Understanding Location Accuracy

Understanding Location Accuracy in Your Android Timeline – Complete 2026 Guide for TimeTrack Pro

Every single entry in your exported location history includes an "accuracy" value measured in meters. This number is not a simple "error distance" — it is Google's statistical estimate of the 68% confidence radius. In plain terms: there is a 68% chance your true position at that exact timestamp was somewhere inside a circle with this radius centered on the reported latitude/longitude point. Understanding what this value really means, why it changes dramatically from one entry to the next, what real-world factors cause good versus poor accuracy, how Android's fused location system decides on it, and how to interpret it correctly for your specific use cases is essential if you want to trust (or appropriately question) the data you see in TimeTrack Pro. Whether you are using the app for commute proof and tax mileage deductions, verifying presence for legal or alibi documentation, reconstructing travel routes and vacation memories, analyzing daily routines and productivity patterns, checking family safety or elderly care movements, logging fitness activities like running or cycling, or simply reliving personal history, accuracy awareness prevents misinterpretation and helps you get the most value from your private timeline. This guide covers the entire accuracy system in Android 2026 (Android 14 through 16), real measured numbers from flagship and mid-range devices in different environments, the fused location provider in depth, manufacturer and ROM differences, ways to improve or work around poor accuracy, what the radius visually represents in TimeTrack Pro (current and future features), privacy implications of accuracy metadata, common myths and mistakes, and practical interpretation rules for every major use case. All information is current as of January 2026.

1. What the Accuracy Number Actually Means – Statistical Confidence, Not Hard Error

The "accuracy" field in your JSON export (and displayed in TimeTrack Pro next to each entry) is a 68% confidence radius — a standard statistical measure used in location services worldwide. It does not mean "the position is wrong by up to X meters." It means:

There is a 68% probability that your true location was somewhere inside a circle with this radius centered on the reported lat/long point. There is a 95% probability it was within roughly twice that radius, and a 99.7% probability within three times that radius (Gaussian distribution assumption).

Examples from real exports:

  • Accuracy 5 m → very high confidence (clear outdoor GPS lock)
  • Accuracy 50 m → reasonable confidence (typical fused location in city)
  • Accuracy 200 m → low confidence (indoor or weak signal area)
  • Accuracy 1000 m+ → very approximate (cell tower only, rural or deep indoors)

TimeTrack Pro shows this value exactly as it appears in the export file — no alteration, no rounding. In future updates, the app will likely visualize the radius as a semi-transparent circle on map views (tap a point to see the circle), color-code entries (green <50 m, yellow 50–200 m, orange >200 m), and allow filtering by accuracy threshold (e.g. show only points <100 m for precise analysis).

2. How Android Calculates Accuracy – The Fused Location Provider in Depth

Android does not use GPS alone for most location fixes. It uses the "Fused Location Provider" — a smart system that combines multiple inputs, weighs their reliability, and outputs the best possible position + accuracy radius. The main sources in 2026:

Source Typical accuracy radius When it dominates Battery cost Available in Battery saving mode?
GNSS (GPS + Galileo + GLONASS + BeiDou) 3–15 m outdoors Clear sky, High accuracy mode High (continuous receiver) No
Assisted GPS (A-GPS) 5–20 m Downloads satellite orbit data via Wi-Fi/mobile Medium (one-time download) No
Wi-Fi positioning 20–100 m Many known Wi-Fi access points nearby Low (scanning only) Yes
Bluetooth beacons 10–50 m Nearby BT devices, smart home, cars, shops Low Yes
Cell tower triangulation / single tower 100–2000 m Last resort, rural, deep indoors Very low Yes

In Battery saving mode (the recommended long-term setting for TimeTrack Pro users), GPS is completely disabled. The fused provider relies on Wi-Fi scanning, Bluetooth, and cell tower data → accuracy drops to 50–800 m typical, but extra battery drain stays very low (2–7% daily on most 2025–2026 devices).

3. Real-World Accuracy Numbers – 2026 Devices in Different Environments

These are typical observed values on recent flagships (Pixel 9 series, Galaxy S25 series, Nothing Phone 3) and mid-range devices (Galaxy A56, Poco F7, Realme GT 7):

  • Clear outdoor sky, walking or driving on open road
    • High accuracy mode: 3–12 meters
    • Battery saving mode: 40–250 meters
  • Urban area with tall buildings (canyons)
    • High accuracy: 10–50 meters (multipath reflection errors)
    • Battery saving: 80–400 meters
  • Inside home or office with good Wi-Fi
    • High accuracy: 20–80 meters
    • Battery saving: 100–600 meters
  • Inside large building, mall, hospital (poor Wi-Fi)
    • High accuracy: 50–300 meters
    • Battery saving: 300–1500 meters
  • Rural / countryside, open fields
    • High accuracy: 5–20 meters
    • Battery saving: 200–1000 meters (sparse cell towers)
  • High-speed train, highway driving
    • High accuracy: 10–40 meters
    • Battery saving: 100–500 meters
  • Underground parking, subway station
    • High accuracy: 100–600 meters (cell only)
    • Battery saving: 500–2000+ meters

Important takeaway: Battery saving mode accuracy is usually good enough for personal use cases. A 200-meter radius still clearly places you at a specific office building, supermarket, home address, or train station — it just cannot pinpoint the exact parking spot or room inside.

4. Factors That Improve or Worsen Accuracy (Detailed List)

Factors that significantly improve accuracy

  • Clear, unobstructed view of the sky (outdoors, no tall buildings or trees)
  • Many nearby Wi-Fi access points (dense urban areas, offices, malls)
  • Bluetooth devices or beacons in range (smart homes, cars, retail stores)
  • Recent download of A-GPS assistance data (needs internet once every few days)
  • Phone with high-quality GNSS chip (Pixel 9 series, Galaxy S25, newer Snapdragon/Exynos/MediaTek)
  • Barometer sensor for altitude refinement (most flagships 2020+)
  • High accuracy mode enabled (uses full GPS + assistance)
  • Recent Android system update (location algorithms improve every year)
  • Phone held in hand or outside pocket (better satellite visibility)

Factors that significantly worsen accuracy

  • Indoors or underground (no direct GPS signal)
  • Dense urban "canyons" (signal reflection/multipath from buildings)
  • Rural or remote areas (few cell towers, minimal Wi-Fi)
  • Cold weather (below 0°C — battery and sensors lose efficiency)
  • Battery saving mode active (no GPS at all)
  • Wi-Fi scanning and Bluetooth scanning turned off
  • Airplane mode or no recent internet connection (no A-GPS refresh)
  • Older phone (2018–2021 models with weaker GNSS hardware)
  • Phone in deep pocket, bag, or metal case (blocks signal)

5. How TimeTrack Pro Handles and Displays Accuracy Today & in Future Updates

Current version features (2026):

  • Shows the exact accuracy value in meters next to every timeline entry
  • Entries with good accuracy (<100 m) displayed in full color/normal weight
  • Low-accuracy entries (>500 m) shown in lighter gray or faded text for easy spotting
  • Copy-time feature copies the timestamp regardless of accuracy (still exact)
  • Search and filter ignore accuracy (future update will add accuracy filters)

Planned enhancements (roadmap 2026–2027):

  • Visual radius circles on map view (tap point → overlay circle in semi-transparent color)
  • Color-coding system: green (<50 m), yellow (50–200 m), orange (200–500 m), red (>500 m)
  • Filter timeline by accuracy threshold (e.g. show only points <100 m for precise analysis)
  • Warning banner on days/periods dominated by low-accuracy points
  • Stats dashboard: average accuracy per day/week/month/year
  • Export option: include accuracy column in CSV output

6. Practical Interpretation Guide – What Different Accuracy Levels Mean for Real Use Cases

Commute logging & mileage proof (tax deductions, expenses, freelance billing)

  • 50–300 m: fully sufficient — clearly shows you were at office, client site, or home
  • 300–600 m: still usable — average multiple points to estimate route
  • >600 m: weak — combine with other evidence (receipts, calendar entries)
  • Tip: Export JSON → velocity/activity tags help prove driving

Travel journals, vacation memories, road trips

  • 100–500 m: excellent — shows city, neighborhood, or landmark level
  • 500–1000 m: acceptable — good for route overview, not exact spot
  • Tip: Combine with photos (match timestamps manually for now)

Alibi verification, legal documentation, insurance claims

  • <100 m: very strong evidence
  • 100–300 m: good — especially with multiple points over time
  • 300–800 m: moderate — needs supporting evidence (witnesses, receipts)
  • >800 m: weak — only proves general area
  • Tip: Screenshot entry + accuracy value + notes

Fitness tracking, hiking, running, cycling routes

  • Outdoors: 5–50 m — excellent route reconstruction
  • Indoors/gym: 100–400 m — shows building level, not treadmill
  • Tip: Use Battery saving for long sessions — still captures path

Family safety, elderly monitoring, child routines (with consent)

  • 200–800 m: sufficient — confirms home arrival, school, shop visit
  • Focus on patterns over single points
  • Tip: Look at dwell times + sequence

Productivity & routine analysis

  • 100–500 m: good enough — shows time at home/office/cafe/library
  • Tip: Average multiple points for daily location clusters

7. How to Improve Accuracy When You Need It (Without Killing Battery Long-Term)

  1. Temporarily switch to High accuracy mode only for important periods (trips, meetings, tax days) → export immediately → switch back to Battery saving
  2. Keep Wi-Fi scanning and Bluetooth scanning ON in Battery saving mode → best fused fallback
  3. Carry phone in hand or outside pocket outdoors → better satellite visibility
  4. Avoid extreme cold (below 0°C) — keep phone warm in pocket or insulated case
  5. Ensure phone software is up to date — location algorithms improve every release
  6. For indoors: rely on sequence of outdoor points before and after visit
  7. Add manual notes in TimeTrack Pro (future feature) or external log ("inside office building")
  8. Future TimeTrack Pro: accuracy filtering, visual radius display, low-accuracy warnings

8. Common Myths, Misconceptions & Mistakes About Accuracy

  • Myth: Higher accuracy mode always gives better data for TimeTrack Pro → False. Battery saving is good enough for 95% of personal use cases
  • Myth: Accuracy number is the maximum possible error → False. It is 68% confidence radius — real error can be smaller or larger
  • Misconception: Indoors is always useless → False. Strong Wi-Fi can give 30–100 m — enough for building-level placement
  • Mistake: Turning off Wi-Fi/Bluetooth scanning → kills fused location fallback
  • Mistake: Judging single points in low-signal areas → always look at sequence/patterns

9. Device-Specific Accuracy Behavior (2026 Flagships & Mid-range)

  • Google Pixel 9 / 9 Pro: Best-in-class GNSS chip — 3–10 m outdoors even in moderate signal
  • Samsung Galaxy S25 / A56: Excellent Wi-Fi fusion — strong indoor performance
  • Xiaomi / Poco / Redmi: Good GNSS — aggressive battery saving can skip points occasionally
  • Nothing Phone / Fairphone: Clean Android — consistent, no aggressive throttling
  • GrapheneOS / CalyxOS / LineageOS: Slightly worse without Google fusion — microG helps

10. Summary & Practical Takeaways for TimeTrack Pro Users

Location accuracy is a probabilistic confidence radius, not a hard error limit. Battery saving mode delivers 40–500 m typical accuracy with only 2–7% extra daily drain — more than sufficient for commute proof, travel memories, routine analysis, mileage logging, family safety review, fitness tracking, legal notes, and personal reflection. High accuracy mode (3–15 m) should be used only temporarily for precision-critical periods. Understand fused location sources, adjust settings per scenario, interpret radii realistically, and combine with notes, photos, and patterns for full context. Your timeline data remains 100% private, offline, and under your control.

Confused by a specific accuracy value or pattern in your export? Email [email protected] with device model, Android version, sample accuracy numbers, and context — direct, personal support available.