Google Sky Map Not Working? How to Fix The Problem

Sky Map (formerly Google Sky Map) is a hand-held augmented-reality planetarium that lets you see and identify stars, planets, constellations, and more with your Android device. Issues with Sky Map can appear in many ways.

• The app won't install or launch
• Sky Map is pointing in the wrong direction
• The app isn't identifying any stars or constellations at all

While these issues can be frustrating, a straightforward fix will usually get Google Sky Map working correctly again.

Cause of Google Sky Map Not Working

Google Sky Map was created in 2007 but has received many updates since then. However, since there are so many varieties of Android devices, many issues cause the app not to work correctly.

• One of the required sensors malfunctioning
• The compass not calibrated properly
• An outdated Google Sky Map app
• Phone location not updating properly
• Installed SD card causing installation conflicts

Once you can identify which issue is causing Google Sky Map not to work correctly, the fix is relatively simple.

How to Fix Google Sky Map Not Working

The following troubleshooting guide will start with the most common issues and work toward less frequent problems. Work through the list from top to bottom to resolve your Google Sky Map issue.

1. Remove your SD card before installation. There is a known issue with Google Sky Map installation on older versions of Android (Android 2.2 and older). Unmount and remove your SD card before installing the Google Sky Map app. Once installed, you can re-insert and reinstall the SD card. You can also move the Google Sky Map app to the SD card after installation if you prefer.
   

2. One common mistake users make is putting Google Sky Map in manual mode. Manual mode requires you to drag the screen manually with your finger to look at the entire sky. In Automatic mode, the display will line up with the area of the sky you're looking at. There is an icon on the right side of the screen to toggle between Manual and Automatic mode. If Google Sky Map is not moving, make sure Automatic mode is enabled.
   

3. Re-calibrate your phone compass and GPS. Calibration involves moving your phone in a figure-8 motion to trigger your sensors to automatically reset and more accurately align with the position you're holding your phone. A Calibrate menu item in Google Sky Map settings will walk you through this process.
   

   If you've calibrated your device, but Google Sky Map still isn't working, make sure you aren't standing near any electrical devices or magnetic materials that could interfere with your phone's sensors. Also, try turning off Magnetic Correction in your Android settings, as this will often make your compass and GPS sensors more accurate.

4. Turn on Location services on your Android. This setting will allow the Google Sky Map app to identify your accurate location using the phone's GPS sensors. Many people turn off Location services to save battery power, but the app won't work automatically without this enabled. You can find location services in your GPS settings for your Android.
   

5. Enable Always Use GPS in Google Sky Map. You can find where to adjust this in the Google Sky Map settings menu. Unless this is enabled, Google Sky Map may try to use your Wi-Fi location rather than GPS location, which will be less accurate and could lead to display alignment issues with the area of the sky you're pointing the phone at.
   

6. Provide the Google Sky Map app with permission to access your phone's location. Usually, this is enabled during installation, but if you accidentally skipped this step or refused to provide approval, the Google Sky Map app won't identify your location automatically. Google also provides instructions on how to provide Google Sky Map with location permissions.
   

7. Calibrate your Android's touchscreen. If the app behaves erratically or the screen seems jittery, your Android touchscreen may need calibration. If your touch screen isn't working for any app, you could have a more severe issue. Troubleshoot and fix any broken touch screen before attempting to launch Google Sky Map.