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Interact with Map

Overview​

This article describes how to customize and interact with the map using buttons and gestures. How to rotate, zoom, change the view angle of the map, rotate it manually, automatically by compass or bearing.

Gestures​

Gestures are important part of the map navigation.

Map ActionGesture
MovePress on the map with one finger and move around.
SlideSwipe the map with one finger.
Zoom inDouble tap the map with one finger
Double tap the map with one finger and then swipe down
Pinch with two fingers.
Zoom outDouble tap the map with two fingers
Double tap the map with one finger and then swipe up
Pinch with two fingers.
RotateTap with two fingers on the map and rotate.
Tilt - 3DTap with two fingers on the map and then move them up/down
This option is only available with map rendering engine version 2 (OpenGL).

Slide animations could be disabled with special setting.

My Location and Zoom​

Configure screen menu

My location is a circle button that shows whether the center of the map is synchronized with My location (geolocation of the device). It is also known as "Where am I?". Generally in navigation, the map is synced with device location, and there are no needs to move the map constantly. In this case, the button is hidden and will be activated when the map and My location will go out of sync by user gesture. The app will try to find the device location and show it on the map at the center of the screen when the user clicks on it. It will switch to the 3D mode when the user click twice on it.

My location button has following indicative states:

  • Full blue icon - location is found but it is not synchronized with map
  • White icon - location is found and it is synchronized with map
  • Grey icon - location has not found yet
  • Arrow icon - 3D mode is switched on

Long tap (Android) on My location opens Map Context menu, so user can share own location.

Zoom buttons are always visible next to My Location and allow to control map zoom level. Changing zoom level doesn't change map synchronization with location. Long tap on Zoom buttons opens Map magnifier dialog and allows to change map detailing.

Keep in mind that during navigation zoom can be controlled by Auto zoom setting:

Android: Menu β†’ Settings β†’ App profiles β†’ Navigation settings β†’ Map during navigation β†’ Auto zoom map

iOS: Menu β†’ Settings β†’ App profiles β†’ Navigation settings β†’ Map during navigation β†’ Auto zoom map

My location appearance​

You can modify icons of "My Location", read more about it here.

Map magnifier​

Map magnifier is a special way to magnify the map. Essentially it works as a magnifying glass for paper maps, it allows to see the text bigger for raster maps or to see more or less details for the same scale - Read more.

Map Orientation Modes​

Menu β†’ Settings β†’ Profiles β†’ General settings β†’ Appearance β†’ Map orientation

Compass widget

The map orientation modes allow the user to select how the map is displayed on the device screen. Enabling each mode changes the way the map is oriented according to the selected option.

  1. Manually rotated. When this option is selected, the map is fixed in the current position and does not rotate automatically. You can change the orientation of the map manually using a two-pointer gesture (two-finger touch and rotate). The manual rotation mode is set by default.

  2. Movement direction. The map rotates relative to the direction of your movement known from GPS data. For details, go to Rotate map by bearing.

  3. Compass direction. The icon on the button points to the actual North, and the map moves according to the compass orientation of your device. Your device should be in as horizontal a position as possible. If your device does not have a compass sensor, the orientation of the map remains unchanged.

  4. North is up. The map is fixed in the direction of the North, which is the top edge of your device. The map does not have automatic rotation.

    • for the Android version it has hard lock the North mode (without manual rotation with two-finger touch and rotate).
    • for the iOS version you can rotate it manually with a two-pointer gesture (two-finger touch and rotate), and in this case, the map orientation mode will change to Manually rotated.

Settings for map orientation modes:

  • Map Orientation modes can be opened in the Profile settings as well as by long tapping the Compass button.

  • To quickly switch between map orientation modes:

    • For Android version:
      Double tap the Compass button located in the upper left corner of the screen, if visible.

    • For iOS version:
      Single tap the Compass button located in the upper left corner of the screen, if visible.

  • (Android only) A single tap of the Compass button rotates the map orientation to the North in all orientations. Even if it reverts after a second, such as in compass mode.

Compass​

Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Buttons β†’ Compass

Compass widget

The compass button shows how the map is oriented. The red arrow, or the direction of the arrow in Movement direction mode, indicates the North. The icon on the button indicates the current map orientation mode. Double tap (Android), One tap (iOS) the compass button toggles through all modes in turn.

Rotate Map by Bearing​

If rotate map by bearing (rotation by movement direction) is enabled, the map will be oriented so that the forward view will be strictly above the icon of my location on the map. Without movement, the map won't be rotated.
In this mode, the center of the map will be located slightly below the center of the device. It allows you to see more map data before you move, which is useful in the navigation mode.
Rotate map by bearing mode can be changed in Profile settings or by single tap the Compass.

Map Tilt and Horizon​

Tilt android 1 Tilt android 2

With new map rendering engine you can change camera tilt from 90 (no tilt) to 10 degrees. Approximately at map tilt less than 20-22 degrees (this parameter depends on zoom level), the imaginary horizon line becomes visible. Unlike the real one, the program horizon is always straight.

Under horizon you can see so-called haze or fog. This area of the map is filled with grey color, only few map details can be observed.
The use of fog is necessary, since the display of remote objects on the map requires significant computing resources and is not always justified due to map distortions at small viewing angles. So the visible distance on OsmAnd map is currently limited to 35 tiles.

info

Map tilt can be changed by long tap on the screen with two fingers and moving them up/down. You can also change tilt by tapping on the My location icon in the lower-right corner of the screen (only 45 and 90 degree positions are available).
You can not change Camera tilt when old map rendering engine (version 1) is on.

Settings​

Extra Compass Settings​

  • Use Kalman filter - Reduces noise in compass readings but adds inertia. Smoothes the rotation of the card with a slower rotation animation, although this introduces a slight delay, not more than 1 second.
    Menu β†’ Settings β†’ Profiles β†’ General settings β†’ Other β†’ Use Kalman filter

  • Use magnetic sensor - For the compass reading, use the magnetic sensor instead of the orientation sensor. Smoothes the rotation of the card with a slower rotation animation, although this introduces a slight delay, not more than 1 second.
    Menu β†’ Settings β†’ Profiles β†’ General settings β†’ Other β†’ Use magnetic sensor

No Animations​

⚠️ Android only
This feature is currently not available for the iOS version of the OsmAnd app.

You can turn off all map animations during map changes, such as gestures and buttons.
Menu β†’ Settings β†’ Profiles β†’ General settings β†’ No animations

Animate Own Position​

Android: Menu β†’ Settings β†’ App profiles
iOS: Menu β†’ Settings β†’ Profiles β†’ Navigation settings β†’ Animate own position

Creates a smooth map panning effect versus the My Position icon when in motion. The effect introduces a slight delay versus ground truth of about 1 second. Enabling this has been reported to create some pronounced lag issues under some circumstances, disable if such issues arise.

External Input Devices​

External input device buttons provide a convenient and efficient way to interact with the map and the OsmAnd application interface. They are located on external devices, such as Bluetooth or other types of keyboards, specialized buttons on vehicle navigation devices, or WunderLINQ and Parrot controllers.

One of the main functions of buttons on external input devices is to zoom in and out of the map. They also allow you to navigate the map and change its orientation without having to tap and gesture on the screen. Buttons on external input devices support many other functions, such as opening the main menu.

note

The keyboard continues to work even if the External input devices option is turned off, when None is selected.

Preconfigured Input Device​

Menu β†’ Settings β†’ Profiles β†’ General settings β†’ Other β†’ External input devices

External devices External devices

To access the settings of an external input device, you need to enable this feature.

  • Go to the main Menu β†’ Settings β†’ select the Profile β†’ General settings β†’ Other β†’ External input devices, and switch to Enabled.

  • Select a device from those supported by OsmAnd by tapping the Type item in the list:
    Keyboard,Β  WunderLINQ,Β  Parrot (Android only), or create your own type (Android only).

  • There is a different defined action-key bundle assignment for each type of external input device. Tap the Key assignments to see a list of actions and keys. The table of keys is shown below.

  • You can read more about external input device actions on GitHub in the MapActivityKeyListener package.

KeyDeviceAction
CKeyboardMy location
DKeyboardMap orientation
NKeyboardOpen Navigation view.
SKeyboardOpen Search view.
PKeyboardSwitch to the next app profile. Show toast like message App profile: Name.
OKeyboardSwitch to the previous app profile.
↑KeyboardMove up
↓KeyboardMove down
←KeyboardMove left
β†’KeyboardMove right
+KeyboardZoom in
βˆ’KeyboardZoom out
↓WunderlinqZoom out
↑WunderlinqZoom in
ESCWunderlinqOpens Wunderlinq dashboard
Menu
(legacy Android)		KeyboardDrawer
Joystick click
(legacy Android)		KeyboardMy location
Media button
(Android only)		KeyboardAV notes
←
(Android only)		ParrotZoom out
β†’
(Android only)		ParrotZoom in

Custom Input Device Type​

⚠️ Android only
This feature is currently not available for the iOS version of the OsmAnd app.

Menu β†’ Settings β†’ Profiles β†’ General settings β†’ External input devices β†’ Type β†’ +

External devices External devices

If you want to bind key assignments for an external input device (such as a keyboard, joystick, or controller), you need to create an input device type: go to the External Input Device setting, select Type from the list, tap theΒ  "οΌ‹" Β  and enter a name. Each type has a menu with actions: Rename, Duplicate, and Remove.

Add Action & Key Asssigments​

External devices External devices

After you have created a custom input type, you can assign the required actions to the keys. Big variety of action types from Quick Action widget is available.

  • Select a device type, then tap the Key assignments item.
  • Tap the Add button (Β "οΌ‹"Β ) in the bottom right corner of the screen.
  • Select the required action then tap the Add key field and tap the button on your device to assign it to the action.
note
  • If the button you assign is already being used for another action, you will receive a notification with the option to reassign the button or cancel the assignment.
  • Later you can change action and key assignments or add other key assignments for already created actions, just select an item in Key assignments list.

Delete Key assignment​

External devices

You can delete multiple unnecessary actions using the Edit button (pencil-shaped) in the upper right corner of the screen at once:

  • Remove one action per action, with theΒ  "βˆ’" Β button in the item field.
  • Remove all key assignments for the selected type by tapping the button in the upper right corner of the screen next to the Edit name.

This article was last updated in August 2024