We’re investigating a long term fix. It’s frustrating that Google says they won’t change the way their new photo picker works.
In iOS we use Apple’s system-level picker, which means the iNat app only sees photos you choose to import into the app, so there’s some privacy protection there. The Apple picker includes location data though, which I think is a good compromise.
So weirdly and frustratingly, I seemingly have lost the “browse” workaround. It changed just this morning.
Edit: it is pulling in the coordinates now, which is good. The drawback is that the photo picker still doesn’t seem to have a path to access the android Photos app to access pics more than the 30-40 most recent photos.
Are you a beta tester? Which version of the app are you using?
1.29.7 (581)
OK, that’s the latest beta, so you’re a beta tester. You can always opt out of beta testing in the Google Play Store, just go to the iNat page.
I also tested that version on a new Pixel device and found similar bugs, which I’ve reported to our developer.
I suddenly noticed this for the first time this afternoon. I’m on a Pixel 7 Pro. I still have access to the Browse workaround for now.
Strangely, according to my phone, the last iNat update on my device was August 4th and the last Android update was August 5th…
Why is that strange?
I’m having the same problem as OP. I’m using a Google Pixel 6, uploading photos taken with my phone camera (gps/location enabled). Historically iNat has automatically grabbed the location data but in the last month or so I’ve noticed it stopped automatically importing. Anyone else experiencing this or find a work around?
After posting this I had an idea and it solved the problem: upload the photos by browsing instead of directly from the in-app gallery.
Here is the workflow I used:
Step 1: Take a photo with my phone camera, gps/location enabled.
Step 2: Open iNat, click the + on lower right of home screen.
Step 3: Select “Choose Image” from option dialog
Step 4: Click on the 3 dot menu button on the upper right of the “choose image” screen. Click “Browse…”
Step 5: Choose one or more images directly from my phone gallery.
Step 6: a new “Edit Observation” instance is created and the location is now filled in.
this should probably be merged with https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/android-app-not-reading-picture-location-data/37908
Welcome to the forum! I merged your post with this existing one which seems to discuss the same issue - it looks like you found the workaround that is working for folks now until the issue with the new Adroid photo picker is dealt with.
Same error to tecno POVA 4
En mi dispositivo sale error antes tenía un Xiaomi y me iba perfecto, ahora uso en Laptop para subir :c
I use a Pixel 5a and have had the same issue. My workaround of choice is to share the photos from the Google Photos app to iNaturalist.
I’m on a Pixel 4a, having the same issue suddenly. The workarounds work. (It had never occurred to me to start an obs from Photos by sharing to iNat, that’s pretty easy!)
I’d be willing to beta test a fix but not until after this weekend. I’m running a mushroom foray for 100 people, with many heavy iNat users - so I’m very glad to have found a decently easy workaround that I can share with people!
Thanks so much! Your workaround works for me, too (sharing from photo to iNaturalist app).
No location just started happening (Aug 29, 2023) to me with a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. Photos have location information, but suddenly stopped showing up in iNaturalist version 1.29.5 (579).
I am also on a Pixel 4a and had been having this problem. The workaround is working for me! Thank you for getting this fixed!
Platform Android
App version number 1.29.5 (579)
Smartphone Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro
Description of problem
Step 1: Start new observation with “choose image”
Step 2: choose image
Step 3: no location recognized from metadata
Another bug resulting from the recent changes to uploading photos in the app (fourth one following https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/app-started-to-randomize-the-order-of-photos-if-to-add-them-together-from-device-and-also-removes-description-when-adding-them/44547/4).
I’ve tested, coordinates are present in the metadata, if to upload the same photos in the browser version of iNat it recognizes location from the metadata, but the app is not recognizes them anymore (it was always working).
I’ve tried to reinstall the app, it has all permissions.
I can actually say for sure that it’s from the update that was installed on my phone on August 26, it stopped to indicate coordinates in the metadata of photos uploaded in the app:
https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/313976110
So it destroyed the verifiability of all observations uploaded in the app since.
I’ve also noticed this issue and I’m using a workaround now. I choose a longer path to enter my phone gallery: Add → Choose Image → “three dots” → Browse… → Gallery → (choose photos from here).
So now, photos chosen from the phone gallery (deeper path) transfer gps data to iNat. Photos chosen from a catalog directly after “Choose Image” lack these data.
