GPS Tracker Showing Offline: Common Causes and How to Fix Them

A tracker showing offline means the device is not communicating with the platform at all. No data is coming through, and until that changes, you have no visibility of the vehicle. Here is how to diagnose it systematically.

Start with the most likely cause: SIM or data issue

The majority of offline trackers come down to a SIM problem. The device powers on, the GPS is fine, but with no data connection it cannot reach the platform.

Check these first:

• Is the SIM card physically seated correctly in the device?
• Is the SIM active? SIM cards on fleet plans can be suspended for non-payment, inactivity, or because the plan has hit its data cap.
• Is the APN set correctly? The APN is the network access point name your SIM provider requires. If it is blank or wrong, the device cannot connect to mobile data even if the SIM is active.

Your SIM provider can confirm whether the SIM is active and whether it has been used recently. If the SIM shows as active but with zero data sessions, the APN setting on the device is almost certainly wrong.

Device has lost power

A tracker with no power cannot send anything. This is obvious but easy to overlook, especially on vehicles that have been off the road or in storage.

For hardwired devices:

• Check the fuse on the power supply line.
• Confirm the power wire is connected to a constant 12V supply, not the ignition circuit (unless the device is designed for ignition-switched power).
• Check the ground connection. A poor ground is one of the most common causes of intermittent or total power loss.

For OBD plug-in devices:

• Remove and reinsert the device firmly.
• Try the device in another vehicle to rule out a fault with that specific OBD port.

APN settings wrong or missing

Even if the SIM is active, the device needs the correct APN to connect to mobile data. Each network operator uses a specific APN string.

Common UK APN settings:

• EE: everywhere
• Vodafone: web.vodafone.co.uk
• Three: 3internet
• O2: mobile.o2.co.uk

If you are using an IoT or fleet SIM from a provider such as Eseye, BSIM, or Arkessa, the APN will be specific to that provider. Check with them directly.

Server endpoint wrong

The device may have data connectivity but be sending to the wrong server address. This happens when a device has been used on a previous platform and the server IP or port has not been updated.

The device configuration needs to point to the correct host and port for Traknova’s GPS tracking platform. If the address is wrong, data goes nowhere and the device appears offline.

To fix this, access the device configuration tool for your hardware model and update the server settings. If you are not sure of the correct values, contact Traknova support.

Device in deep sleep

Some trackers, particularly battery-powered or OBD types, enter a deep sleep state after extended inactivity. In deep sleep, the device does not respond to the network and appears offline.

Deep sleep typically ends automatically when the device detects movement or when a timer expires. If a vehicle has been stationary for a long time, this is a likely explanation.

For devices that support it, you can send a wake command via SMS. Check your device documentation for the correct command string.

Step-by-step fix sequence

1. Check the SIM status with your provider. Confirm it is active and has had recent data sessions.
2. Check the APN setting in the device configuration. Compare it against your SIM provider’s required APN.
3. Check device power. For hardwired units, test the power line with a multimeter. For OBD devices, try in another vehicle.
4. Verify the server endpoint in the device configuration matches the Traknova platform settings.
5. If the device has been stationary, wait for the sleep timeout or send a wake command via SMS.
6. If none of the above resolves it, the device may have a hardware fault and need replacement.

Next steps

If you are managing a fleet and finding that devices regularly go offline, a monitoring tool that alerts you proactively when a device loses contact is far more efficient than manual checking.

See how Traknova handles device health and offline alerts, or book a demo to understand what fleet-wide visibility looks like in practice.