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Saving and using Offline Maps

The onX Fish App is designed to be used without cell service, as long as you download Offline Maps before heading out.

Offline Maps save Basemap and Layer data directly to your device. All data within the boundaries of a downloaded Offline Map is available offline, even if certain Layers or Basemaps were turned off when you downloaded it.

Once you save Offline Maps to your device, tap Go Offline or put your device into airplane mode to use them. 

Your location is triangulated via satellite, so you’ll still see your position on the map without service.

In this Article

Saving Offline Maps from the Fish App

  1. Tap the Offline Maps button in the bottom toolbar.
  2. Tap New Map.
  3. Adjust the map area by dragging and zooming as necessary. The window will stop expanding when you reach the max size for the selected detail level.
  4. Choose a detail level (Low, Medium, or High), tap Next, name your map, and tap Save.

fish_app_offlinemap.png

You don’t need specific Layers or Basemaps turned on to view them offline—they’ll be included automatically if they fall within the saved map area.

💡 Tip: For large areas, save multiple Offline Maps in a grid or slightly overlapping pattern to avoid gaps.

Saving Offline Maps from your computer

While you can’t use Offline Maps on your computer, you can save them from the Web Map and download them later on your phone.

  1. Log into the Fish Map at onxmaps.com/fish.

  2. Click the Offline Maps button in the left-side toolbar.

  3. Select New Map.

💡 Tip: Use Offline Map Preview to compare detail levels before saving (only available on Web).

web_offlinemap_preview.png

Using the Fish App without Cell Service

Downloaded Offline Maps are marked with:

  • checkmark.png A green checkmark and solid green border.

Offline Maps that haven’t been downloaded yet show:

  • download.png A download icon and red/white border.

  • Tap the download icon and wait for it to complete if you want to use it offline.

fish_offlinemap_preview.gif

Enable Offline Mode by:

    • Tapping Go Offline, or

    • Turning on Airplane mode (this also saves battery).

To return online:

  • Tap the red Offline button, or turn off airplane mode.

Managing your Offline Maps

To edit or remove a downloaded map from your device and free up space, tap the three dots next to a map name in the Offline Maps menu.

  • Select Edit to change the map name or add notes.

  • Select Remove to clear local data, or Delete to remove it entirely.

💡 Tip: Offline Maps can't be repositioned—if you're not happy with where an Offline Map is saved, delete it and save a new one.

FAQs

Can I share Offline Maps with someone else?
No. Each person needs to download maps to their own device(s).

Can I save maps in landscape orientation?
No. Maps are saved in portrait orientation only.

Why isn’t the map I saved from my computer showing on my phone?
Close and re-open the app, or pull down in the Offline Maps menu to refresh.

What does “Update Available” mean?
New data is available for that map. Tap to update and ensure you’re seeing the latest info.

Will I still see my location offline?
Yes. GPS works without cell service. If your location isn’t showing, tap the location icon and/or check your device's location permissions.

What’s the difference between Low, Medium, and High resolution?

  • Low: Covers a large area, less detail.

  • Medium: Balanced clarity and coverage.

  • High: Best detail, smaller area, uses more storage.

Next article: Markups and Tracking.

< Go back to the first article: "How to use onX Fish."

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