OwnTracks

OwnTracks is a free, open-source location publisher available for both iOS and Android. It's our recommended starting point — easiest setup, most battery-efficient defaults, both platforms supported.

Install

  • iOS: search the App Store for OwnTracks.
  • Android: search the Play Store for OwnTracks.

Configure

Open OwnTracks → Preferences.

  1. Mode → choose HTTP.
  2. HTTP → paste the personal URL from your admin GPS sources page (it includes your token in the path).
  3. Username / Password: leave blank.
  4. Tracker ID: a short two-character label (e.g. iP, An).
  5. Reporting → Significant for daily walking, Move for active sports / racing.

Tap the up-arrow icon to publish your current position; you should see the dot move on your live map within seconds.

Battery

OwnTracks in Significant mode typically drains less than 5% of an iPhone's battery per day, even with all-day tracking. Switch to Move mode for high-frequency sampling and back when you're done.

Offline behavior

OwnTracks buffers points locally when there's no network and flushes them when connectivity returns. Your route stays continuous through tunnels, valleys, and remote areas with no signal.

Multiple devices

Each device gets its own Tracker ID. The map labels segments by tracker so you can tell which phone produced which dots.

Troubleshooting

  • No points appearing: check that the URL in OwnTracks HTTP exactly matches what the admin page shows. Tokens are case-sensitive.
  • Points stop after the screen locks (Android): disable battery optimization for OwnTracks under Settings → Battery → Battery optimization.
  • iOS background tracking pauses overnight: this is by design — iOS enters deep sleep when stationary. Movement wakes the app instantly.

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