If you want to use the onX Offroad App without cell service, download Offline Maps to your device before you leave service. Offline Maps save aerial imagery, topography, and trail data directly to your device so you can navigate confidently in areas with no signal.
Your GPS location updates without service, provided your phone or tablet has a GPS receiver—almost all modern smartphones and cellular-enabled tablets do. Check your device's location services settings or manufacturer specifications to confirm.
Saving an Offline Map
Offline Maps can be saved from the onX Offroad App or the Web Map. If you save an Offline Map from the Web Map, you'll need to download it from the Offline Maps list on your mobile device before it's ready to use offline.
To save and download an Offline Map, open the Offline Maps menu and tap New Map.
Position and resize the box to cover the area you want to download.
- Zoom in or out and drag to reposition or resize the download area.
- Choose your detail level and tap Next.
- Name your map and tap Save.
Using Offline Maps in the field
Once your maps are downloaded, tap Go Offline in the Offline Maps menu to use them.
To return online, tap the red Offline button in the Offline Maps menu.
Managing saved Offline Maps
Tap the ellipsis to the right of any map's name in the Offline Maps menu to access the following options:
- Edit—change the map's name to make it easier to find when sorting.
- Update—download the latest version of a saved map. If it's been a few weeks or more since you last saved your maps, update them before you leave service.
-
Remove from Device—remove the map from your device but keep it saved to your account. Download it again later by tapping the download icon
.
- Delete—remove the map from all your devices and delete it from your account permanently.
To sort your saved maps, tap the Sort bar under the New Map button.
- New to Old—most recently created maps appear first.
- Old to New—oldest maps appear first. Useful for cleaning up maps you don't need anymore.
- Ascending (0-9, A-Z)—maps starting with numbers appear first in ascending order, followed by maps starting with letters in alphabetical order.
- Descending (Z-A, 9-0)—maps starting with letters appear first in reverse alphabetical order, followed by maps starting with numbers counting down from 9.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between Low, Medium, and High detail?
Higher detail means more map data is downloaded and visible at closer zoom levels, but also means a larger file size. High detail is recommended for trips where you'll be zoomed in closely—technical terrain, complex trail systems, or areas where precision matters. Low detail works well for reference maps of a broader area.
Will I still see my location when I'm offline?
Yes. GPS works without cell service and almost all modern smartphones have a receiver. If your location isn't showing, tap the Location button and check that your device's location permissions are enabled for the App.
Why isn't the map I saved from my computer showing on my phone?
Make sure you're logged in to the same account on both devices and that both are connected to the internet. Then close and reopen the App, or drag down from near the top of the Offline Maps menu to refresh the list.
What does "Update Available" mean?
New map data is available for that area. Tap it to update before heading out to make sure you're working with the latest trail and imagery data.
Can I share my Offline Maps with someone else?
No. Offline Maps are saved to individual devices and can't be transferred. Anyone joining your trip needs to download their own maps to their own device.
The detail in my saved area looks wrong—what should I do?
Delete the map and re-download it. Make sure you're connected to a strong Wi-Fi signal before downloading, especially for higher-detail maps of larger areas.