By logging into your Gaia GPS account from the app, you will be able to back up and sync your data between your devices and gaiagps.com. You can also transfer any routes, waypoints, or folders created on the web to your device.
How Sync works
All of your data, when it's synced, is saved in the Gaia Cloud. When you're on your computer, you're accessing the Gaia Cloud directly. If you see your data on the website at gaiagps.com, then your data is saved in the Cloud. It's that simple.
In order to see data both on your mobile device and on web, toggle the Mobile Sync option to ON for data you wish to sync from web to mobile. Your mobile device must complete a sync before you'll be able to see the data on your mobile device. Learn more about Sync to Mobile here: Organize Your Data with the Sync to Mobile Feature on Gaiagps.com.
The Gaia GPS app will automatically initiate a sync if you do the following in the app:
- when you come back into cell service after being offline
- create or modify a Waypoint
- create or modify a Photo
- create or modify a Map
- create, modify, or stop recording a Track
- Recording a new track on a device, then syncing, will upload the track to the Cloud and will be viewable on the web.
- Creating a route on the web, then syncing from the app, will sync the route to the device.
How long does it take to sync?
What if I don't see the same data on my device as I do on gaiagps.com?
- First, make sure you are logged into your account. In the app, go to the Account section of the Settings menu: Settings > Account. If you are logged in, your email address will display underneath Account.
- If you are not currently logged in, tap Account > Log In. To create a new Gaia GPS account, tap "Start Exploring". Tap "Have an account? Sign In." to log in with an existing account.
Enable Sync on your Account
1. Open the Gaia GPS app. Then tap Settings > Account
2. Toggle On "Sync/Backup" on iOS or "Sync with GaiaCoud" on Android to have your data automatically backup when the app is open and connected to Wi-Fi or cell service.
| iOS | Android |
3. Tapping "Last Sync" will initiate a sync with gaiagps.com
You can now find your data and manage your account by logging into gaiagps.com
Force a Sync
The Gaia GPS app will initiate a sync whenever you are online and you:
- create or modify a Waypoint
- create or modify a Photo
- create or modify a Map
- create, modify, or stop recording a Track
However, there may be times when you want to force a sync to bring your files up to date immediately. For instance, if you update something on our website and you want to see the change reflected on your device right away. Or, if you have multiple devices and want to synchronize changes between them immediately.
Method 1 - Swipe Down on the Saved menu
1. Open the Saved menu and swipe down on the screen. Hold the swipe briefly. On iOS you'll see a refresh icon above the items in the Saved menu. On Android, you'll see a "Downloading from GaiaCloud" message and a progress bar.
| iOS | Android |
Method 2 - From Settings Menu
1. In the app, go to the Account section of the Settings menu.
2. Tap "Last Sync" to immediately trigger a sync between your device and gaiagps.com.
| iOS | Android |
3. When finished, Last Sync will show the time the sync completed.
Note: If your device is showing a sync has been completed, and you still don't see all of your data in the app, make sure that your data has mobile sync toggled on in your web account: Organize Your Data with the Sync to Mobile Feature
FAQ
Q: "Can I Sync DIRECTLY from one device to another?"
It's not possible to sync device to device. Both devices must sync with the Cloud.
To sync from device 1 to device 2 in the diagram above:
- User completes a sync from the app on device 1
- (optional) user verifies data is on www.gaiagps.com
- User completes a sync from the app on device 2
Q: “What if I inadvertently edit the same track on my iPhone and Gaia Cloud before the two have a chance to sync? How does it handle this situation?”
A: The second thing to sync will overwrite
So if you:
- edit a track in the app and do not sync
- then edit the same track on the website
- then sync your phone
- it will overwrite the changes you made on the website.
Same with multiple devices:
- edit a track in the app on device 1
- sync device 1 with the Cloud
- (before syncing) edit the same track on device 2
- sync device 2 with the Cloud
- edits from device 2 will overwrite edits from device 1
Q: “What if a track is deleted from the Cloud but it is still on one of my devices that has synced turned off - will the track be deleted as soon as sync is turned on?”
Yes, the track will be deleted from the device as soon as the sync completes. If you accidentally deleted data from the web and you are trying to save data that is still on a device, the only way to do so is to :
- Immediately put that device in airplane mode
- disable syncing on that device
- then export the data from the app
Q: “What should I do if my device says Sync Incomplete, and I use the Gaia GPS app on multiple devices?
- If you use Gaia GPS on multiple devices, first try manually syncing all of the devices to see if that helps.
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You can force sync your device(s) by following these steps:
- Open Gaia GPS > Settings > Account > tap Last Sync
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When finished, it should show the current time next to Last Sync on all of the devices.