diff --git a/src/components/gameplay/PlayerMapView.js b/src/components/gameplay/PlayerMapView.js
index 9617411..2a405c3 100644
--- a/src/components/gameplay/PlayerMapView.js
+++ b/src/components/gameplay/PlayerMapView.js
@@ -11,8 +11,9 @@ const PlayerMapView = ({userLocation, visibleCaches, heading, claimDistance}) =>
 
     if (!userLocation) return null;
 
-    const hasHeading = heading !== null && heading !== undefined;
-    const coneCoords = hasHeading ? getFovCone(userLocation, heading) : null;
+    const coneCoords = (heading !== null && heading !== undefined)
+        ? getFovCone(userLocation, heading)
+        : null;
 
     return (
         <MapView
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ const PlayerMapView = ({userLocation, visibleCaches, heading, claimDistance}) =>
                     />
                 </React.Fragment>
             ))}
-            {/* FOV cone when heading is available */}
+            {/* FOV heading cone */}
             {coneCoords && (
                 <Polygon
                     coordinates={coneCoords}
@@ -55,15 +56,6 @@ const PlayerMapView = ({userLocation, visibleCaches, heading, claimDistance}) =>
                     strokeWidth={1}
                 />
             )}
-            {/* Proximity circle when heading is NOT available (iOS fallback) */}
-            {!hasHeading && claimDistance > 0 && (
-                <Circle
-                    center={userLocation}
-                    radius={claimDistance}
-                    fillColor="rgba(66,133,244,0.12)"
-                    strokeColor="rgba(66,133,244,0.40)"
-                />
-            )}
         </MapView>
     );
 };
diff --git a/src/components/screens/ExpandedMapScreen.js b/src/components/screens/ExpandedMapScreen.js
index 1530841..289eb6b 100644
--- a/src/components/screens/ExpandedMapScreen.js
+++ b/src/components/screens/ExpandedMapScreen.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import {Platform, StyleSheet, View} from 'react-native';
 import MapView, {Circle, Marker, Polygon} from 'react-native-maps';
 import * as Location from 'expo-location';
 import Screen from '../layout/Screen';
-import {getFovCone, isInClaimCone, isWithinRadius} from '../../utils/geoMath';
+import {getFovCone, isInClaimCone} from '../../utils/geoMath';
 
 const DEFAULT_REGION = {latitude: 51.5074, longitude: -0.1278, latitudeDelta: 0.01, longitudeDelta: 0.01};
 
@@ -71,14 +71,10 @@ const ExpandedMapScreen = ({route}) => {
         ? getFovCone(userLocation, heading)
         : null;
 
-    // For players — when heading is available use FOV cone, otherwise fall back
-    // to proximity-only so the expanded map works on iPhones without compass data
-    const visiblePlayerCaches = (!isAdmin && userLocation)
-        ? caches.filter((c) =>
-            hasHeading
-                ? isInClaimCone(heading, userLocation, c.coordinates, claimDistance)
-                : isWithinRadius(userLocation, c.coordinates, claimDistance),
-        )
+    // For players — heading is required so the player must point their device
+    // towards a cache for it to appear (same logic as the main MapScreen)
+    const visiblePlayerCaches = (!isAdmin && userLocation && hasHeading)
+        ? caches.filter((c) => isInClaimCone(heading, userLocation, c.coordinates, claimDistance))
         : [];
 
     return (
@@ -140,15 +136,6 @@ const ExpandedMapScreen = ({route}) => {
                             strokeWidth={1}
                         />
                     )}
-                    {/* Proximity circle when heading is unavailable (iOS fallback) */}
-                    {!isAdmin && userLocation && !hasHeading && claimDistance > 0 && (
-                        <Circle
-                            center={userLocation}
-                            radius={claimDistance}
-                            fillColor="rgba(66,133,244,0.12)"
-                            strokeColor="rgba(66,133,244,0.40)"
-                        />
-                    )}
                 </MapView>
             </View>
         </Screen>
diff --git a/src/hooks/usePlayerGame.js b/src/hooks/usePlayerGame.js
index 401020d..44fbb8c 100644
--- a/src/hooks/usePlayerGame.js
+++ b/src/hooks/usePlayerGame.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import {useEffect, useRef, useState} from 'react';
-import {isInClaimCone, isWithinRadius} from '../utils/geoMath';
+import {isInClaimCone} from '../utils/geoMath';
 
 const usePlayerGame = (playerLocation, playerHeading, activeCaches, claimDistance) => {
 //   State ----------------------
@@ -11,8 +11,9 @@ const usePlayerGame = (playerLocation, playerHeading, activeCaches, claimDistanc
 //   Handlers -------------------
 
     useEffect(() => {
-        // No location at all — clear everything
-        if (!playerLocation) {
+        // Both location AND heading are required — the player must physically
+        // point their device towards a cache to trigger the claim countdown
+        if (!playerLocation || playerHeading === null || playerHeading === undefined) {
             if (prevIdsRef.current !== '') {
                 prevIdsRef.current = '';
                 setVisibleCaches([]);
@@ -21,24 +22,17 @@ const usePlayerGame = (playerLocation, playerHeading, activeCaches, claimDistanc
             return;
         }
 
-        const hasHeading = playerHeading !== null && playerHeading !== undefined;
-
-        // When heading is available use the full FOV cone check.
-        // When heading is NOT available (common on iOS / Apple Maps where the
-        // compass may be delayed or unavailable) fall back to proximity-only so
-        // iPhone users can still discover and claim caches within range.
-        const nearby = (activeCaches || []).filter((cache) =>
-            hasHeading
-                ? isInClaimCone(playerHeading, playerLocation, cache.coordinates, claimDistance)
-                : isWithinRadius(playerLocation, cache.coordinates, claimDistance),
+        // Find all caches that fall inside the claim cone
+        const inCone = (activeCaches || []).filter((cache) =>
+            isInClaimCone(playerHeading, playerLocation, cache.coordinates, claimDistance),
         );
 
         // Only update state when the set of visible caches actually changes
-        const newIds = nearby.map((c) => c.id).join(',');
+        const newIds = inCone.map((c) => c.id).join(',');
         if (newIds !== prevIdsRef.current) {
             prevIdsRef.current = newIds;
-            setVisibleCaches(nearby);
-            setIsClaiming(nearby.length > 0);
+            setVisibleCaches(inCone);
+            setIsClaiming(inCone.length > 0);
         }
     }, [playerLocation, playerHeading, activeCaches, claimDistance]);