Quick Start
GPS Toolbox organizes its core features under three tabs:
- Home: View your current location and open measurement, track, sharing, and sensor utilities.
- Data: Browse saved records or import data from a file.
- More: Change the language, coordinate system, units, measurement algorithm, and sync mode.
First launch
- Open the app and read the location purpose message shown by iOS.
- To use maps, measurements, and most track features, choose “Allow While Using App.”
- Confirm that latitude, longitude, altitude, and accuracy appear on the Home screen.
- Select the utility you need.
If you deny location access, you can still use settings and some sensor utilities. Screens that require location show an unavailable state. To change access later, go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → GPS Toolbox.
Feature overview
| Category | Feature | Primary use |
|---|---|---|
| Measurement | Point Marking | Save a point at the map crosshair or your current location |
| Measurement | Distance | Connect points and calculate total and segment distances |
| Measurement | Area | Calculate area and perimeter from three or more vertices |
| Measurement | Altimeter | View altitude and save altitude samples |
| Measurement | Speedometer | View speed and save speed samples |
| Tracks | Record | Continuously record route, speed, altitude, and duration |
| Tracks | Follow Track | Follow a saved track and monitor progress and off-route distance |
| Sharing | Live Sharing | Share member locations in a temporary group |
| Utilities | Compass | View heading, magnetic north, and accuracy |
| Utilities | Level | View pitch, roll, and level status |
| Utilities | Magnetic Field | View magnetic field strength and three-axis readings |
| Utilities | Watermark Camera | Take photos with location, altitude, speed, and notes |
| Utilities | Map | Browse Apple Maps and your current location |
Common actions
Measurement screens generally provide two sampling methods:
- Mark Crosshair Position: Pan the map until the center crosshair is over the target, then tap the button. This is a map-selected point and does not represent the device’s actual location.
- Mark My Location: Sample the device’s current location and record available accuracy, altitude, speed, and related fields.
Tap a point on the map to open its details. In edit mode, you can rename it, add a note, attach photos or videos, copy coordinates, open it in another map app, or delete it.
Drafts and saving
After you create or edit content, the app keeps a recovery draft. If the app closes unexpectedly, the same feature can offer to restore or discard it. A record appears under Data only after you tap the save button, enter a name, and confirm.
Safety notice
GPS, altitude, speed, heading, and magnetic-field readings are affected by the device, environment, obstructions, and system algorithms. They are not substitutes for surveying, aviation, marine, medical, emergency, or other professional instruments.
Next: Home and current location or Permissions and troubleshooting.