Compass for iPhone and iPad — Support
Questions, bugs or ideas? Email hello@nextonelabs.com. A real person reads every message, usually within two business days.
Getting back
How do I use Way Back?
Open the Way Back tab and tap Start trail here at your trailhead, car or campsite. Compass records your trail, also with the screen off. To return, choose Follow trail to retrace your path, or head straight to your start with the arrow, distance and bearing. Compass warns you when dusk is near. Stop the recording at any time.
How do I find my parked car?
Tap Park here on the Compass tab when you leave the car. Later, open Car Finder for a big arrow, the distance and the walking time back. Siri, Shortcuts and a Home Screen quick action can park or find the car too.
Does Compass work without a signal?
Yes. The compass, Way Back, Car Finder, waypoints and the tools work fully offline with GPS. Map tiles and street addresses need a connection.
Permissions
Which permissions does Compass ask for, and why?
- Location (While Using the App): true north, coordinates, Way Back, Car Finder and Navigate. Compass never asks for “Always”. While a trail you started is recording, iOS keeps location on with the screen off and shows the blue location indicator.
- Precise location, one time: if you allowed approximate location only, Compass asks for precise location once when you start a trail or park, so it can bring you back accurately.
- Camera: the Sighting tool and an optional photo of your parking spot. Nothing is recorded or uploaded.
- Motion & Fitness: the barometer, for smoother altitude readings.
- Notifications: parking meter reminders that you set (Compass Pro).
You can change any of these in iOS Settings → Compass GPS. Features that don't need a permission keep working without it.
The compass points the wrong way
Move away from metal, magnets and cases with magnets, then use Settings → Calibrate compass. Settings → Sensor diagnostics shows the sensor's accuracy. True north needs a GPS fix once to look up the declination.
Backup and restore
How do I move my data to a new iPhone or iPad?
Open Settings → Backup & restore and save a .compassbackup file with your waypoints, trails, parking spots and photos (and, if you like, your settings). Save it to Files or iCloud Drive, then restore it on the new device from the same screen. Your data also moves with an iCloud Backup or computer backup of your device.
What happens to the data already on the device?
Restoring adds what's in the backup; nothing on the device is removed. If the backup holds nothing new, Compass says so. If an item is both on the device and in the backup but with differences, Compass asks Which version should be kept?: tap Use the backup's or Keep this device's. Items replaced with the backup's version can't be brought back. Stop a trail that's recording before you restore.
Compass Pro
How do I restore Compass Pro on a new device?
Pro is tied to your Apple Account. Open Settings → Restore purchases, signed in with the same Apple Account you bought it with.
How do I cancel a subscription?
On your iPhone or iPad, open Settings › [your name] › Subscriptions, or tap Manage subscription in Compass Settings. Cancel at least 24 hours before the end of the current period to avoid the next renewal. Pro keeps working until the period ends, and nothing you saved is deleted. Refunds are handled by Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com.
What does Pro add?
Trail GPX export and the Car Finder extras: meter reminders, a photo and note of the spot, several vehicles, parking history and the Home Screen widget. Way Back, Car Finder, waypoints and the tools are free. See the Terms of Use.
Privacy
Where is my data stored?
On your device. Compass has no accounts and no cloud sync, and your waypoints, trails and parking spots are never uploaded. Delete everything by deleting the app. Details are in the Privacy Policy.
Contact us
Email hello@nextonelabs.com. Tell us your device model, the iOS version and the app version (Settings → Version) so we can help faster.