The gyroscope responds to rotation. Unlike an accelerometer, it should settle close to zero on all axes when the phone is still, regardless of which way the screen faces.
Check each direction
- Open Hardware → Gyroscope in Device Status⁺.
- Rest the phone on a steady surface and watch the baseline.
- Lift it securely and slowly tilt the top edge toward and away from you.
- Tilt it sideways, then turn it left and right while keeping it upright.
- Stop after each movement and watch the readings return toward zero.
Read the units shown on the page: radians per second and degrees per second describe the same kind of motion at different scales.
What indicates a useful response?
Different movements should produce different axis responses. Reversing a rotation generally reverses the relevant signal. You do not need perfectly isolated axes; holding a phone by hand often rotates it in several directions at once.
Small resting offsets do not automatically mean a fault. Repeat on a stable table if your hand is shaking. Persistent freezing across repeated attempts deserves further investigation, especially if other motion apps show the same symptom.
Rotation rate is not compass direction
A gyroscope reports how quickly the phone turns. It does not directly tell you which direction is north. Use the compass test for heading behavior.
Ready to try it?
Device Status⁺ · Monitor and test your iPhone hardware
Free on the App Store