This article covers key setup steps, performance tips, and useful tricks to help you get the most out of the onX Hunt App—whether you're scouting from your desktop or navigating in the backcountry without cell service.
Set up your device for accurate location and tracking
Accurate GPS is critical to using onX Hunt. Most devices have battery-saving features that can interfere with GPS tracking. Follow these steps to optimize your device before heading out.
iPhone and iPad:
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and turn them on. Scroll down, tap onX Hunt, and set access to Always with Precise Location on.
- Go to Settings > onX Hunt and turn on Background App Refresh.
- Go to Settings > Battery and turn off Low Power Mode.
Android:
- Go to Settings > Location and turn it on. Tap App permissions, select onX Hunt, and set access to Allow or Allow while using the App with precise location enabled.
- Go to Settings > Apps > onX Hunt > Battery and set battery usage to Unrestricted.
Use Offline Maps for uninterrupted access
Download Offline Maps before heading into the field to ensure full functionality without service.
- Use the Web Map on your computer to scout areas and save maps before your trip.
- Sync saved maps to your mobile device, then turn on Only Use Offline Maps and Airplane Mode in the field to preserve battery.
Learn more about saving and syncing Offline Maps.
Battery and performance
- Turn off unused Map Layers and hide unnecessary Markups to free up memory and improve App performance.
- Avoid device-level battery-saving modes like Low Power Mode or Adaptive Battery while navigating or tracking—these can reduce GPS accuracy.
Free up storage on your device
onX Hunt needs enough free storage to run efficiently, especially when downloading maps. Delete unused media, games, and apps if you're running low on space.
Tips and tricks
Share your location: drop a Waypoint at your current location and share it with other onX users to show exactly where you are. Your device must be online to share via link—you can use Nearby Share offline if both users have the same device type (iOS or Android).
Add a Waypoint using exact coordinates: use the Search tool to center the map on a specific latitude/longitude, then tap Add Waypoint.
Back up your Markups: export your Waypoints, Lines, Shapes, and Tracks as a backup. Note that exports don't preserve colors, icons, or line weights.