Offline Maps and GPS Positioning
Avenza Maps turns georeferenced maps into a navigation workspace for places where mobile coverage is weak or unavailable. After a map has been saved to the device, users can open it, follow their position through the phone's GPS, read coordinates, and use compass-oriented tools without depending on a web map. This makes the app useful for hiking, cycling, field inspections, land work, and other trips beyond reliable service.
The map view keeps location controls and feature tools close to the map instead of hiding them in separate menus. Users can move around a downloaded map, check where they are, and place a marker at a meaningful location. A simple Getting Started map also gives new users a concrete way to learn the layout before relying on their own field maps.
Map Store Browsing and Library Organization
The My Maps library acts as the starting point for downloaded and imported mapping material. Users can sort maps by recently viewed status and filter the list into Map Store items, imported maps, folders and collections, active maps, inactive maps, or maps only. These controls help keep a growing library manageable when a phone contains several regions, projects, or outdoor routes.
A built-in store provides another path to topographic, recreation, travel, and specialist maps from different publishers. Search and location tools help narrow the catalog, while item cards show a title, publisher, category, thumbnail, and file size before a map is selected. The split between My Maps, Layers, and Store makes it easier to separate saved material from new map discovery.
Placemarks, Layers, and Field Notes
Map features give Avenza Maps more purpose than simply displaying a static document. Users can add placemarks to record a point of interest, campsite, work location, trail reference, or other field position. A placemark can remain linked to its map, giving the user a reusable reference that can be revisited after leaving the area or returning to the project later.
The Layers workspace organizes placemarks and other feature data separately from the map library. Users can see which map a layer is linked to, open individual feature entries, and use import or export controls for moving supported field data. This structure is especially helpful when a project needs multiple points, lines, areas, or tracks grouped together instead of scattered across unrelated maps.
Track Recording and Data Export
GPS track recording helps users capture the path of a walk, hike, ride, drive, or field survey directly against a map. A track can preserve route shape and trip details, giving outdoor users a record of where they traveled and providing field teams with a repeatable line for review. The tool is most useful when the device has working GPS and the needed map is already available.
Import and export options extend that workflow beyond a single phone. Supported map features can move through formats such as GPX or KML, while layer tools provide a place to organize, link, and share field data. Availability can vary by file type, subscription, and app version, so users should confirm the plan requirements before building a workflow around custom maps or advanced formats.
