Make the most of your adventures in the great outdoors with OS Locate.
About OS Locate
OS Locate is a travel & local app developed by Ordnance Survey Ltd.
How many times has OS Locate been downloaded?
OS Locate has been downloaded 320 thousand times. In the last 30 days, the app was downloaded 710 times.
What is the rating of OS Locate?
OS Locate is rated 4.00 out of 5 stars, based on 660 ratings.
Is OS Locate free?
OS Locate is free to download. The APK download size is 25.82 MB. The latest version available is 1.3.1. The last update was on November 10, 2022.
What are the requirements for OS Locate?
OS Locate requires Android 4.0+ or higher. The app has a content rating of Everyone. The app has been available on Google Play May 2014.
Description
Make the most of your adventures in the great outdoors with OS Locate. Used alongside your Ordnance Survey map, OS Locate is a fast and highly accurate means of pinpointing your exact location on the map, anywhere in Great Britain. If you have lost your bearings or simply would like a little reassurance, OS Locate is the ideal companion for all enthusiasts of the great outdoors.
The app converts GPS location readings from your mobile phone to Ordnance Survey National Grid references, enabling you to determine precisely where you are on an Ordnance Survey map. No mobile signal? No problem; OS Locate does not require a mobile signal to function – the inbuilt GPS system can be relied upon, even in the most remote areas.
Simply download the app and switch on your device’s location services (Settings – Privacy – Location services).
Compass accuracy: the app relies on your device's internal compass and if this is inaccurate the displayed compass will be incorrect as well. Accuracy generally increases the longer you have the app open and many users report moving the device in a figure-eight help calibrate the compass and gives a more accurate reading. Of course, like any compass, keep away from metallic or magnetic objects!
OS Locate is packed with additional features. The ‘Share’ button allows you to connect with friends and family via messaging and social media – let them know where you are, how your adventure is progressing and what time you will be home. Use the handy digital compass to take your bearings – always ensuring you are on the right track. For those who are keen to learn more about maps and navigation, the ‘About’ button hosts a wealth of information including hints and tips and a guide to map reading. In addition, you will find simple yet comprehensive guides on how to use eastings and northings.
OS Locate – know where you are.
OS Locate is a complementary tool for Ordnance Survey paper maps. You should always have an Ordnance Survey paper map and baseplate compass when exploring the great outdoors.
Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.
Please ensure your Location Services are turned on.
Recent changes: We’ve updated the app so it’s compatible with the latest versions of Android
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This app is great in conjunction with a paper OS map to double-check my location in the hills. Options for 8 figure grid references as well as being able to copy the grid reference and paste it in a note document etc. would make it 5 stars!!! Please look into this OS Maps! 🙏
★★★★★J W· Apr 7, 2023
Easy to use and the eastings and nothings are perfectly good enough for map location. The height is way out so perhaps a note pointing out it's based on WGS84 could be added if it can't be changed to OSGB36. It suffered from "stuck compass" syndrome, but I fixed this by first calibrating the compass in the phone location settings (move it around in a twisty, wavy way) then opening OS locate and performing the same twisty wavy maneuver. Now it matches my Silva compass bearings.
★★★★★Geoff Humphries· Aug 31, 2022
Great app, gives u accurate coordinates for ringing emergency services, and you don't need mobile internet for it to work. 10 figure grid ref is accurate to 1 m squared. Which is incredible, I wouldn't use the compass on this or any phone app as it isn't always accurate, much prefer to use a proper one. But for location its mint.
★☆☆☆☆Bruce Lockhart· Sep 18, 2023
Useless. When I try to open the parts that tell him you how it works, it says there is no PDF reader installed. There are two. The altimeter reads 60-odd meters high. The only bit that works is the compass - sometimes. My phone has a compass anyway.
★☆☆☆☆Russ Moore· Jul 24, 2023
Doesn't point in the correct direction. Makes it useless. Also doesn't locate your grid reference
★☆☆☆☆Tim Greenaway· Oct 23, 2024
Compass doesn't work unless phone is completely flat making the AR mode pointless. Altitude it shows is about 80 meters too high, I guess because it uses Location Services which has this issue. Took a while for it to provide a location as well.
★☆☆☆☆S Smith· Sep 17, 2024
This app either doesn't work or requires additional preparation doesn't tell you about? I was semi-lost in countryside tried it 1st times. Expected to see my grid reference but nothing appeared despite waiting several minutes with location switched on. Help has lots useful info on navigation but scarcely anything how to use app itself. Very disappointed. Not due my phone or conditions at location, as Great Britain Topo maps app showed my location to reasonable accuracy in few mins.-More help info pls!!
Google Play Rankings for OS Locate
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Technologies used by OS Locate
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