Pokémon GO players have been experiencing major GPS issues in recent weeks, with reports of trainers suddenly teleporting miles away from their actual locations. This glitch, which has affected both casual players and dedicated raiders, appears to randomly send users to locations they previously visited, sometimes from days or even weeks prior.
A Frustrating Issue for Players
The issue manifests as players moving at impossibly high speeds—sometimes up to 25 miles in an instant—without any external GPS spoofing tools. Many have found themselves suddenly placed in different cities, causing disruption in gameplay, including difficulty in catching Pokémon, participating in raids, or spinning PokéStops.
The bug has persisted despite attempts to troubleshoot, with players reporting that restarting the app, toggling airplane mode, and even reinstalling the game does not resolve the problem. Even when playing in wide-open outdoor spaces with clear GPS signals, the teleportation issue still occurs, leaving many frustrated with the game’s performance.
Possible Causes of the GPS Teleportation Bug
While Niantic has not officially acknowledged the problem, players have speculated on several possible causes:
- Server-Side GPS Desynchronization – Pokémon GO’s servers may not be correctly updating location data in real time, leading to sudden jumps when they attempt to resync.
- Stuck GPS Cache – The game could be recalling outdated location data and erroneously placing players in their previous spots.
- Weak GPS Signal or Interference – Even with strong outdoor signals, devices may struggle to maintain a consistent GPS lock.
- Aggressive Anti-Spoofing Measures – Niantic’s security system, designed to detect fake GPS movement, might be unintentionally affecting legitimate players.
Impact on Gameplay
For many, this GPS glitch has rendered gameplay unpredictable. Trainers trying to hatch eggs, complete research tasks, or engage in battles find themselves unable to progress properly. Some have even been soft-banned temporarily as the game falsely registers them as moving too fast.
What Can Be Done?
Until Niantic addresses the issue, players can try the following workarounds:
- Manually Refresh GPS – Toggle airplane mode on and off to force a location reset.
- Use Another GPS App – Open Google Maps or another location service to check if the issue persists outside of Pokémon GO.
- Reinstall the Game – While not a guaranteed fix, some have reported mild improvements after doing this.
- Report the Issue – Submitting bug reports to Niantic may help escalate the problem and encourage a fix in future updates.
Will Niantic Fix This?
As the complaints pile up, players are hoping for an official response from Niantic. While some have speculated that upcoming updates may quietly patch the issue, there is currently no confirmation from the developers. Until then, trainers will have to deal with the unpredictability of teleportation—whether it works in their favor or not.
