Live Qibla Compass
From Sydney CBD, the Qibla is 277.50°. On a phone with a compass sensor, the gold arrow below rotates automatically as you turn.
Point the top of your phone. The gold arrow is Qibla.
Qibla is 277.50° from true north
How to use the live compass
On iPhone, tap "Enable Live Compass" once to grant sensor permission. iOS Safari requires this only one time. On most Android/Chrome browsers, the compass starts automatically with no tap needed.
Hold your phone flat and face it up. Then turn until the gold arrow points straight ahead. That is Qibla.
Why it points true
Corrected for real magnetic declination
A phone compass reads magnetic north, not true north. So this compass adds Sydney's real magnetic declination, +12.82° East (NOAA WMM-2025), before it rotates the needle.
That way the arrow points at true-north Qibla instead of a magnetically skewed heading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my phone need permission to use the compass? +
Reading device orientation is a sensitive sensor permission on modern browsers, especially iOS Safari. It has to be granted by a tap. It cannot start silently in the background.
The needle isn't moving. What's wrong? +
Most likely you are on a desktop or a device without a working orientation sensor. In that case the arrow correctly shows the fixed bearing instead. On a phone, check that you tapped Enable Live Compass if it appeared. Also check that you are not inside an app that blocks sensor access.
Why does the compass correct for magnetic declination? +
Phone compasses read magnetic north. That is not the same as true north. Sydney's magnetic declination is added so the arrow points at the real true-north Qibla bearing. See the Magnetic Declination page for the exact figure and source.
Is this as accurate as a physical compass? +
It's a solid everyday tool, but any phone compass can be thrown off by nearby metal or electronics. For precise alignment, cross-check with a qualified local source.