Navigation tool
Online Compass.
Free online compass tool — real-time live heading in degrees and cardinal direction using your device's built-in sensor. No app needed.
Initializing compass...
Open on your phone
Desktop computers lack the magnetometer sensor needed for a live compass. Scan a QR code or visit realonlinecompass.com on your smartphone.
Frequently asked questions.
Does my device have a compass sensor?
Most smartphones and tablets made after 2013 include a magnetometer — the tiny chip that senses Earth's magnetic field and makes compass readings possible. iPhones have included one since the iPhone 3GS. Android phones from major manufacturers (Samsung, Google, OnePlus, Xiaomi, etc.) almost universally have one. Budget Android phones occasionally omit it to cut costs, in which case the compass will not activate. Desktop computers and most laptops do not have a magnetometer, so the compass sensor features won't work on them — however, the site's celestial tools (Sun Position, Moon Phase, etc.) work fine on any device.
Which way is north?
The red needle always points toward magnetic north — the point in the Canadian Arctic where Earth's magnetic field lines converge vertically. This is different from geographic (true) north, which is the direction to the geographic North Pole. The difference between the two is called magnetic declination and varies by location: it can be anywhere from nearly zero (parts of Europe) to over 20° (Alaska, far northern Canada). For everyday navigation on a trail or in a city, the difference is small enough to ignore. If you need precise true north — for map reading, land surveying, or astronomy — use our Star Compass tool, which calculates your local declination and shows the true north direction automatically.
The compass seems inaccurate — what can I do?
The most common cause of compass drift or spinning is magnetometer interference or a sensor that needs recalibration. The fix is simple: wave your phone slowly in a figure-8 pattern a few times. This exposes the sensor to Earth's magnetic field from multiple directions, allowing it to recalibrate. Most phones show a noticeable improvement within 5–10 seconds of doing this. Also check your surroundings — metal desks, laptop speakers, phone cases with magnets (like many wallet cases), and even some headphone cables can create local magnetic fields that throw off the reading. Moving a metre or two away from the interference is usually enough. If you're indoors near reinforced concrete walls or steel beams, the readings may be permanently affected — head outside for the most accurate result.
Does it work without internet?
Yes, fully. Once this page has loaded in your browser, the compass operates entirely using your device's built-in magnetometer sensor — no data is fetched from any server. This means it continues to work in remote areas with no mobile signal, on aircraft in flight mode, or anywhere else that lacks internet connectivity. This offline capability is one of the main reasons we built it as a browser tool rather than a server-dependent app. You can also add this page to your phone's home screen (using your browser's 'Add to Home Screen' option) for instant access without opening a browser.
Is my data stored or sent anywhere?
No — nothing leaves your device. The heading readings from your magnetometer are processed entirely inside your browser using JavaScript. No sensor data, no location data, no usage data, and no personally identifiable information is ever transmitted to our servers or any third party. We have no backend that receives your data, no analytics tracking your sensor readings, and no database storing your sessions. Your privacy is protected by design, not just by policy.
How to Use an Online Compass
A digital compass reads the magnetometer chip inside your smartphone and translates it into a live heading — the direction you (or your device) are facing, measured in degrees from 0° to 360°. Our online compass shows that heading on a rotating dial alongside the named cardinal direction, so you always know at a glance whether you're pointing North, South-East, or anywhere in between.
Getting an accurate reading
For the best results, hold your phone flat and parallel to the ground. Avoid placing it near large metal objects, speakers, or magnets — these create local magnetic fields that interfere with the sensor. If the needle seems to drift or spin, wave your phone slowly in a figure-8 pattern a few times. This routine gesture recalibrates the magnetometer by exposing it to Earth's field from multiple angles, usually fixing drift within seconds.
On iOS, the browser needs your explicit permission to access motion sensors. Tap the Enable Compass button and then tap Allow in the permission prompt. On most Android phones the compass starts automatically when you open the page.
Magnetic north vs. true north
The compass needle points toward magnetic north — the location in northern Canada where Earth's magnetic field lines converge. This is not the same as true (geographic) north, which is the direction to the North Pole. The angular difference between the two is called magnetic declination and varies depending on where you are on Earth. In most of Western Europe it is a few degrees east; on the west coast of North America it can be 15° or more east.
For casual navigation — finding your way on a trail or orienting a map — the difference is usually small enough to ignore. For precise navigation, map-reading, or land surveying you should account for declination. Our Star Compass tool calculates your local magnetic declination automatically and shows you the true north direction alongside the magnetic one.
Reading the compass dial
The dial shows the full 360° compass rose with the four cardinal directions — North (0°/360°), East (90°), South (180°), and West (270°) — plus the four intercardinal directions: NE, SE, SW, and NW at 45° intervals. The red needle always points toward magnetic north, and the degree readout below the dial shows your exact bearing to the nearest degree.
If you're hiking and your map says the trail heads Northeast, simply rotate your body until the dial reads approximately 45° — then walk in the direction the top of your phone is pointing. The same principle applies to any bearing: find the number on the dial and align your body with it.
Common uses for an online compass
Hikers and backpackers use it to take and follow bearings when navigating off-trail or in poor visibility. Photographers use it to know which direction a scene faces so they can predict where the sun will rise or set. Travellers use it to orient themselves in an unfamiliar city or to figure out which way their hotel room faces. Outdoor enthusiasts use it alongside maps to plan routes and estimate travel times. At home, it's useful for hanging pictures straight, orienting solar panels, or aligning furniture toward the morning sun.
Works offline, no app needed
Once this page has loaded in your browser, the compass continues to work even if you lose your internet connection — useful in remote areas where mobile signal is unreliable. There is nothing to install, no sign-up, and no cost. Bookmark this page or add it to your phone's home screen for instant one-tap access whenever you need a reliable compass in the field.