Some factors can affect the compass in the iOS app. Here is a list of variables that can affect your compass and some things you can do to troubleshoot if you find it is not functioning as it should:
1. To orient your map screen to the direction of your movement and scroll automatically as you move, you must turn on "course up" mode.
Course-up mode will always orient the map North. The directional arrow will only point toward the top of the map when you are facing north.
2. Disabled compass calibration. This affects map orientation if it is not working properly.
3. If you are in a car or near metal/magnetic objects (ex. a computer).
4. Not having a GPS signal:
- First, make sure location services are turned on and check GPS activation settings in Gaia GPS
- If location services are turned on, shut down the app completely and reopen
- If shutting down the app doesn't work, try restarting your phone
Tip: Check other compass apps on your phone. If you experience compass issues in other apps, likely the phone has an issue rather than Gaia GPS.