GPS troubleshooting guide

SolarAPP+ Virtual Inspection needs location access on your device to record GPS data. There is one system-wide setting, plus two app permissions under it:

• Location Services (system-wide): the master switch. If this is off, no app on your device can access location.
• Camera: so photos and videos you take include GPS data.
• Web browser (Chrome, Safari, etc.): so we can record your device's location when you use the in-app camera or upload files, whether on your phone or your desktop.

All of these need to be on. Follow the steps below for your device.

Turn on Location Services on iPhone

Step 1: Turn on Location Services

1. Open Settings and tap Privacy & Security.
2. Tap Location Services.
3. Make sure the Location Services toggle at the top is on (green)

Step 2: Allow location for the Camera

This ensures every photo and video you take is tagged with GPS coordinates.

1. In the Location Services list, scroll down and tap Camera.
2. Under Allow Location Access, select While Using the App.
3. Make sure Precise Location is on (green). Without it, your phone only records an approximate location, which may not pass GPS verification.

Step 3: Allow location for your browser

This lets us record your device's location when you use the in-app camera. You only need to do this for the browser you use, Chrome or Safari.

Chrome:

1. In the Location Services list, tap Chrome.
2. Select While Using the App and make sure Precise Location is on.

Safari:

1. In the Location Services list, tap Safari Websites.
2. Select While Using the App and make sure Precise Location is on.

Allow the location prompt in the app

Even after your phone settings are correct, the first time the app needs your location you'll see a prompt asking to allow the Virtual Inspection site to access your location.

Always tap Allow. If you tap Don't Allow, the browser blocks location for the site and the prompt won't appear again, and you'll need to fix it in your browser settings (see the FAQ below).

You can trigger this prompt ahead of time from the Device check page, so you're not dealing with it for the first time at the install site.

Using a laptop for uploads

If you upload evidence from a laptop, we recommend turn on your laptop location settings, so we can record where the upload happened. Laptops don't have a GPS chip; they estimate location from nearby Wi-Fi networks, so make sure Wi-Fi is turned on even if you're not connected to a network.

Mac

1. Open System Settings and click Privacy & Security › Location Services.
2. Turn on Location Services at the top.
3. In the app list, turn on location for the browser you use (Safari or Chrome).
4. In your browser, click Allow when the Virtual Inspection site asks for your location. See #Chrome-Setting to verify.

Windows

1. Open Settings and click Privacy & security › Location.
2. Turn on Location services.
3. Turn on Let apps access your location.
4. In your browser, click Allow when the Virtual Inspection site asks for your location. See #Chrome-Setting to verify.

Chrome Settings on Desktop

FAQs

What if my crew's installation photos have no GPS data?

This usually means their phones didn't have location access enabled for the Camera when the photos were taken. GPS data can't be added to a photo afterward.

You can still submit the Virtual Inspection package with these photos by providing a GPS override reason, but it may result in a revision request from your inspector asking you to retake the photos with GPS enabled, since they can't verify the photos were taken at the install site.

To prevent this on future inspections, work with your crews to make sure the camera records location on every phone before the install starts:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Privacy & Security › Location Services.
3. Tap Camera and set it to While Using the App, with Precise Location turned on.

Why don't my screenshots have GPS data?

That's expected. Screenshots and screen recordings never include GPS data, on any phone. Only photos and videos taken with the camera are tagged with a location. For inspection items that may require screenshot or screen recordings, we do not require GPS data.

I've turned location on for my browser and in my phone's settings, but I still don't see the "Allow Location" prompt when I open the in-app camera. What should I do?

Restart your phone. Phones sometimes cache old permission settings, and a restart clears them out. After the restart, open the app and go to Settings › Device check, then tap Test location. If the status shows green, you're good to go.

If it still fails after a restart, double-check the browser's site permission (see previous sections above). This is separate from your phone's system-level location setting, and both need to be on. You may also test the location setting using a different browser.

What if I accidentally tapped "Don't Allow" on the location prompt?

The browser remembers your answer and blocks location for the site without asking again. To undo it:

Chrome on iPhone:

Chrome on iPhone doesn't have per-website settings. Open the Settings app, tap Apps › Chrome, tap Location, choose While Using the App, and turn on Precise Location. Then reload the page.

Safari on iPhone:

1. On the Virtual Inspection page, tap the page settings button on the left side of the address bar.
2. go to the bottom of the Page Menu.
3. Set Location to Allow, then reload the page.

What if location has been turned off by my company's admin?

Some company-managed phones restrict location services through a device management policy, so you won't be able to turn it on yourself. Ask your IT admin to allow location services for your browser on your mobile device.