# Location accuracy expands when opening/saving location **URL:** \ **Category:** Bug Reports\ **Tags:** android-app\ **Created:** [September 13, 2020, 12:49pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/location-accuracy-expands-when-opening-saving-location/16225 "2020-09-13T12:49:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![clockwood](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/clockwood/32/534_2.png) [@clockwood](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/clockwood)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2020, 12:49pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/location-accuracy-expands-when-opening-saving-location/16225/1 "2020-09-13T12:49:51Z")
**Platform** : Android **App version number** : 1.20.14 (445) but it’s been happening for several versions **Screenshots** : EXAMPLE 1 1. I create an observation and set the location with accuracy 268m. [Screenshot\_20200913-082914|250x500](https://forum.inaturalist.org/uploads/short-url/pGhObvqijouEJLyFnZosn18uFGN.png) 1. After tapping the checkmark to save the location, it’s set to this, with accuracy 269m. (In this example it changed only very slightly but other times it has changed a lot, sometimes nearly doubling.) [Screenshot\_20200913-082923|250x500](https://forum.inaturalist.org/uploads/short-url/vboBuci3lqgWadUhs5FDwfnNfib.png) 1. Opening the location picker again to fix it displays the location accuracy as 269 but the actual circle is much larger… [Screenshot\_20200913-082931|250x500](https://forum.inaturalist.org/uploads/short-url/90BbcEfYCspwoPTsGwuU44JmHB7.png) 1. … and tapping the checkbox again saves the expanded radius of 526: [Screenshot\_20200913-082941|250x500](https://forum.inaturalist.org/uploads/short-url/bzZXj5gukMTuGCZ5s6dLySUKEwF.png) 1. Opening the location picker again has the radius expand even further: [Screenshot\_20200913-083041|250x500](https://forum.inaturalist.org/uploads/short-url/vau7gO4ZSai1vTcAkbYq1rQvU9W.png) EXAMPLE 2 1. I made a new observation and pinned its location, with accuracy of 299, which changed to 300 when I left the location picker: [Screenshot\_20200913-083808|250x500](https://forum.inaturalist.org/uploads/short-url/akXuImRjN9qNdA5KCZq0GZcPdtr.jpeg) [Screenshot\_20200913-083830|250x500](https://forum.inaturalist.org/uploads/short-url/cDP76uexDraatuIY95Rud8UaBIH.png) 1. In a new observation, I picked the pinned location. It still displays the accuracy as 299, but the circle is much larger: [Screenshot\_20200913-083945|250x500](https://forum.inaturalist.org/uploads/short-url/hyp351TZXF6yhRYsz3k8DX4apwP.png) 1. Saving the location and going back to the observation, the accuracy has been saved as 526. [Screenshot\_20200913-083954|250x500](https://forum.inaturalist.org/uploads/short-url/A4Pb0k1qp8u4aSJbJCO6aRD2B6A.png) **Description of problem** : Location accuracy data doesn’t get saved as what I actually set it to, but saves as something larger, sometimes significantly so. This happens whether I set the location manually on the map or whether I pick a pinned location from the list. Opening and re-saving the location multiple times without changing it causes it to balloon outward exponentially. This has been an issue for quite a while, through several updates and cache clearings on my end, but I didn’t report it because it was such a glaring issue that I assumed someone else had noticed and reported it and it was getting fixed, but searching the bug reports forum didn’t seem to have any matching results so I guess it wasn’t? Anyway, thank you for your time ---
**Author:** ![upupa-epops](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/upupa-epops/32/1972_2.png) [@upupa-epops](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/upupa-epops)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2020, 1:01pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/location-accuracy-expands-when-opening-saving-location/16225/2 "2020-09-13T13:01:08Z")
I’ve experienced this as well. ---
**Author:** ![tiwane](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/tiwane/32/54612_2.png) [@tiwane](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/tiwane)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2020, 10:10pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/location-accuracy-expands-when-opening-saving-location/16225/3 "2020-09-13T22:10:10Z")
I can replicate, I’ve filed a bug report: [https://github.com/inaturalist/iNaturalistAndroid/issues/903](https://github.com/inaturalist/iNaturalistAndroid/issues/903) ---
**Author:** ![bouteloua](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/bouteloua/32/1180_2.png) [@bouteloua](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/bouteloua)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 7:35pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/location-accuracy-expands-when-opening-saving-location/16225/4 "2021-01-18T19:35:04Z")
I think this has been fixed - working OK for you? [https://github.com/inaturalist/iNaturalistAndroid/commit/e09ab0ea6d9fac0eab03f8e08537659e2420887a](https://github.com/inaturalist/iNaturalistAndroid/commit/e09ab0ea6d9fac0eab03f8e08537659e2420887a) ---
**Author:** ![cbirds22](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/cbirds22/32/34410_2.png) [@cbirds22](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/cbirds22)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2023, 2:50pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/location-accuracy-expands-when-opening-saving-location/16225/5 "2023-04-25T14:50:35Z")
Something like this has been happening to me lately with the Android app. I select a _correct_ pinned location and it accepts it. On reopening the observation, however, the location has expanded to cover half the United States. Reselecting the pinned location reverts it to correct. Edit: Actually, it doesn’t accept it the first time. It zooms to the correct location but the accuracy in numbers is way off. Sometimes it varies by insignificant amounts too. ![Screenshot_20230425-104306](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/b/5/b5964513167205a8f994b9e2e1de2b1b02fd6345.jpeg) After original upload. ![Screenshot_20230425-104951](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/e/f/ef5927eec46c4a99a6e1cbbaa0b117c623696b6d.jpeg) After reselecting pinned location. ---
**Author:** ![tiwane](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/tiwane/32/54612_2.png) [@tiwane](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/tiwane)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 4:46pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/location-accuracy-expands-when-opening-saving-location/16225/6 "2023-04-29T16:46:34Z")
Which version of the app are you using? ---
**Author:** ![cbirds22](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/cbirds22/32/34410_2.png) [@cbirds22](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/cbirds22)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 11:49pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/location-accuracy-expands-when-opening-saving-location/16225/7 "2023-04-29T23:49:04Z")
I’m using 1.28.10 (563) version. ---
**Author:** ![pisum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/91b2a8/32.png) [@pisum](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/pisum)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2023, 12:17am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/location-accuracy-expands-when-opening-saving-location/16225/8 "2023-08-06T00:17:31Z")
i can reproduce this, but not consistently. using the steps below, i can reproduce maybe one out of every three attempts: - check to make sure you don’t have any unsynced observations. - close the app completely - turn off location services in Android, but make sure you have an internet connection - open the app again - start a new observation - tap the location input box to edit it. this should start you at lat 0 long 0, with a large accuracy circle. - choose your pinned location - if you encounter the error situation, at this point, should see the preview map zoomed to your location, and you should see a location description that matches your pinned location but coords and accuracy that match the lat 0 long 0 default location. - if you accept this location, you will get coords and location description matching your pinned location, but accuracy will reflect the large value from the lat 0 long 0 default. ![Screenshot_20230805-182834](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/f/1/f1a37f8d129cc8ba56246068117417c07e0c8d3e.png) ![Screenshot_20230805-182853](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/c/7/c7dd09fdeef70d60f8dccdc5398d201bce1b4293.png) ![Screenshot_20230805-184238](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/f/e/fed0cf66a6fde6650fed06a8b2b9476ce9fced4d.jpeg) ![Screenshot_20230805-183012](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/7/e/7eb9434fe4d101fdfe63d86f76562f88978e88d4.png) … UPDATE: for what it’s worth, i looked at my app logs, and i don’t see anything obvious that would shed light on what’s going on. here’s a snippet of the part of the log that i _believe_ captures a case where the problem is manifested: | datetime | message | | --- | --- | | 2023-08-05 18:28:49 | INaturalistApp.applyLocaleSettings():1055: INAT: Application: applyLocaleSettings - en / en / en\_US | | 2023-08-05 18:28:59 | LocationChooserActivity.updateLocationBasedOnMap():757: LocationChooserActivity: mOriginalZoom = null; current zoom = 3.000000 | | 2023-08-05 18:28:59 | LocationChooserActivity.updateLocationBasedOnMap():762: LocationChooserActivity: Meters per radius = 1519730.375 | | 2023-08-05 18:30:06 | LocationChooserActivity.updateLocationBasedOnMap():757: LocationChooserActivity: mOriginalZoom = 15.686739; current zoom = 15.686739 | | 2023-08-05 18:30:06 | ObservationEditor.onActivityResult():2769: INAT: ObservationEditor: onActivityResult: 103:-1:Intent { (has extras) } | ---
**Author:** ![cbirds22](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/cbirds22/32/34410_2.png) [@cbirds22](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/cbirds22)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2023, 12:46am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/location-accuracy-expands-when-opening-saving-location/16225/9 "2023-08-06T00:46:06Z")
It’s not consistent for me either, and probably not for anyone, I’m guessing. ---
**Author:** ![Vincent\_Mia\_Edie\_Verheyen](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/vincent_mia_edie_verheyen/32/66969_2.png) [@Vincent\_Mia\_Edie\_Verheyen](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/Vincent_Mia_Edie_Verheyen)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2025, 2:40pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/location-accuracy-expands-when-opening-saving-location/16225/10 "2025-12-12T14:40:43Z")
Hi @tiwane Is there any update on this? I am experiencing similar location auto-modification (and unintended accuracy increase) when trying to save from the website version on PC. @clockwood @bouteloua @cbirds22 @pisum ---
**Author:** ![bouteloua](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/bouteloua/32/1180_2.png) [@bouteloua](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/bouteloua)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2025, 2:44pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/location-accuracy-expands-when-opening-saving-location/16225/11 "2025-12-12T14:44:36Z")
if you’re experiencing an issue with the website please start a new bug report topic. thanks!