diff --git a/src/lib/geolocation.ts b/src/lib/geolocation.ts
index 1c8569b..853a940 100644
--- a/src/lib/geolocation.ts
+++ b/src/lib/geolocation.ts
@@ -188,31 +188,53 @@ async function getNativePosition(native: CapGeolocationPlugin): Promise<GeoCoord
       throw new GeolocationError('denied', 'Location permission denied.');
     }
 
-    // First try a precise fix. High accuracy can fail/time out indoors or
-    // with a weak GPS signal, which shows up as "unavailable" or "timeout".
+    // Getting a location fix — especially a "cold start" the first time after
+    // granting permission, or indoors — can be slow. A GPS chip can take 30s+
+    // to acquire its first lock. So we try three increasingly-forgiving stages
+    // and return the first one that succeeds. Each is guarded so a failure just
+    // moves on to the next stage rather than surfacing as an error.
+
+    // Stage 1 — INSTANT: accept any recently cached fix (up to 5 min old).
+    // enableHighAccuracy:false + short timeout means "give me a cached/coarse
+    // fix immediately if you have one". This resolves instantly on a warm chip.
+    try {
+      const pos = await safeCall(() =>
+        native.getCurrentPosition({
+          enableHighAccuracy: false,
+          timeout: 8000,
+          maximumAge: 300000, // accept a fix up to 5 minutes old
+        }),
+      );
+      return { lat: pos.coords.latitude, lng: pos.coords.longitude };
+    } catch (cachedErr) {
+      console.warn('[geolocation] cached/coarse fix unavailable, trying GPS:', cachedErr);
+    }
+
+    // Stage 2 — PRECISE: full high-accuracy GPS with a generous window so a
+    // cold first-fix has room to complete.
     try {
       const pos = await safeCall(() =>
         native.getCurrentPosition({
           enableHighAccuracy: true,
-          timeout: 10000,
-          maximumAge: 30000,
+          timeout: 30000, // give a cold GPS lock plenty of time
+          maximumAge: 60000,
         }),
       );
       return { lat: pos.coords.latitude, lng: pos.coords.longitude };
     } catch (highAccErr) {
-      // Fall back to a coarse (network/cell/wifi) fix with a longer window.
-      // This rescues the common "GPS can't lock" case that otherwise looks
-      // like a hard failure.
       console.warn('[geolocation] high-accuracy failed, trying coarse:', highAccErr);
-      const pos = await safeCall(() =>
-        native.getCurrentPosition({
-          enableHighAccuracy: false,
-          timeout: 20000,
-          maximumAge: 120000,
-        }),
-      );
-      return { lat: pos.coords.latitude, lng: pos.coords.longitude };
     }
+
+    // Stage 3 — COARSE FALLBACK: network/cell/wifi fix with the longest window.
+    // This rescues the common "GPS can't lock indoors" case.
+    const pos = await safeCall(() =>
+      native.getCurrentPosition({
+        enableHighAccuracy: false,
+        timeout: 30000,
+        maximumAge: 300000,
+      }),
+    );
+    return { lat: pos.coords.latitude, lng: pos.coords.longitude };
   } catch (err) {
     if (err instanceof GeolocationError) throw err;
     const msg = (err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err)).toLowerCase();
@@ -255,7 +277,7 @@ function getWebPosition(): Promise<GeoCoords> {
           reject(new GeolocationError('unavailable', 'Location unavailable.'));
         }
       },
-      { enableHighAccuracy: true, timeout: 10000, maximumAge: 30000 },
+      { enableHighAccuracy: true, timeout: 20000, maximumAge: 60000 },
     );
   });
 }
diff --git a/src/pages/MapPage.tsx b/src/pages/MapPage.tsx
index d3f9b40..6af4ede 100644
--- a/src/pages/MapPage.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/MapPage.tsx
@@ -656,7 +656,9 @@ export default function MapPage() {
         setNearMeError('timeout');
         toast({
           title: 'Location timed out',
-          description: 'Could not get your location in time. Check your signal and try again.',
+          description: isNativeGeolocation()
+            ? "Couldn't get a GPS fix in time. This is common on the first try or indoors — step near a window or outside and tap Near Me again."
+            : 'Could not get your location in time. Check your signal and try again.',
           variant: 'destructive',
         });
       } else {