Installing free walking maps on Android with OruxMaps (app) and OpenAndroMaps (data)

Using the OruxMaps app and OpenAndroMaps worldwide map data, you get outstanding maps on your phone for free.

The downside is it's a bit fiddly to setup.  So here goes

Install OruxMaps
How hard can this be?  Well bizarrely, you can't just install it from the Google Play store because it 'violates the payments policy'.

• Google Search 'oruxmaps'
• Click on 'oruxmaps.com'
• scroll down to 'Current version (7.2.1)' or later
• Tap to download OruxMaps7.2.1.apk (.apk files are Application PacKage files used to install applications.  Google play usually deals with all this but you have to download it manually with Oruxmaps)
• 'This type of file can harm your device.  Do you want to keep it anyway?' click OK
• Click OK to open OruxMaps7.2.1.apk once downloaded.  (you can also access this from the 'downloads' app.
• Chrome Security 'Your phone is not allowed to install unknown apps from this source' select 'Settings'. 
• 'Install unknown apps', select 'Allow from this source' (we will revert it once Oruxmaps is installed to reinstate security).
• Hit back button 
• OruxMaps 'Do you want to install this application? It does not require any special access' select 'Install'
• Select 'Done' when app installed
• Now reinstate security (may be slightly different on your Android, but make sure you do this step): Settings, Apps & notifications, Advanced, Special app access, Install unknown apps, chrome, deselect to stop unknown apps being downloaded from Chrome.

Open OruxMaps

• Confirm you understand the software is as is 'OK'
• Allow access to files your device 'Allow'
• Confirm that you have noted some 'known problems' 'accept'
• Choose to donate if you want to (you can do this now or at a later stage when you realise how fantastic a tool that the community are creating here.
• Authorize access to files you need to do this to access the maps you download

Download and Install Rendertheme

This is where it gets a little unintuitive and is usually the bit where people give up.  Please stay with us :-) 

In addition to the raw map data, you need a 'rendertheme' that tells OruxMaps how to display the raw map data, and of course you need that raw map data.

• Google 'openandromaps' and go to www.openandromaps.org
• Sausage menu (3 lines top right), map downloads, countries and regions (Select the map region)
• Now look for the blue 'Install Rendertheme' bar, and click that.  (We'll come back to downloading the actual maps later)
• Scroll down to 'Elevate 4', Quick install in Android', 'OruxMaps'.  It should open OruxMaps and install the rendertheme :-)

Download and Install detailed country maps

Now actually install the maps

• Go to www.openandromaps.org
• Sausage menu (3 lines top right), map downloads, countries and regions (Select the map region)
• This time, look for the country/region's map you want, but DON'T download it.
• Hit the + buttone then hit 'Android Install on Oruxmaps'
• 'Map loaded OK' should appear shortly after.

Testing and Enable 'Elevate Rendertheme'

• Enable Airplane mode (ensures you aren't using the internet)
• Navigate map to the area you have downloaded.  
• You may need to change maps using the 'Switch Map' icon (second right on the top); select 'OFFLINE' and choose map.  You can see your downloaded map now (hopefully)

You won't see contour lines so you need to enable the 'Elevate Rendertheme'

• Sausage menu (3 lines top left), Mapsforge theme, Elevate.

Now you should have all the contours and paths you want.  Enjoy!

Basic OruxMaps Usage

• A very basic map of the world comes pre-installed
• 'Target' (top right) - turns GPS tracking on/off and locates you on the map
• Pan with 1 finger
• Zoom with 2 fingers
• Sometimes the 'Menu' bizarrely becomes invisible!  Touch the top of the screen and a magic menu appears.