on > reboot > repeat this process until it starts working?

Started happening again. I played with Auto Rotate toggle a few times, now it's the opposite - no matter the setting it will NOT rotate!
I think this issue is specific to kamarush's AOSP build, though. Stock didn't do this.
Sent from Xperia Z via Tapatalk

I have the opposite problem. Phones set to auto rotate but won't rotate.

jmindset said:
I have the opposite problem. Phones set to auto rotate but won't rotate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, mine sometimes does either way. Right now though, it's working perfectly.
What I did was "calibrate" my accelerometer. This is simply done by rotating the phone on all three axis several times (x, y, z) I.E. rotate the phone several times in all three directions. This might have solved it for me, or could be a coincidence.
Sent from Xperia Z via Tapatalk

CosmicDan said:
Yeah, mine sometimes does either way. Right now though, it's working perfectly.
What I did was "calibrate" my accelerometer. This is simply done by rotating the phone on all three axis several times (x, y, z) I.E. rotate the phone several times in all three directions. This might have solved it for me, or could be a coincidence.
Sent from Xperia Z via Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah its not always just randomly. Especially when I'm watching YouTube. Thanks for the tip though. I shall give it a try

Yep was random for me too, but so far so good after I spun my phone around on all axis. Fingers crossed. Never had to do this before, though, so it's pretty weird!
Sent from Xperia Z via Tapatalk