New Feature: Offline Mode
New on the CalTopo mobile app is Offline mode! Have you noticed the cloud icon in the layer menu (see below)? This button will both enable and disable Offline mode.
So what is Offline mode? Offline mode tells your device to pull map layers ONLY from your downloaded storage, and to not try to retrieve the layers from your data connection. This helps your phone immediately display map layers without trying to pull them from the online server (no lag time!). However, you can stay connected to data for other purposes, such as receiving text messages or syncing live tracking.
When would you want to use offline mode? It can be especially useful in areas of poor cell/data coverage, when you have all the map tiles downloaded that you need. For instance, maybe you still want to be able to receive texts from a friend when you get that spot of service. Or maybe you are on a SAR mission and need map objects from other users or your live track to still sync when you reach a high point with a data connection. If you are fully outside of a data connection (ie. deep in the wilderness for days), airplane mode is still a better solution.
Enabling Offline mode.
You will also find that certain online overlays, such as weather stations, will work in offline mode if you still have a data or wifi connection.
Offline mode is beneficial to users that have a paid subscription allowing downloading of map layers. Offline downloads are a feature of all paid subscription levels and team accounts. If you have a free account and want to use your device offline, you can upgrade at CalTopo.com/join. Make sure you turn offline mode off when you are home planning your next outing!
This new feature is included in the mobile app version 1.21 or higher. To update your app version visit the App Store or Google Play.
Interested in learning more? Start with this section of the CalTopo user guide: Offline mode. If you have any further questions drop them below in the comments or email us at help@caltopo.com.
Happy Mapping!
I don’t understand the need for this. If you already went to the trouble of downloading layers, why do you then have to tell the app to use those layers? All this time with my gigabytes of downloaded layers, was the system ignoring them and trying to download the same data via cellular? What was the point of downloading all those layers?
Then when I get home I have to remember to turn the setting off? The app can’t tell that I’m on wifi and just do it automatically?
Thanks for taking the time to share this. We understand where your questions are coming from and we’d like to clarify a few things.
Rest assured, your downloaded layers have always been used whenever your phone doesn’t have a data connection (like when you’re in airplane mode or far out of service). They definitely haven’t been ignored.
What’s new with Offline Mode is that it gives you more control in those in-between situations: when you technically have service, but it’s weak or unreliable. In the past, the app would still try to reach out online first, which could slow down layer loading. Now, with Offline Mode on, you can tell the app to skip that step and go straight to your downloaded layers, making things faster and more consistent. Plus you can continue to use data on your phone for other purposes.
We do appreciate your suggestion about the app automatically detecting when you’re back on wifi and turning Offline Mode off and we will share that with the dev team for future consideration.
In short: Offline Mode doesn’t change how downloads work- it just puts the choice in your hands for how the app behaves in different situations.
> In the past, the app would still try to reach out online first, which could slow down layer loading
Yes! I would observe this and it would be an annoyance. Thanks for the new feature.
Is this for the paid version only?
Ken,
It’s available on the app to any user but it will only be useful if you can download map layers for offline use. This requires a paid subscription.
I have not been able to download maps to my android phone internal sd card. Is this possible?
Please send us an email to help@caltopo.com. This has changed recently.
Thanks I’ve been wishing for this!