Google Maps on Android phones is a game changer and is hands-down the best map application on any mobile phone. I personally have the Nexus 4 and I am not sure what happened, but a couple weeks ago, I started experiencing the “searching for GPS” issue on my Nexus 4. I tried all methods including turning off and turning the GPS back on. The only method that seemed to work is if I restarted the phone. Even then, the fix was one-time only and I would have the “searching for GPS” problem again.

I use my Nexus 4 all the time and I am travelling and I need a reliable maps application. This is when desperation for any maps application actually provided a fix to the “Searching for GPS” issue on my Nexus 4 and I tried it on a buddy’s Samsung Galaxy SIII and it worked as well. Here is the fix:

How to resolve Searching for GPS Issue

Step 1: Go to Google Play and download an alternate maps application. In my case, I downloaded MapQuest app

Step 2: Open the MapQuest app. You will see that it picked up the GPS signal lock right away. Now, close the MapQuest app.

Step 3: Open you Google Maps app and you pick up the GPS signal. It never fails again.

Let us know in the comments if this resolved the Search for GPS issue for you. If you have any other tips, drop in a line.