Your GPS tracker hasn't updated in hours. The last known location is from yesterday. Here is how to figure out what went wrong — and fix it.

GPS trackers go offline for identifiable, testable reasons. This guide covers seven causes — what each looks like, how to confirm it, and how to fix it.

Quick triage — is it the tracker, the SIM, or the network?

Before working through specific causes, run this 30-second test:

1. Remove the SIM from the tracker.
2. Insert it into a spare mobile phone.
3. Check if the phone can browse the web on mobile data (turn off Wi-Fi first).

If the phone gets mobile data → the SIM and mobile-data service are working in that phone and location. Focus next on the tracker's network compatibility, APN and configuration.
If the phone cannot get mobile data → investigate the SIM/service, coverage and the phone's network settings before returning to the tracker.

This test helps distinguish a broadly working SIM and mobile-data service from tracker-specific compatibility or configuration issues. It is one of the first checks we use when troubleshooting a connection issue.

The 7 causes — and how to fix each one

1. SIM expired or inactive

Recharge-based prepaid mobile services can require recurring top-ups, and may also have service-expiry or inactivity conditions that vary by provider. For a tracker installed in a vehicle or asset for months or years, a missed recharge or expired service can leave the device offline even though the tracker hardware itself is still working — and an expiry warning sent by SMS cannot be read while the SIM is inside a data-only tracker.

How to recognise it: Tracker was working fine, then suddenly stopped. No software changes. No physical damage. Check the provider's recharge and service-expiry terms and compare them with the date of the last recharge or account activity.

How to fix (short-term): Top up the existing SIM if possible.

How to fix (long-term): Use a SIM designed for unattended deployment. A multi-year prepaid SIM removes the recurring recharge requirement during the selected validity period — one payment can cover 1 to 8 years of tracker operation without recharges.

2. Tracker only supports 2G or 3G

Australia's 3G networks have been retired, and New Zealand's 3G networks have also been shut down. Check the tracker's specifications for its supported cellular technology: if they list only GSM, 2G or 3G and no currently supported 4G/LTE technology, the tracker may no longer be able to register on an available mobile network — regardless of the SIM card used.

How to recognise it: The specifications show only a retired cellular technology, and changing SIMs does not restore network registration.

How to fix: Replace the tracker with a 4G LTE compatible model. There is no SIM workaround — the hardware itself cannot reach a current Australian or New Zealand mobile network.

When buying a replacement, look for "4G LTE" in the specifications. If a replacement tracker is LTE-M (Cat-M1) or NB-IoT only, confirm that your SIM service is provisioned for that technology before purchase — a service intended for standard LTE may not be suitable.

Network shutdown references: ACMA (Australia), Spark and 2degrees (New Zealand).

3. Reporting interval set too long

This one is easy to mistake for a broken tracker when the device is working perfectly. Check whether your tracker has a configurable reporting interval — how often it sends its location to the server. If this is set to, say, every 5 minutes, the tracker will appear "offline" or "not updating" between reports.

How to recognise it: Tracker updates intermittently, not in real time. Updates line up with a fixed interval (every 5, 10, or 30 minutes). Position is accurate when it does update.

How to fix: Check the reporting interval setting (via app, SMS command, or web portal, depending on the model). Choose the interval based on the application: shorter intervals give more frequent location updates, but increase mobile-data use and, on battery-powered devices, battery consumption. Match the interval to your actual monitoring needs.

4. Poor cellular coverage at the tracker's location

A tracker can be fully functional with a fully working SIM and still go offline if it sits in an area without cellular signal. Common offline zones include rural farms outside main carrier coverage, underground car parks, metal-roofed sheds, and remote routes used by caravans or freight.

How to recognise it: Tracker reports normally when in town or near built-up areas. Goes offline as soon as it moves to a specific rural location. Other devices in the same area also struggle with mobile data.

How to fix:

• Check your SIM provider's coverage map for your specific area.
• Use a multi-network SIM with access to more than one carrier — for example, Telstra + Optus in Australia, or Spark + 2degrees in New Zealand. The network actually used can depend on coverage and device behaviour at the location, and access to more than one supported network can provide an alternative where one network has no usable coverage.
• If the site has no usable cellular coverage at all, a satellite-capable tracking solution may be required. Satellite services use a different network and pricing model from cellular GPS trackers.

5. Power problems

If the tracker is not getting power, it cannot report anything — and from the user's view, the symptom is identical to a connection problem.

How to recognise it: Tracker has never reported, even briefly, since installation. No LED indicators visible. Hardwired tracker stopped reporting around the same time the vehicle's battery was disconnected, replaced, or worked on. Battery-only tracker has not been charged for an extended period.

How to fix:

• Check wiring — a tripped kill-switch or a blown fuse is a simple cause worth ruling out first.
• Verify constant power vs ignition-only power if the tracker should report when the vehicle is off.
• For battery-only trackers, charge fully and re-test.
• Check for tracker damage from water, heat, or impact.

6. Incorrect APN settings

The APN (Access Point Name) tells your tracker how to connect to the mobile data network. If it is set incorrectly, the tracker has cellular signal but cannot send or receive data — it appears offline even though the SIM and network are both fine.

How to recognise it: The tracker shows signal bars (LED indicator, sometimes via the app) but never updates location or status. The SIM works in a phone with proper APN. APN problems are introduced at configuration time, so they surface at first setup or after a SIM swap.

How to fix: Set the APN to the value provided by your SIM card supplier. For Lemon Mobile GPS Tracker SIMs in Australia and New Zealand, the APN is mobile (lowercase, no spaces). Username and password fields should be left blank.

APN configuration varies by tracker model — some require SMS commands, some have a web portal, some auto-detect. Refer to your tracker's manual for the specific procedure.

7. Tracker configuration or firmware issues

Worth checking after the causes above are eliminated: the tracker may have configuration errors (server URL set incorrectly, port wrong, account not linked) or firmware issues that prevent reporting. New trackers may need initial setup commands that were never sent.

How to recognise it: Tracker has signal and data connection (verified via SIM tested in phone) but never reports to the expected platform. Setup was rushed or incomplete. Tracker model is new to you and configuration steps were not fully understood.

How to fix: Re-run the tracker's initial configuration. Check the manual for required SMS commands or app settings. For trackers connected to a third-party platform (rather than the manufacturer's own app), verify the server URL, IMEI registration, and account linkage are all correct.

Real cases we've worked through

These are examples from our support records. Each shows the same diagnostic pattern: identify the cause, apply the fix, restore the tracker.

Case 1 — SinoTrack ST-915L not updating while driving

• Issue: Tracker showed as online but the location did not update during a long trip.
• Cause: Reporting interval was set to 60 seconds, so the dashboard appeared stale between updates.
• Fix: Reduced the reporting interval to 10 seconds.
• Result: Near-real-time tracking restored. The tracker had been working correctly the whole time — the reporting interval, not the hardware, was the issue.

Case 2 — Teltonika FMC920 offline after SIM swap

• Issue: Tracker worked with original SIM, went offline immediately after swapping to a new SIM.
• Cause: Configuration was carried over from the previous setup and did not match the new SIM provider's requirements.
• Fix: Updated the configuration to the new SIM provider's settings.
• Result: Tracker reconnected shortly after the configuration was corrected.

Both cases show the same lesson: check the configuration before assuming the tracker or SIM has failed. We will continue adding cases from real support work as they are verified.

GPS tracker offline troubleshooting checklist

Work through these in order.

1. Move the SIM into a spare phone — does it get mobile data?
2. Confirm the tracker supports 4G LTE (not 2G or 3G only).
3. Check the SIM has not expired or run out of data.
4. Confirm the tracker has power and the wiring is intact.
5. Check the reporting interval setting in the tracker configuration.
6. Test the tracker in an area with strong cellular signal.
7. Verify the APN setting matches your SIM provider's instructions.
8. Verify the server URL and IMEI registration in the tracking platform.
9. If none of the above resolves the issue, contact your SIM provider with the tracker model and SIM number — service status and network registration can be checked remotely with this information.

If your tracker went offline because of SIM expiry

SIM expiry is one cause with a structural fix, not just a troubleshooting workaround.

Recharge-based prepaid plans use recurring recharge cycles, with service-expiry and inactivity conditions varying by provider. GPS trackers, by contrast, often stay installed in vehicles, assets and equipment for years. The mismatch between recurring recharge requirements and long tracker deployments can cause an otherwise working tracker to lose service when the SIM plan expires — without warning the owner can see.

The fix is to use a SIM designed for the actual lifecycle of a GPS tracker:

• One-time payment for 1 to 8 years. No recurring recharge during the selected validity period.
• APN: mobile — same value across every plan, so setup is consistent.
• Multi-network access — Telstra + Optus in Australia, Spark + 2degrees in New Zealand. Network selection may vary depending on coverage and device behaviour — access to a second supported network can help where the original network has weak or unavailable coverage.

If your last tracker outage was caused by SIM expiry, a multi-year SIM removes the recurring recharge requirement during the selected validity period. Connectivity still depends on the tracker, coverage, configuration and the plan's available monthly data — but the recharge task that causes silent expiry is gone for the life of the plan.

Find the right plan for your tracker here:

• → GPS Tracker SIM Card Australia — Telstra + Optus 4G, 1 to 8 years validity, one-time payment.
• → GPS Tracker SIM Card New Zealand — Spark + 2degrees 4G, 1 to 8 years validity, one-time payment.

Frequently asked questions

Why has my GPS tracker stopped updating?

Causes to check include an expired or inactive prepaid service, a tracker that only supports 2G or 3G (now shut down in Australia and New Zealand), a reporting interval set too long, poor cellular coverage at the tracker's location, power supply problems, or incorrect APN settings. Run the SIM test in a spare phone first — it helps distinguish SIM-side issues from tracker-side issues in 30 seconds.

Can a SIM or mobile service cause my GPS tracker to go offline?

Yes. SIM- or service-side issues can include an expired or inactive service or an exhausted data allowance. An incorrect APN configured in the tracker can also prevent mobile data from working. A tracker can also go offline when its cellular technology (such as 2G or 3G) is no longer supported by any available network. Other causes sit on the tracker side: configuration, power, coverage or hardware.

Does the 3G network shutdown affect GPS trackers in Australia?

Yes. Australia's 3G networks have been retired. GPS trackers that only support 2G or 3G can no longer connect to Australian mobile networks. These trackers must be replaced with 4G LTE compatible models. New Zealand has also retired its 3G networks.

What APN should I use for a GPS tracker in Australia?

APN settings vary by SIM provider. For Lemon Mobile GPS Tracker SIMs, the APN is mobile (lowercase, no spaces). Username and password fields should be left blank. Always check with your SIM provider for the correct APN.

How do I know if it's the tracker or the SIM card that's broken?

Move the SIM to a mobile phone. If the phone connects to the mobile data network, the SIM and service are working in that phone and location — focus on the tracker's compatibility, APN and configuration next. If the phone cannot connect, investigate the SIM/service, coverage and phone settings first. This is a useful first diagnostic before changing tracker settings.

Will a multi-network SIM fix offline tracker problems?

A multi-network SIM helps when offline issues are caused by single-carrier coverage gaps. With access to more than one network, the tracker is not limited to a single carrier's footprint — the network actually used can depend on coverage and device behaviour at its location. Multi-network SIMs do not fix offline issues caused by 3G-only trackers or device configuration problems.