How do I use the compass on my phone?

Open this page on your phone, press "Start compass" and allow motion access if your phone asks (iPhone and iPad ask first). Hold the phone flat or upright. The dial turns so that N points to north, and the heading shows below it, for example NE 47°. Press "Hold reading" to freeze the number and "Resume" to continue, or "Stop compass" to turn the sensors off.

Does it show true north or magnetic north?

Magnetic north by default, because that is what a phone's sensor measures. To get true north, tick "Show true north" and type your local magnetic declination (east is positive) in degrees. The page does not look up your location or use the internet for this, so you need to find the value for your area yourself. The number you enter is saved on this device only.

Why does it say there is no compass sensor?

The page waits about 2.5 seconds for a reading. Desktop computers and most laptops have no magnetic sensor, so nothing arrives and you see "No compass sensor was found". It also needs a secure (HTTPS) page and, on iPhone and iPad, your permission. Some browsers only report direction relative to where you started rather than relative to north; the page tells you when that happens.

How accurate is it, and how do I calibrate it?

A phone compass is usually good to within a few degrees away from metal and magnets. The reading is smoothed so the dial does not jitter. To calibrate, move the phone slowly through a figure 8 a few times. On iPhone and iPad the page also shows an accuracy note: good up to 15°, fair up to 30°, poor beyond that.

Is my sensor data sent anywhere?

No. The orientation readings are used in your browser tab to turn the dial and are not stored or uploaded. Nothing goes in the page address. The only thing saved on your device is the declination number, if you type one.

Yes. Every tool is free to use, with no account and no credit card. The work runs on your device rather than on our servers, which is what keeps it free to run.

Does it work on mobile?

Yes. It runs in current mobile browsers on iOS and Android, with nothing to install.

🧭

Free Compass

Find north with your phone: a digital compass that shows your heading in degrees (like NE 47°), with a turning dial and a hold button.

Runs in your browserNo sign-up, no pop-upsNo login requiredFree foreverHeading in degreesHold the readingTrue north offset

Hold your phone flat or upright and press "Start compass". The dial turns so N points to magnetic north, and your heading is shown in degrees.

Press "Start compass" and allow motion access if asked. A compass needs a phone or tablet with a magnetic sensor.

Magnetic north

No reading yet

Magnetic or true north

Show true north

Magnetic declination in degrees (east is positive)

A phone compass points to magnetic north. True north differs by your local declination, which is under 1° in some places and over 20° in others. This page never looks up your location, so enter the declination for your area from a map or an online calculator, then tick "Show true north". The value is saved on this device.

Getting a good reading

If the dial drifts or jumps, move the phone slowly through a figure 8 in the air a few times to calibrate the sensor.
Keep away from magnets, speakers, magnetic cases, car bodies and electronics. They bend the reading.
Hold the phone level, or upright if you prefer to point the back camera. The page follows screen rotation.
Desktops and most laptops have no compass sensor, and the page says so after a few seconds.

🧭 Sensor readings stay in your browser tab. Nothing is sent anywhere or put in the page address.

How It Works

The page listens to your browser's orientation events, turns the sensor angles into a compass heading, smooths it, and rotates the dial to match.

1
Start the compass
Press "Start compass" on a phone or tablet and allow motion access if asked.
2
Hold the phone
Hold it level, or upright to point the back camera. The dial turns so N points to magnetic north and the heading shows as text such as NE 47°.
3
Hold or correct
Press "Hold reading" to freeze the number, and "Resume" to continue. Tick "Show true north" and enter your local declination to correct for it.
4
Calibrate if needed
If the dial drifts, wave the phone in a figure 8 and keep it away from magnets and metal.

Sensor readings stay in your browser tab. Nothing is uploaded, sent anywhere or put in the page address.

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