Does Microsoft Surface have GPS?

Anonymous
2012-10-16T16:40:26+00:00

Simple question, cannot find the answer.  A couple of websites states that GPS is there, however I find nothing on www.surface.com.  The website that state that GPS is there have said that since june and I don't know how they would know?

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Anonymous
2012-12-12T16:23:17+00:00

There is no GPS on the Surface. It uses location services based on the internet connection.

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btbt 11,841 Reputation points
2012-10-16T18:47:26+00:00

As it's a WiFi only device, there is no GPS, but it does have location services as part of the operating system.

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Anonymous
2012-12-26T22:54:36+00:00

Hi,

Surface for Windows RT does not support an external GPS device such as the one you refer to.

Surface for Windows RT can look up your location based on WiFi signals in your vicinity, as long as the Surface is also Internet-connected.  Apps such as Maps or Weather, or web sites through Internet Explorer, can use this information.

Hope this helps

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Anonymous
2013-04-02T19:11:00+00:00

Hello Myron,

Surface RT does not have GPS, however it does have Location Services which allows certain programs to know your location based on IP address.

Was there a specific app you needed to use with GPS?

Best regards.

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-05-25T16:54:10+00:00

    It has been very accurate at locating itself via WiFi for the past 3+ years, no matter where it was. After the last batch of software updates the location function ( not calling it GPS) the Surface has no idea. I have used Maps applications to find routes from my Surfaces location to any destination accurately, for years, but now that is impossible, due to a software update.

    The lack of a GPS chip has never been a problem, so your answer has no bearing on solving the problem.

    The same updates have caused IE to loose the URL entry line after being open for a period of time, and the Surface to fail to open after sleeping, requiring rebooting. Hundreds of users have posted about these problems for weeks.

    It appears Microsoft is not interested in fixing the problems their software patch programmers cause.

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