Downloading maps for Offline Use

Some of the maps are downloaded in full the first time you select them. Larger maps automatically download data on-the-fly as you scroll around the map. But if you are planning a trip outside an area of internet connectivity (or if mobile internet data is expensive), you can download the detailed coverage you need in advance. There are a number of ways you can do this:

 

Scroll to view any part of your area of interest

Tap the Maps button on the toolbar, and Digital Map Shop. Tap Map Types if needed to select the type of map you are interested in.

Look for a listed item starting with "Package: ..."

When you tap that it will download all the maps in the package

At a later time, you can tap Maps, Menu, Check for Map Updates. This will ensure you always have a complete set of up-to-date charts for all the packages you have downloaded.

 

Plan the route you are going to travel (See Routes). Include any side trips or escape routes you might need.

Open the detailed map you want to download/activate.

Tap on a waypoint, Edit Route, or tap on a route in the overlay list.

Tap "Download Map"

Select "Along Route", and choose how wide the area of map you want surrounding your route.

Tap Start

If the map is a DMS Selections map, you are prompted to activate that area of map, if needed.

 

Create a route that encloses the area of map you want

Place the last waypoint close to the first one. It does not need to be exact, as the polygon is automatically closed

Open the detailed map you want to download/activate.

Tap on a waypoint, Edit Route, or tap on a route in the overlay list.

Tap "Download Map"

Select "Enclosed"

Tap Start

If the map is a DMS Selections map, you are prompted to activate that area of map, if needed.

 

Some detailed topo maps are extremely large (tens of GBytes), which is why we provide the route-based tools (above) to enable you to easily download just the areas you need, without filling up your device with data that you will never need to look at.

However, some seamless topo maps are a more reasonable size, and there are times when it is convenient to have the whole map downloaded for unexpected use in the field. For example, search and rescue personnel may need a map of any part of their area at short notice.

In the map list, tap the blue button beside the map you wish to download, and tap Bulk Download. If this feature is enabled for the map, click the Download Whole Map button.

This operation may take several hours. Plug your device into a power supply, leave it turned on with Memory-Map running in the foreground.

 

If you have a map that was purchased by the square kilometer, and you have migrated your license from another computer, you can easily download all the areas of the map that have been activated.

In the map list, tap the blue button beside the map you wish to download, and tap Bulk Download. If this feature is enabled for the map, click the Download Activated Areas button.

 

If you are going to leave the phone unattended while it downloads the data, plug it into a power supply and leave it turned on with Memory-Map running in the foreground.

All the map data, once loaded, is cached for future off-line use. If you want to free up some of your iPhone's memory, bring up the Map list, tap Maps on Device and Maps Everywhere. Decide which map you want to delete and tap the little blue button to the right of the map. Tap Delete Map. If the map is licensed, this does not delete the license. You can download the map again in the future and use it any time.

See also: Visualizing downloaded and activated areas

Next: Loading Your Existing Maps