How to Know If Your Android Phone has NavIC Support

Launched in 2013, the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), dubbed NavIC, is now mandatory for all commercial vehicles in India. Considered India’s GPS alternative, NavIC has much better accuracy (a position accuracy of better than 20 meters in the primary service area). And according to reports, NavIC is mandatory for all smartphones starting from 2023.

Here’s how to know if your Android phone has NavIC support. NavIC has been available on Android smartphones, like Realme X50 Pro 5G, since 2020. But many smartphones still do not have it. Upcoming Android phones will use NavIC navigation in India, and US-based GPS, Russia’s Glonass, European Union’s Galileo, and China’s BeiDou will also be available.

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As of this writing (March 2020), Android devices with Snapdragon 865, 720G, 662, and 460 processors have NavIC support, but the service needs to be enabled by Qualcomm via a software update.

How to know if your Android phone has NavIC support?

1. Install GNSSTest app from the Play Store (link) on your Android phone.
2. After installation, go outside of your room (to access GPS satellite), open the app and tap on the ‘Sky’ button (at the bottom of the screen).
3. Tap on the ‘Start’ button to test.
4. The app starts detect all navigation satellites. If it doesn’t detect satellites with Indian flag, it means your phone doesn’t has NavIC support.

You can also use apps like GPSTest app to check NavIC compatibility on your Android device.

How to Check NavIC Support on Your Phone Without any App?

If you do not like to install any third-party app on your phone, there are a few ways to know the NavIC support on your phone. It works for all smartphone brands, including iPhone. The simplest way to check it is on third-party websites like GSMArena.

Go to GSMArena website, search your phone model, and look for supported GPS in Communication section.

Another way to check the NaVIC support of a phone is by using the official website of the phone brand.

Go to the website of the phone brand, select your model and check GPS information in the specs/communication section.

Note: The article was first published in March 2020 and updated in September 2022 with additional information.

More Resources:

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• How to fix GPS issues of your Android Phone
• How to Fix GPS Problem in Android Phone (Xiaomi, Realme, Samsung, etc.)