Live heading
See your current direction in degrees as you turn with your phone.
ONLINE DIRECTION TOOL
Online Compass
Find North, check your heading, and read live compass direction from your phone. No app download required. Your phone already has the sensors; we're just putting them to work.
No fake readingsLive headingMobile focused
COMPASS
Online compass
ACCURACY
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Tap Enable Compass to start orientation sensing.
Source: Not active
ONLINE COMPASS GUIDE
A free online compass for quick direction checks.
Find North
Use the fixed marker and rotating dial to line up North, East, South, and West.
Made for phones
The compass is built for the device you're most likely to have in your hand.
Private by default
Your compass reading is processed on your device. We don't need your GPS location.
ABOUT THE TOOL
Use a Compass Online Without Installing an App
An online compass does the same basic job as the compass on your phone: it tells you which direction you're facing. The difference is that you can open this one in your browser. Tap Enable Compass, allow access if your phone asks, and you're ready to read your direction.
The compass shows your heading in degrees and a direction label such as N, NE, E, or SW. 0 degrees and 360 degrees point North. 90 degrees is East, 180 degrees is South, and 270 degrees is West. The dial rotates under the fixed marker at the top, so the marker always represents the direction you're facing.
How the online compass works
Your phone has built-in orientation sensors that can detect how the device is facing. On a supported phone, this compass uses those sensors to show a live direction reading in the browser. That's why it works best on mobile devices rather than desktop computers sitting on a desk.
You don't need GPS just to find compass direction. GPS can tell where you are on Earth; a compass tells which way you're facing. This tool focuses on direction, so your reading stays simple: degrees, direction, and a clear dial you can use at a glance.
How to use the compass
Open the page on your phone and tap Enable Compass. If your browser asks for motion or orientation access, allow it. Hold the phone steady, turn slowly, and watch the heading below the dial. When the reading is near 0 degrees or shows N, you're facing North.
For a quick compass test, turn toward the main directions: East is around 90 degrees, South is around 180 degrees, and West is around 270 degrees. If North suddenly seems to have moved, your phone probably hasn't discovered a new law of physics. Check for nearby magnets or metal, then try again.
You can also tap the camera icon to place a live camera preview behind the compass. The compass keeps working normally over the feed, which is handy when you want to compare your heading with something right in front of you. The preview stays on your device; we don't record it or upload it.
Compass accuracy in real life
We've built Online Compass Free to get the best directional reading your phone can provide. On a properly calibrated device, it should closely follow the direction reported by your phone's native compass.
Like any magnetic compass, small shifts can happen around interference. Speakers, laptops, metal furniture, vehicles, magnetic phone cases, chargers, and similar objects can all mess with a compass sensor. Magnets and compasses have never exactly been best friends. If the reading looks suspicious, move away from those objects, keep the phone steady, and try again.
Checking house direction
You can use this digital compass to check which way a house, entrance, balcony, window, room, or wall faces. Stand in the spot you want to measure, point the top of the phone toward the direction you're checking, and read the heading. A second reading from nearby is often helpful, especially around metal doors, large appliances, speakers, or reinforced walls.
If you want a more detailed house direction reading, try the dedicated online Vastu compass too. It uses a 16 direction compass layout, which is useful when a simple eight-direction compass feels a little too broad.
Privacy and device requirements
Your compass reading is processed on your device. We don't need your GPS location just to tell which direction you're facing, and there's no account or app download involved.
For live readings, use a phone or tablet with compass-friendly sensors and a browser that allows motion access. If a device doesn't have the right sensors, the page won't pretend to know your direction. A fake compass is worse than no compass.
FAQ
Online Compass FAQ
Quick answers for common questions about using a compass online.
How does an online compass work?
An online compass uses the orientation sensors already built into your phone. Once you allow compass access, it shows the direction you are facing as a degree reading and a simple direction label, right in the browser.
What is a compass used for?
A compass helps you find direction: north, east, south, west, and the points between them. It is useful for maps, walking routes, setting up a campsite, checking which way a room faces, or simply proving that you are not as lost as you feel.
Is a mobile phone compass accurate?
A phone compass can be very accurate when the device is calibrated and away from magnetic interference. Like any compass, it can be affected by magnets, speakers, metal furniture, vehicles, laptops, and magnetic cases. If the reading looks odd, move away from those things and try again.
How can I check the direction of my house online?
Open the compass on your phone, allow access if asked, and stand in or near the area you want to check. Point the top of the phone toward the direction you are measuring and read the heading. For better results, step away from large electronics, metal doors, speakers, reinforced concrete, and magnetic phone accessories.
Can I use a compass on my phone?
Yes. Most modern phones have the sensors needed for a digital compass, and this page puts them to work without making you install another app. Your storage can breathe easy.
How do I use an online compass?
Open the page on your phone, tap Enable Compass, and allow access if your browser asks. Hold the phone steady, turn slowly, and read the degree and direction shown below the dial.
How do I read compass location?
This compass reads direction, not GPS location. 0 or 360 degrees means North, 90 degrees means East, 180 degrees means South, and 270 degrees means West.