Navigation by route
This article is incomplete
This article is incomplete & needs to be reviewed. You can help by creating a pull request.
The navigation function allows you to reach your destination easily using voice guidance (optional).
How to use
To start the navigation, you need to use the navigation button on the map screen. Or choose navigation option in the main menu:
Android Menu → NavigationiOS 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.
- 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.
As soon as your points are selected, the app will create a route and will start guiding you after you tap "Start" 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).
Navigation options
- Sound - allows to switch on/off navigation prompts and to open Voice prompts menu.
- Driving style (bicycle..) - allows to choose driving style for bicycle navigation type: Prefer unpaved roads, Prefer byways, Balanced, Shorter routes.
- Use elevation data (bicycle..) - allows to avoid strong uphills: Flat, Less hilly, Flat.
- Use motorways (bicycle..) - 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.
- 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.
Navigation route
Details
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
You can find route line menu by following this path:
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 |
![]() |
"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. |
![]() |
"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. |
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
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 |
![]() ![]() |
"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. |
![]() ![]() |
"Custom" – It allows you to show the line in some preferred width. Select the width using the slider. |
![]() ![]() |
Turn Arrows
Select whether turn arrows are indicated on the route line or not.
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
You can find route line menu by following this path:
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 |
![]() |
"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. |
![]() |
"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. |
![]() |
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 |
![]() ![]() |
"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. |
![]() |
"Custom" – It allows you to show the line in some preferred width. Select the width using the slider. |
![]() |
Turn Arrows
Select whether turn arrows are indicated on the route line or not.
![]() |
![]() |
Type of navigation
Link to Navigation profiles
Custom routing
Link to Tech Documentation
Background navigation
Navigation instruction in the background mode.
Sound
Voice prompts in backgroun during navigation. Voice navigation.
Notification
Notification info: Turn-by-turn instructions; arrows; arrival time and time to go, current speed.
Buttons:
- Stop - allows to stop your navigation.
- Pause - allows to pause your navigation.
- Resume - allows to resume your navigation.
Turn on screen
Android Menu → Configure profile → General settings → Screen control
Screen timeout:
- Use system screen timeout - the screen will go blank depending on the device settings.
- Timeout after wake-up - if the previous setting is disabled, then you can set the time after which the device screen will go blank if you do not interact with it.
Turn screen on. Select screen wake-up options (make sure OsmAnd is in the foreground when the device is being locked):
- Proximity sensor - waving your hand across the screen will turn it on.
- Navigation instructions - each navigation instruction will turn the screen on.
- Power button - pressing the device power button will turn the screen on with OsmAnd on top of the lock screen.