Raw Sensor Multitool — Support

Raw Sensor Multitool is a real-time sensor dashboard for iPhone. It displays live data from your device's accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, altimeter, and compass — designed for DIY makers, engineers, and anyone curious about what their phone is measuring.

Sensors

Sensor	What It Measures	Unit
Accelerometer	Linear forces along X, Y, Z axes (gravity + motion)	g
Gyroscope	Rotation rate around X, Y, Z axes	rad/s
Magnetometer	Raw magnetic field strength along X, Y, Z axes	µT
Altimeter	Relative altitude change since session start + barometric pressure	m / hPa
Compass	Magnetic and true heading, accuracy rating	degrees

Sensitivity Modes

Use the Raw / Balanced / Smooth selector at the top of the dashboard to control how the data is filtered:

Raw — No filtering. Full sensor precision. Best for debugging, calibration, and DIY projects that need the most detailed data.
Balanced — Light smoothing with reduced decimal places. Good general-purpose mode (default).
Smooth — Heavy moving-average filter. Reduces noise significantly. Best for steady observation and general use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the gyroscope showing all zeros when my phone isn't moving?

That's correct. The gyroscope measures rotation rate — how fast the phone is spinning — not orientation or tilt. When the phone is stationary, the rotation rate is zero regardless of how it's positioned. Use the Accelerometer card to see the phone's orientation relative to gravity.

Why does the magnetometer change constantly even when my phone is still?

The raw magnetometer is very sensitive and picks up environmental interference from nearby electronics, power sources, and even the Earth's magnetic field variations. Try switching to Smooth mode for steadier readings, or move away from electronics and metal objects for a more stable baseline.

Why does the altimeter show relative altitude, not my actual elevation?

The altimeter uses the barometric pressure sensor to calculate changes in altitude from when the app session started. It is not GPS-based and cannot report your absolute elevation above sea level. Tap Reset Baseline to zero the altitude reading at any time.

Why does the compass ask for location permission?

iOS requires location permission to calculate true north (which accounts for magnetic declination at your location). Magnetic heading works without permission. If you deny location access, only magnetic heading will be shown.

What does "Calibrating…" mean on the compass?

The compass needs to be calibrated before it can report accurate headings. When you see "Calibrating…", slowly rotate your phone in a figure-eight pattern until the accuracy indicator turns green.

Are any sensors unavailable on older iPhones?

All five sensors are available on iPhone 6 and later. The barometric altimeter was introduced on the iPhone 6. If a sensor is unavailable on your device, its card will display an "unavailable" notice.

Does the app work in the background?

Sensors automatically pause when you leave the app to save battery, and resume when you return.

Contact Us

Have a question or found a bug? Email us at:
andy.x.meyers@gmail.com