Navigation by route
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The navigation function allows you to reach your destination easily using voice guidance (optional).
There are the next navigation profiles (type of navigation) by default: Driving, Cycling, Walking, Truck, Motorcycle, Public transport, Boat, Aircraft, Skiing, Horseback riding.
note
Truck, Motorcycle, Aircraft and Horseback riding profiles are switched off by default. You need to activate these profiles.
- Android
- iOS
How to use
- Android
- iOS
To start the navigation, you need to use the navigation button on the map screen. Or choose navigation option in the main menu:
Menu → Navigation
Next, you'll need to set the starting point and the destination. As for the starting point, you can choose your current location, Favorite location, select a point on the map or use an address. You can also set a starting point by long tap on the map and choosing Directions from in Map Context menu. To navigate to a point, just press the navigation button in its context menu.
Tap to From: (your current position by default) or From: for select Start-Finish points of your navigation:
- Search - opens the search menu for choosing point.
- Address - opens address search menu for choosing point.
- My Position - allows to choose Your position for point.
- Select on map - opens the map for choosing point by tapping on the map.
- Favorites - allows to choose Favorite for point.
- Markers - allows to choose Map marker for point.
- Swap Starting point and Destination - allows to change Start <-> Finish points.
"Swap Starting point and Destination" and "+" buttons:
"↓↑"Swap Starting point and Destination - allows to change Start <-> Finish points.
"+" - allows to add intermediate points for navigation.
"🖉" - allows to open destination the points list ("Destinations") for edition.
The points list:
- "←" - moves to Navigation menu screen.
- "Sort" - opens the sort menu with next options of sorting destinations points: Sort door-to-door, Reverse starting point & destination, Reverse all points, Add intermediate, Clear all intermediate points.
- "✕" - allows to delete destination point from the points list.
- "=" - allows to change point order in the points list.
- "+ Add" button - opens context menu "Add intermediate".
- "☰ Clear all intermediate points" button - allows to clear all points.
As soon as your points are selected, the app will create a route and will start guiding you after you tap "Start" button. To stop your navigation mode, tap on the "Dismiss" button.
When the navigation is running, you can press the home button. You will get the message 'OsmAnd is running in the background'. This means that even if you turn the screen off or exit the active app window, you'll still get voice prompts. For Android versions other than 3.3, we have added the “Turn on screen” option. This allows you to show the map on the lock screen during navigation. Now, this function does not request any permissions for the correct operation. You can use it to save phone power. The function is configured separately for each profile. To configure, you need to select a profile that supports navigation and go to Profile settings - General settings - Screen control and enable the Screen timeout option (move the slider to the ON state - should turn blue).
To start navigation, you can use the navigation button on the map screen. Or choose navigation item in the main menu:
Menu → Navigation
Next, you'll need to set the starting point and the destination. As for the starting point, you can choose your current location, Favorite location, select a point on the map or use an address. You can also set a starting point by long tapping on the map and choosing 'Directions from' in Map Context menu. To navigate to a point, just press the navigation button in its context menu.
Tap to From (your current position by default) or From for select Start-Finish points of your navigation:
- Search - opens the search menu for choosing point.
- Address - opens address search menu for choosing point.
- My Position - allows to choose Your position for point.
- Select on map - opens the map for choosing point by tapping on the map.
- My Favorites - allows to choose Favorite for point.
- Map markers - allows to choose Map marker for point.
- Swap start and destination - allows to change Start <-> Finish points.
Swap start and destination and "+" buttons:
Swap start and destination - allows to change Start <-> Finish points.
"+" - allows to add intermediate points for navigation.
"🖉" - allows to open destination the points list ("Destinations") for edition.
The points list:
- "Options" - opens the sort menu with next options of sorting destinations points: Sort door-to-door, Reverse starting point & destination, Add waypoint, Clear all intermediate points.
- "✕" - allows to delete destination point from the points list. At first, you need to side-move the point line.
- "☰" - allows to change point order in the points list.
- "☰ Clear all intermediate points" button - allows to clear all intermediate points from the list.
- "POI" button - allows to choose categories of POI for showing on the map.
- "My Favorites" button - allows showing the info of your Favorites points on the widget with editing distance from your location to Favorite.
- "Traffic warnings" button - allows showing the info about Traffic Warnings on your way. Tapping on "✕" button near the warning delete it from your navigation way.
As soon as your points are selected, the app will create a route and will start guiding you after you tap "Start" button. To stop your navigation mode, tap on the "Cancel" button.
When the navigation is running, you can press the home button. You will get the message 'OsmAnd is running in the background'. This means that even if you turn the screen off or exit the active app window, you'll still get voice prompts.
Navigation settings
- Android
- iOS
Menu → Navigation → Settings
Settings of Route parameters for Navigation profile you can find here.
- Sound - allows to switch on/off navigation prompts and to open Voice prompts menu.
- Riding style (Navigation type - Cycling) - allows to choose driving style for bicycle navigation type: Prefer unpaved roads, Prefer byways, Balanced, Shorter routes.
- Use elevation data (Navigation type - Cycling) - allows to avoid strong uphills: Flat, Less hilly, Flat.
- Use motorways (Navigation type - Cycling) - allows to avoid or prefer motorways.
- Avoid roads… - allows to select a road you want to avoid during navigation, either on the map.
- Show along the route - allows to shows POI, My Favourites, Traffic warnings along the route.
- Follow track - allows to choose a track for navigation by it.
- Allow private access - allows to navigate to private zone.
- Fuel-efficient way - calculates navigation by fuel-efficient algorithm.
- Consider temporary limitations - allows to consider temporary limitations.
- Navigation settings - opens Navigation settings of app profile.
- Customize route line - opens menu of Route line customization.
- Simulate navigation - allows to simulate your navigation.
Menu → Navigation → Settings
- Sound - allows to switch on/off navigation prompts and to open Voice prompts menu.
Route parameters:
Settings of Route parameters for Navigation profile you can find here.
- Avoid roads - allows to select a road you want to avoid during navigation, either on the map.
- Driving style (Navigation type - Cycling) - allows to choose driving style for bicycle navigation type: Prefer unpaved roads, Prefer byways, Balanced, Shorter routes.
- Use motorways (Navigation type - Cycling) - allows to avoid or prefer motorways.
- Preferred terrain (Navigation type - Cycling) - allows to choose routes with a hilly relief profile for bicycle navigation type: Any, Less hilly, Flat, Hilly.
- Fuel-efficient way - calculates navigation by fuel-efficient algorithm.
- Prefer unpaved roads - allows to prefer unpaved over paved roads for routing.
- Prefer hiking routes - allows to avoid certain routes and prefer celected routes.
- Prefer tactile paving - allows to avoid road types and prefer tactile paving.
- Allow private access - allows to navigate to private zone.
- Goods vehicles restrictions - consider access permissions for light goods vehicles (goods).
- Consider temporary limitations - allows to consider temporary limitations.
Advanced:
- Follow track - allows to choose a track for navigation by it.
- Navigation settings - opens Navigation settings of app profile.
- Customize route line - opens menu of Route line customization.
- Simulate navigation - allows to simulate your navigation.
Home - Work points
Special points of Favorites in Navigation menu for quickly access.
Previous route
Last route which you built for navigation.
Displayed tracks
List of shown track on the map. Clicking by one of it opens Follow track menu function.
History
Tracks list.
- Android
- iOS
Menu → Settings → OsmAnd settings → History
Menu → Settings → OsmAnd settings
Simulate navigation
- Android
- iOS
When the navigation route is built. You can start to simulate a motion by this way using features "Simulate navigation".
Android Menu → Navigation → Settings → Simulate navigation. Enable the feature and starting navigation.
You can choose "Speed mode" settings for the speed of simulation navigation: Android Menu → Navigation → Settings → Simulate navigation → ⚙
- Fast preview mode - The speed of the simulation will be maximum on straight sections and slow down only at intersections.
- Fixed speed - The simulation will be performed with constant selected speed.
- Realistic simulation - On straight road sections, speed will be approximate to the maximum allowed speed. At intersections, the simulation will slow down. Extra penalties will be applied on traffic signals, stop signs, etc.
When you click on "Start" button, your simulation of navigation will start.
For stop the simulation of navigation you need to click on "Navigation" button → "Dismiss" button.
When the navigation route is built. You can start to simulate a motion by this way using features "Simulate navigation".
iOS Menu → Navigation → Settings → Simulate navigation. Enable the feature and starting navigation.
You can choose "Speed mode" settings for the speed of simulation navigation: iOS Menu → Navigation → Settings → Simulate navigation → …|
- Fast preview mode - The speed of the simulation will be maximum on straight sections and slow down only at intersections.
- Fixed speed - The simulation will be performed with constant selected speed.
- Realistic simulation - • On straight road sections, speed will be approximate to the maximum allowed speed. • At intersections, the simulation will slow down. • Extra penalties will be applied on traffic signals, stop signs, etc.
When you click on "Start" button, your simulation of navigation will start.
For stop the simulation of navigation you need to click on "Navigation" button → "Cancel" button.
Navigation route
If you have selected the engine type in the vehicle parameters, the CO2 footprint data will be displayed above the graph.
- Android
- iOS
Menu → Navigation
Menu → Navigation
Route Details
In the OsmAnd app, you can find detailed information about the whole route, analyze it on the map, add or delete information on route segments, print the route plan, save the route and share it.
There are three ways to access the Route Details menu:
- Go to the main Menu → Navigation, set the route, and press the Details button.
- Tap the Navigation icon on the map screen, set the route, and tap the Details button.
- Go to the My Places menu, tap any available track in the list Menu → My Places → Tracks, select the Navigation icon in the track context menu in the Overview, and tap Details.
- Android
- iOS
Main information: Total distance, Estimated travel time/Estimated time of arrival, Graph with details. |
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Analyse on map - This option allows you to interactively view track information with graphs and a map. |
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The features with map legend: Road type, Surface, Steepness, Surface firmness, Slope, Smoothness, Winter and ice roads, Difficulty of horse trails, Speed and Altitude. |
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Turn-by-turn information - You can view the details of separate sections of the route by tapping the needed one. |
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Print button - You can print a turn-by-turn description of the route with the total distance and estimated travel time, or save it as a pdf. |
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Save as new track button. |
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Share buttons: Share as GPX file and Save to OsmAnd tracks |
Main information: Total distance, Estimated travel time/Estimated time of arrival, Graph with details. |
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Analyse on map - This option allows you to interactively view track information with graphs and a map. |
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The features with map legend: Road type, Surface, Steepness, Surface firmness, Slope, Smoothness, Winter and ice roads, Difficulty of horse trails, Speed and Altitude. |
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Save as new track button. |
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Export button: Export as GPX file or Share as link |
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info
Share link.
Each link consists of parts containing specific information. For example:
https://osmand.net/map?start=52.310331,4.863615&end=52.327645,4.863272&mode=pedestrian#15/52.3161/4.8658.
- start=52.310331,4.863615- coordinates of the start point.
- If the coordinates are not specified, My Location is used.
- end=52.327645,4.863272 - coordinates of the end point.
- mode=pedestrian - type of navigation, which depends on the selected profile.
- #15/52.3161/4.8658 - zoom level and map center coordinates.
note
The display of some details depends on the availability of map section information, GPS data, subscriptions, or a profile setting.
Route line appearance
This menu allows you to adapt the route line appearance. If there are some changes to your route, you can customize them using this menu. Its could be like, changes in elevation while driving, next significant uphill or downhill, ice, unpaved roads, autobahns, etc. In the items of this menu you will be able to change all these parameters by colour or just apply any colour and transparency to the line. Besides, if necessary, you can change the width of the line and the display of the angle at turns.
note
- Android
- iOS
User profile → Settings → Configure profile → Navigation settings → Customize route line
Colour
Select a route line's colour by types.
"Map style" – Map style is used with default colours. You can see a full description of the colours by clicking here Map style |
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"Custom" – It allows you to show the line in any preferred colour and transparency. You can select different settings for the day map and separately for the night map. |
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"Altitude" – It shows the height on the route point as green-yellow-red gradient. Where green represents lowest point of the route, yellow - median height points and red the highest points. If the route altitude difference is < 100 m, gradient is applied partially or not applied i.e. for a simple uphill route from 100 m to 150 m - the gradient will be green-yellow. Please note that the colour doesn't represent the absolute height value. |
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Width
Select a route line's width.
"Map style" – It's used with default width. You can see a full description of the map style by clicking there Map style |
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"Thin width / Medium width / Bold width" – You can choose the width of the line according to the width of the road or highlight the line of the route on the map more strongly. |
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"Custom" – It allows you to show the line in some preferred width. Select the width using the slider. |
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Turn Arrows
Select whether turn arrows are indicated on the route line or not.
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Menu → Settings → App profiles → Navigation settings → Customize route line
Colour
Select a route line's colour by types.
"Map style" – Map style is used with default colours. You can see a full description of the colours by clicking here Map style |
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"Custom" – It allows you to show the line in any preferred colour and transparency. You can select different settings for the day map and separately for the night map. |
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"Altitude" – It shows the height on the route point as green-yellow-red gradient. Where green represents lowest point of the route, yellow* - median height points and red** the highest points. If the route altitude difference is < 50 m, gradient is not applied i.e. for a simple uphill route from 100 m to 120 m. Please note that the colour doesn't represent the absolute height value. |
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Width
Select a route line's width.
"Map style" – It's used with default width. You can see a full description of the map style by clicking there Map style |
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"Thin width / Medium width / Bold width" – You can choose the width of the line according to the width of the road or highlight the line of the route on the map more strongly. |
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"Custom" – It allows you to show the line in some preferred width. Select the width using the slider. |
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Turn Arrows
Select whether turn arrows are indicated on the route line or not.
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Type of navigation
Navigation type is rules how the route will be calculated. This rules content in routing.xml file for offline OsmAnd routing. For Android version of OsmAnd there is an opportunity to set Online routing by providers.
- Android
- iOS
There are next routing engines for OsmAnd in Navigation settings for profile:
Offline OsmAnd routing: Boat, Bicycle, Direct-to-point, Car, On foot, Public transport, Ski, Straight line, Horseback riding..
Online routing uses online providers services: (Graphhopper, OSRM, Routing OSM DE, GPX.
There is OsmAnd engine for offline navigation. For choosing navigation type: Navigation settings for profile:
Custom routing
OsmAnd allows modification routing.xml file for routing. It means that you can update the routing algorithm for your needs. More info about it you may find in Technical documentation and on OsmAnd Github page.
- To change the routing.xml file, you first need to copy it. Read the Help information carefully. OsmAnd user's routing.xml file for an example.
- To add a new routing.xml file to OsmAnd, just tap on the file and open it in OsmAnd.
- Select the Navigation type for your profile.
Background navigation
When you have created a route and started navigating. You can use it in the background. You receive voice prompts and silent notifications. This mode is important for low battery consumption.
Sound
Set your voice prompts and listen to navigation prompts. Voice navigation.
Notification
Android only
You can see notification info in Drop-down system menu: Turn-by-turn instructions, arrows, arrival time and time to go, current speed.
Active buttons on Drop-down system menu for your navigation:
- Stop - allows to stop your navigation.
- Pause - allows to pause your navigation.
- Resume - allows to resume your navigation.
Screen control
Android only
You can control the screen of your device to save power. This mode has two general settings: Screen timeout and Turn screen on.
Menu → Configure profile → General settings → Screen control
Screen timeout
- Use system screen timeout - the screen will turn off depending on the device settings. Enable it to use Turn the screen off according to the system screen timeout. The "Change settings" button opens the system menu.
- Timeout after wake-up - If the "Keep screen on" option is enabled, the device screen does not apply a timeout. If the previous option is disabled, you can set the time after which the device screen will turn off if you do not interact with it.
Turn screen on
Select options to wake up the screen. Make sure OsmAnd is in the foreground while the device is locked.
- Proximity sensor - if you run your hand over the screen, it will turn on.
- Navigation instructions - each navigation instruction causes the screen to turn on.
- Power button - pressing the device power button will turn the screen on with OsmAnd on top of the lock screen.