iPad Air (5th Gen) Compass Calibration Issues: Impact of Magnetic Business Cases

Question

iPad Air (5th Gen) Compass Calibration Issues: Impact of Magnetic Business Cases

I am experiencing significant calibration issues with the compass and Apple Maps on an iPad Air (5th Gen, 256GB, Cellular). The device consistently shows incorrect directions (wrong orientation), which is negatively impacting all location-based business applications also location based AR applications.

The Challenge: The iPad is housed in a specific protective cover equipped with magnets. This cover is a strict business requirement and cannot be permanently removed. However, the magnets appear to be interfering with the internal magnetometer, causing calibration to fail.

If I remove the cover, successfully calibrate the compass, and then re-install the magnetic cover, will the calibration hold?
Will the compass and GPS-dependent apps continue to function accurately while the magnetic cover is on, or do magnets cause "real-time" interference that requires the cover to be off during use?
Are there any known workarounds for using magnet-based mounts/covers while maintaining directional accuracy?

Any insights from those dealing with fleet deployments or similar hardware constraints would be greatly appreciated.

Posted on Dec 16, 2025 10:36 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 16, 2025 10:52 AM in response to visionosuser25

Magnets affect compasses. Even if you remove the case and calibrate the compass, once you put the case back on, it will stop working properly.

This shouldn't affect GPS navigation, as that doesn't rely on the Earth's magnetic field. Keep in mind that only the cellular versions of iPads have GPS. The WiFi-only ones don't.

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Answer 2

Dec 16, 2025 11:08 AM in response to IdrisSeabright

I am working on an application where POIs are getting loaded in Augmented reality application. On other iPads POIs are getting placed at correct position (which are calibrated correctly) but for this iPad POIs are always placing at 180 degree off which is not correct. If the POI is at my left, it is always showing at right side. There is 2d Apple map shown in application, there as well user heading is alway in a wrong direction. How can we tackle this situation?

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Answer 3

Dec 16, 2025 11:42 AM in response to visionosuser25

visionosuser25 wrote:

I am working on an application where POIs are getting loaded in Augmented reality application. On other iPads POIs are getting placed at correct position (which are calibrated correctly) but for this iPad POIs are always placing at 180 degree off which is not correct. If the POI is at my left, it is always showing at right side. There is 2d Apple map shown in application, there as well user heading is alway in a wrong direction. How can we tackle this situation?

I don't know what to tell you. I can only suggest you examine what the differences are between this iPad and the others. Are they showing the same issues with the compass? If they have the same magnetic case, I'd expect them to. Are the Cellular and yours is WiFi only? What versions of iPadOS are running on each one?

What application are you using? Apple Maps? Or something else? If something else, contact the developer of that app.

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Answer 4

Dec 16, 2025 11:05 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

Yes, I am facing issue with compass aaplication also. iPad with the magnetic cover always showing 180 degree off direction, where iPad without any cover (and without magnetic interference) showing correct direction. I checked on Apple map as well. It is affecting orientation so as in application. Both the iPads are WiFi+ cellular model which has in built GPS.

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Answer 5

SergZak

Level 6

10,684 points

Dec 16, 2025 11:59 PM in response to visionosuser25

Any means to defeat the magnetic case in the hopes of allowing the iPad's magnetometer to orient it's position correctly will of course cause issues with the magnetic case that you mention.

Like @IdrisSeabright mentioned early on, "Magnets affect compasses".

There is not getting around this fact.

The case has to be modified or the iPad will not orient itself correctly. If the case is required and can not be modified, then what you are wishing to accomplish is not feasible.

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Answer 6

Dec 17, 2025 6:46 AM in response to visionosuser25

visionosuser25 wrote:

Yes, I am facing issue with compass aaplication also.

I was asking if the other iPads, the ones you say are not having this problem.

iPad with the magnetic cover always showing 180 degree off direction, where iPad without any cover (and without magnetic interference) showing correct direction.

Magnets affect compasses. This is just physics.

It is affecting orientation so as in application. Both the iPads are WiFi+ cellular model which has in built GPS.

Sorry, yes, I missed that originally.

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