Documentation

User
Guide

This guide explains the built-in functionality of OutdoorCaptain. Features marked Beta are under active development and may not behave as expected.

Found a bug or missing a feature? Open an issue on our GitHub repository . We hope OutdoorCaptain helps you out there.

Top Bar

OutdoorCaptain top bar screenshot
Search

Search for addresses and points of interest (POI) anywhere on the map.

Download Region

Downloads the currently visible map region for offline use. Ensure you have zoomed in to the desired area before downloading — downloading at a low zoom level is not supported. The maximum storage limit for offline maps on the device is 200 MB. This feature is only available for the topographic map layer. Satellite imagery may be partially available through the map tile cache.

List

Lists all downloaded offline regions. Each entry can be navigated to — which moves the map camera to the centre of that region — or deleted to free up storage.

Premium Subscription

When a premium feature is selected without an active subscription, a prompt will appear at the bottom of the screen. Choosing Proceed opens the in-app store where a premium subscription can be purchased via Google Play.

3D View

OutdoorCaptain 3D topographic view

The map is always rendered in 3D mode. To experience the terrain in three dimensions, tilt the camera angle by swiping upward with two fingers.

Scale Bar

OutdoorCaptain scale bar

The scale bar adapts dynamically to the current zoom level, providing a real-world distance reference to compare against map features.

Compass Button

OutdoorCaptain compass button

Tapping the compass button resets the map camera bearing so that North points to the top of the screen.

Position

OutdoorCaptain position button

Pressing this button opens a window showing your current altitude, latitude, and longitude.

Note: Accuracy depends on GPS signal quality. If no GPS signal is available, the mobile network will be used to estimate your position, which can be significantly less accurate.

Weather Radar

OutdoorCaptain weather radar

Displays an animated rain radar showing precipitation movement over the previous 120 minutes.

Disclaimer: No warranty of accuracy or correctness is given for this data. Use this feature at your own risk.

Recenter Camera

OutdoorCaptain recenter camera button

Recentres the map view on your current position as determined by the device's GPS sensor or mobile network.

Route Tools

OutdoorCaptain route tools button

Opens the Route Tools dialogue where you can select a route or tracking tool.

OutdoorCaptain route tools panel
Start Collecting GPX

Starts a background service that records your location periodically every 30 seconds. Recording continues until you tap Stop Collecting GPX. After stopping, you can name the trace before it is saved to the app's private storage on the device.

Load GPX

Load a GPX file for display on the map. Two options are available: load a trace previously recorded by OutdoorCaptain, or select any GPX file from the device filesystem. Recorded traces that are no longer needed can be deleted from within the selection screen.

Plan Route

Create a route by tapping the map to place waypoints. The route is annotated with the altitude at each waypoint, gradient information, and total length. Long-press the destination to finalise and name the route — it will be saved to your device.

Note: An on-road route will be calculated where possible. For best results, ensure waypoints are placed within 50 m of the road network.
Load Route

Load or delete a route you previously planned and saved.

AR Finder Beta

Select a location on the map. OutdoorCaptain will switch to the AR camera view and overlay a marker showing the direction and distance to that location through the live camera feed.

Satellite View

OutdoorCaptain satellite view button

Switches the map to a high-resolution satellite imagery layer for detailed terrain exploration.

Note: Offline download is not available for the satellite layer at this time. Cached tiles from previous sessions may be available.

Unlock Map

OutdoorCaptain unlock map button

Unlocks the map orientation so that it rotates to follow your heading direction. The device is assumed to be held with the top pointing in the direction of travel.