Walking without internet

Can I use Walkable without internet?

Short answer

Yes. Recording a walk never needs a connection. Maps and route planning work offline too, as long as you have prepared an offline map for that area beforehand — Walkable then plans and guides entirely on the phone, even in aeroplane mode.

Updated · 3 min read

The Offline regions screen: 188.1 MB held on this phone, Italy listed as ready for offline walks with Repair and Delete beside it, and the rest of the 145 regions below, available to download.
The Offline regions screen: 188.1 MB held on this phone, Italy listed as ready for offline walks with Repair and Delete beside it, and the rest of the 145 regions below, available to download.

The one thing to do in advance

Offline walking depends on one preparation step: downloading the map for the area you are going to, while you still have a connection. Once that map is on the phone, Walkable stops needing the internet for that area.

This is the whole trick, and it is the thing people discover too late. A phone with no signal and no prepared map can still record a walk, but it cannot draw a map or plan a route.

Why routing works offline at all

Many walking apps ask a server to calculate a route. Walkable calculates it on the phone, using the downloaded map data. That is why a planned route appears in aeroplane mode as readily as on wifi — nothing is being asked of anybody.

Step by step

  1. Before you leave, while you still have a connectionOpen Walkable's offline maps screen and prepare the region covering where you are going.
  2. Wait for it to finishThe download can be large. Use wifi and let it complete.
  3. Check it is readyThe region should show as available on the phone rather than as a download.
  4. GoYou can now plan, follow and record walks in that area with no signal at all.

What happens next?

In a prepared area, Walkable behaves the same offline as online: the map draws, routes are planned on the phone, guidance speaks, and the walk is recorded and saved locally.

Common problems

The map is grey where I am walking

That area is not covered by a prepared offline region and there is no connection to fetch it live.

No route can be created

Route planning needs either a connection or a prepared offline map for that area.

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