Open this page on a phone, then allow motion and orientation access.
Keep the phone flat and away from magnets. If the reading drifts, move the phone slowly in a figure-eight pattern.
Online Compass for Live Direction and Degree
This online compass turns a compatible phone into a live digital direction finder. Select Start Compass, allow motion and orientation access, and hold the device flat. The rotating dial displays your current bearing in degrees together with a clear cardinal or intercardinal direction such as North, Northeast, East or Southwest.
The compass runs directly in your browser without installing an application. It can be useful for checking a general direction outdoors, understanding compass degrees, classroom activities and learning how cardinal directions relate to a 360-degree circle.
How to Use the Online Compass
- Open this page on a smartphone or tablet that has an orientation or magnetometer sensor.
- Select Start Compass. On iPhone or iPad, approve the motion and orientation permission request.
- Keep the phone flat with the top of the screen pointing forward.
- Turn slowly until the required direction appears at the fixed cyan marker.
- If the reading jumps or drifts, move the phone in a gentle figure-eight pattern and try again away from metal objects.
Compass Directions and Degrees
A compass divides a full circle into 360 degrees. North is located at 0° or 360°, East at 90°, South at 180° and West at 270°. The diagonal directions sit halfway between the four main cardinal points.
| Direction | Abbreviation | Approximate bearing |
|---|---|---|
| North | N | 0° or 360° |
| Northeast | NE | 45° |
| East | E | 90° |
| Southeast | SE | 135° |
| South | S | 180° |
| Southwest | SW | 225° |
| West | W | 270° |
| Northwest | NW | 315° |
How the Browser Compass Works
The tool reads device-orientation events supplied by the browser. On supported devices, absolute orientation or an iOS compass heading can provide a north-referenced bearing. If the browser supplies only relative orientation, the tool labels the mode as Relative only because that reading may not represent magnetic north.
Live 16-point direction
The bearing is converted into N, NNE, NE, ENE and the remaining 16 compass directions.
Smoother movement
Circular smoothing reduces small sensor jumps while still allowing the dial to follow a turn.
Permission-aware
The start button requests sensor access only after the visitor chooses to activate the compass.
No result upload
Orientation values are processed inside the current browser page by this standalone tool.
How Accurate Is an Online Compass?
Accuracy depends on the phone sensor, browser support, calibration and nearby magnetic interference. Cases with magnets, speakers, vehicles, power cables, steel furniture and electronic equipment can disturb the reading. A web compass should be treated as a convenient general direction tool rather than professional surveying, marine, aviation or emergency navigation equipment.
For a better reading: remove magnetic accessories, move away from large metal objects, keep the phone level and rotate it slowly. Compare the result with a known direction when accuracy matters.
Why the Compass May Not Work
- The device does not include the required orientation or magnetometer sensor.
- Motion and orientation permission was denied in the browser settings.
- The page is not being served through a secure HTTPS connection.
- A desktop computer supplies no compass data even though the browser supports the event API.
- The page is displayed inside an iframe that does not allow sensor access.
- Strong magnetic interference is preventing a stable reading.
Online Compass FAQs
How do I find North with this online compass?
Start the compass, hold the phone flat and turn slowly until N aligns with the fixed marker at the top of the dial.
Does the online compass work on every phone?
No. The phone and browser must provide compatible orientation or compass sensor data. Support varies by device and browser.
Why does the compass need permission?
Some browsers protect motion, orientation and magnetometer data. The permission button lets you choose whether the page may read that sensor information.
Why is HTTPS required?
Modern browsers restrict device-orientation sensor access to secure contexts. A Blogger page using its normal HTTPS address meets this requirement.
What does Relative only mean?
It means the browser is reporting rotation from an arbitrary starting position rather than a reliable north-referenced bearing.
How can I calibrate my phone compass?
Move the phone slowly in a figure-eight pattern, keep it away from magnets and then place it flat before checking the direction again.
Why is the compass direction moving?
Phone sensors naturally contain small fluctuations. Nearby magnets, metal and an uncalibrated sensor can create larger changes.
Can I use the compass on a desktop computer?
The page can open on a desktop, but most computers do not have a north-referenced compass sensor, so a live bearing may be unavailable.
Does the compass collect my location?
No. This tool does not request GPS or geolocation. It processes orientation values locally in the current page.
Can this replace a professional navigation compass?
No. Use it for general direction and learning. Do not rely on a browser compass as the only navigation method in safety-critical situations.