Use the online Qibla finder in five steps
- Tap Find my Qibla now and allow location when the browser asks. The first available result appears, then GPS refines it automatically.
- Place the phone flat in your palm, with its top edge pointing away from you.
- Wait for the degree, distance and direction label to appear.
- Turn your body slowly until the arrow points straight ahead.
- Choose a fixed object on that line, then put the phone away before prayer.
The location sets the mathematical bearing. The phone compass only shows how that bearing relates to the way the device is facing. Keeping those two jobs separate makes troubleshooting much easier.
How to read the result
The Qibla bearing is measured clockwise from true north. A result of 58.5° points northeast; 180° points south; 270° points west. The distance shown is the great-circle distance to the Kaaba, not a road, rail or flight distance.
Bearing, direction and distance
- Bearing: the exact clockwise angle from true north.
- Direction: a readable label such as northeast or west-northwest.
- Distance: the shortest surface distance on the globe to Makkah.
If location permission is blocked
Open the manual option and select a city, or enter latitude and longitude from a map pin. Latitude must be between −90 and 90; longitude must be between −180 and 180. A city-centre bearing is fine for a quick local reference, while exact coordinates are better for marking a particular room.
If live compass mode is unavailable
The degree reading is still usable. Most laptops have no orientation sensor, and some mobile browsers restrict motion access. Take the bearing to a physical compass or use it with a north-up map. You do not need an animated arrow to get an accurate Qibla direction.
Calibrate before trusting a moving arrow
Move the phone slowly in a figure-eight, then hold it flat and still. Remove magnetic cases, rings or wallet attachments. Take one reading beside the intended prayer spot and another a few metres away. If the arrow changes sharply but the degree calculation stays the same, the surrounding metal—not the route to Makkah—is the likely cause.
Common problems and quick fixes
The arrow keeps spinning
Move away from lifts, speakers, appliances, cars, steel desks and reinforced columns. Recalibrate outdoors or beside a different window.
The direction looks wrong on the map
Reset the map to north-up. A flat world map distorts long routes, so use the initial great-circle bearing at your location rather than judging by a visually straight line to Makkah.
The tool found the wrong city
Use manual coordinates for the exact spot. Browser location can fall back to a broad network estimate when precise GPS is unavailable.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to install a Qibla finder app?
No. An online Qibla finder works in the browser. An app is useful mainly when you need saved offline bearings or other regular features.
Can I use this on a desktop computer?
Yes. Use the calculated degree with a map or physical compass because most desktops cannot sense which way they face.
Why should the phone be flat?
Orientation sensors are easier to interpret when the device is level. Tilting or holding it near metal can make the arrow less stable.
iPhone and Safari setup
Open the page in Safari, tap Find my Qibla, allow location, then approve Motion & Orientation access if iOS asks. Keep Safari in the foreground while turning. If no motion prompt appears, check Safari permission settings for the site and use the degree with a map until access is restored.
Android and Chrome setup
Allow precise location for the site and keep device location enabled. Modern Chrome does not need an old experimental sensor flag. If the arrow does not move, update Chrome, reload after granting permission and test away from a magnetic case or car mount.
Desktop and laptop use
Most computers can calculate the bearing but cannot sense heading. Select a city or enter coordinates, then apply the degree to a north-up map or physical compass. The missing animation does not change the geographic result.
Qibla angle and compass degree
The Qibla angle is measured from true north. A phone in true-north mode can follow that number directly. A traditional magnetic compass may require a current local declination correction; the amount is location- and date-dependent, so never reuse a correction from another country.