You do not need an app to find Qibla. Three approaches work in any modern browser:
1. One-tap geolocation
Open a Qibla page (like QiblaWeb Qibla) and tap "Use my location". The browser asks for permission, then computes the bearing from your latitude/longitude to the Kaaba locally. Your exact coordinates never leave the device. The result is in degrees clockwise from true north — for example 119° (East-southeast) from London.
2. City lookup
If you cannot or do not want to use geolocation, search for your city. Every city page on QiblaWeb shows the bearing from the city centre. The bearing is stable enough for a permanent prayer-room marker.
3. Map sighting
Open any map app, find the bearing line from your location to Mecca (21.4225°N, 39.8262°E), and pick a landmark in that direction. This works without sensors, GPS, or even an internet connection once you know the angle.
What if the phone compass is unreliable?
Phone magnetometers vary by hardware and are affected by metal, electronics, and calibration. The calculated bearing on the page is mathematically exact (within ±0.5°). When the live compass disagrees, trust the calculated number or use a physical compass.
To recalibrate the phone compass, move the phone in a figure-8 pattern away from cars, magnets, and headphones. iOS Safari additionally requires you to grant motion-and-orientation permission when first asked.
Source
Browser permission and compass behaviour summarised from Google Qibla Finder help and the MDN Web Docs (retrieved 2026-05-09).