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Navigational Widgets

Overview​

Navigational widgets are enabled during navigation to display information such as distance, arrival or left time, next turns, bearing, current street name, lane information, max speed, approaching alerts, POIs, and waypoints.

Navigational widgets all

Active and passive navigation​

Navigational widgets are mostly used with active or passive navigation with navigational profiles, so they are not available in the Browse Map profile.

Active navigation requires setting a destination, calculating the route (Directions), and starting navigation (Go), not necessarily with voice guidance. All navigational widgets support that type of navigation.

Passive navigation doesn't require a destination point set and works automatically once you switch to any navigational profile, for example, 'Driving'. In that case, the application will try to determine which road you are following and display extra information about it i.e. name, lane info, max speed available. Please note that this approach is quite unreliable and doesn't support all features.

Elevation widget​

⚠️ Android only
This feature is currently not available for the iOS version of the OsmAnd app.
note
This widget you can use only with Pro feature OsmAnd Pro subscribers.

The Elevation widget shows a graph with the elevation and slope of your navigation route and your current location on this graph with current altitude and slope. The graph is plotted on two axes. The X-axis is the distance of your route. The Y-axis is the altitude, the value depends on the relief, and the slope is displayed as a percentage.

Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Bottom panel β†’ Available widgets β†’ Elevation profile

Elevation widget

Interactions with the graph​

  • Zoom in/out. By default, the graph shows the route from the current location up to 10 km ahead. You can use two-finger movement to zoom in and out for a more detailed view of altitude changes on your route. You can also move the graph to the right, forward on the route, and backward to the current location.
  • Place a point on the graph. If you want to see the altitude and degree value at a particular point ahead on your route, you can tap anywhere on the graph and a pointer with the values will appear.

What's in​

When you select a route and press the Start button, the map opens with your current location, the route on it, and the widget at the bottom of the screen. On the widget, you can see the graph and information about Uphill, Downhill, Grade, distance, altitude, and slope angle. You can select the optimal scale and see all possible obstacles on your route.

  • All values are indicated either for the whole route or only for the selected interval by scaling the graph.
  • Read about the license for the DEM data used by OsmAnd to determine elevation.
Location Pin
The data on the graph of your Current location contains the location icon, altitude, and percent slope value. The right side of the widget contains data about the highest altitude and slope, the average value for both, and the lowest altitude and slope on the selected route section visible on the graph.
point
Additional information
The right side of the widget contains data about the highest altitude and slope, the average value for both, and the lowest altitude and slope on the selected route section visible on the graph.
data
The Uphill and Downhill values are the sums of the distances from your location point to the end of the visible graph. If there is no location point on the graph, then it is the sum of the entire visible graph on the screen (this can happen when you change the scale and the location goes outside the graph).
Uphill – shows the sum of all distances with increasing altitude from your location point to the end of the visible graph or for the selected section of the route without the location point visible on the screen.
uphill scheme uphill scheme
Downhill – shows the sum of all distances with decreasing altitude from your location point to the end of the visible graph or for the selected section of the route without the location point visible on the screen.
downhill scheme downhill scheme
Grade is the ratio of the path to the horizontal, where zero indicates horizontality and the number of degrees indicates a higher or steeper degree of slope.
Grade – shows the maximum road slope in percent from your location point to the end of the visible graph or for the selected section of the route without the location point visible on the screen.
grade scheme grade scheme

Bearing widget​

Bearing is the direction to a target outside your vehicle, such as a destination or point of origin. A bearing can be Relative (according to your course) or, Magnetic (according to the compass). For example, a magnetic bearing of 180Β° is the direction to the south, and a relative bearing of 180Β° is directly behind you. The cardinal points are the four main directions of the compass. They are North (N - 0Β° or 360Β°), East (E - 90Β°), South (S - 180Β°), and west (W - 270Β°).

Trip recording widget

Trip recording widget Trip recording widget

EnableAndroid: Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Widgets β†’ Choose a panel β†’ Bearing
iOS: Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Widgets β†’ Choose a panel β†’ Magnetic bearing or Relative bearing
Long tapOpens the Context menu of the widget
FormatAndroid: You can change the data display format for angular units: Menu β†’ Configure profile β†’ General settings β†’ Units & formats β†’ Angular unit
iOS: You can change the data display format for angular units: Menu β†’ Settings β†’ App profiles β†’ General settings β†’ Units & formats β†’ Angular measurement units

How it works​

To display the bearing, a target point must be selected. If a destination point (or the first intermediate point, if there is one) is selected for navigation, it will be used as the target point. Otherwise, the topmost selected marker will be used.

  • Relative bearing is the angle between your forward movement direction and the target point. The forward movement direction is either the direction of your movement obtained from the GPS sensors or if you are standing where you have pointed your device (i.e. the orientation of your device according to its magnetic compass). Example: An object with a relative bearing of 0Β° is directly in front of you and an object with a relative bearing of 180Β° is directly behind you. The relative bearing is the angle between your forward direction and the target point.

  • Magnetic bearing is the clockwise (horizontal) angle between the magnetic north and the target point observed from your location. It is the magnetic compass value that you must follow to reach that target. Example: If the magnetic bearing is shown as 0Β° M, you need to move strictly towards the magnetic north to reach the target point.

  • True bearing is expressed as the horizontal angle between the geographic meridian and a line on Earth. Specifically, true point bearing is the angle measured in degrees clockwise from the True North line. OsmAnd software will show you the true bearing and heading in our user-friendly interface, making it easy for you to make the right decision early on.

  • Relative bearing. If you stick to a relative bearing of 0 degrees and move forward, you will arrive at the destination point, but not by the shortest route ( Rhumb line ).
  • Magnetic bearing. If you align the compass on your boat/vehicle with the widget value and head forward, you will arrive at your destination, but not by the shortest route ( Rhumb line ).

Navigation point widgets show the remaining distance to a destination, intermediate point, arrival time to an intermediate point, or travel time for a calculated route.

Distance to destination​

Destination widget

The widget displays the distance left to the last destination point when following a calculated route.

EnableAndroid: Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Widgets β†’ All panels β†’ Distance to destination
iOS: Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Widgets β†’ Choose a panel β†’ Distance to destination
By tappingMoves the map to the destination point.
Long tapOpens the Context menu of the widget

Distance to intermediate​

Intermediate destination widget

The widget shows the distance to the first intermediate point along the calculated route. After passing intermediate points, the space will be updated to the next intermediate point. If there are no intermediate points, the widget is not displayed.

EnableAndroid: Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Widgets β†’ Choose a panel β†’ Distance to intermediate*
iOS: Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Widgets β†’ Choose a panel β†’ Distance to intermediate
By tappingOne intermediate point - move the map to the intermediate point.
Two or more intermediate points - opens Destinations list menu.
Long tapOpens the Context menu of the widget

Time to intermediate​

Arrival time Time to go widget Arrival time Time to go widget

The widget shows the Arrival time or Time to go to the first intermediate point. During navigation, the time is constantly updated, and as soon as an intermediate point is passed, the time will be updated to the next one. For example, if you stop navigation, the Time to go will remain unchanged and the Arrival Time will be equal to the Time to go plus the Current Time.

EnableAndroid: Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Widgets β†’ Choose a panel β†’ Time to intermediate
iOS: Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Widgets β†’ Choose a panel β†’ Time to intermediate
By tappingChanges between Arrival time to Time to go and the reverse.
Long tapOpens the Context menu of the widget

Time to destination​

Intermediate Arrival time Time widget

The widget shows the Arrival time or Time to go to the last destination point. The time is constantly updated during navigation and is equal to the route time from your current location.

EnableAndroid: Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Widgets β†’ Choose a panel β†’ Time to destination
iOS: Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Widgets β†’ Choose a panel β†’ Time to destination
By tappingChanges between Arrival time to Time to go and the reverse.
Long tapOpens the Context menu of the widget

Speed limit​

The widget displays the speed limit on the current road you are traveling on. It works in passive and active navigation mode. Data is taken from OpenStreetMap project.

Speed limit widget

EnableAndroid: Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Widgets β†’ Choose a panel β†’ Speed limit
iOS: Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Widgets β†’ Choose a panel β†’ Speed limit
By tappingNo changes
Long tapOpens the Context menu of the widget

Route maneuvers​

Next turns widget

This set of navigational widgets is activated during navigation and displays information about the distance to the next maneuver.

EnableAndroid: Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Left / Right panel β†’ Next turn, Next turn (small), Second next turn
iOS: Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Widgets β†’ Left / Right panel β†’ Next turn, Next turn (small), Second next turn
By tappingIf voice prompts are enabled, the next maneuver and the distance to it are pronounced.
Long tapOpens the Context menu of the widget

Next turn​

Next turns widget

Route maneuvers widgets include:

  • Next turn. The widget shows information about the next turn with a large arrow representing the maneuver and with data about the distance to it.
  • Next turn (small). The widget shows information about the next turn with a small arrow representing the maneuver and with distance data next to the arrow.
  • Second next turn. The widget shows information about the next Next Turn after the first one, which is activated if the turn is in approach distance.

Displayed time on widgets​

The table shows the approximate times for activating the prompts, read more in the technical documentation or in the article Voice prompts. The color of the arrows indicates the remaining time to make the maneuver. The appearance of the arrows can be used if you do not want to use voice prompts.

~ Trigger TimeDistancePrompt typeColor
5 secondsClose byTurn now🟒 Green
20 secondsApproachingTurn in X m🟑 Yellow
> 100 secondsDistantPrepare to turnβšͺ Grey

Lanes​

Lanes widgets

The Lane's widget displays the lane layout for the current road and highlights lanes when navigation is active. In passive navigation, the widget displays the lane layout for the current road. The data is taken from OpenStreetMap project.

NamePrompt typeColor~ Trigger Time
Close byTurn nowGreen5 seconds
ApproachingTurn in X mYellow20 seconds

Displays a widget by approach time settings. Lanes color is associated with voice prompts and time remaining to perform the maneuver.

EnableAndroid: Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Widgets β†’ Top panel/Bottom panel β†’ Lanes
iOS: Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Widgets β†’ Top panel/Bottom panel β†’ Lanes
By tappingNo changes

Alert widget​

Alert information widgets

The Alert widget combines several types of alerts that are displayed in the lower left corner while you are navigating.

  • You have the ability to turn alerts such as Speed limit, Traffic warnings, Pedestrian crosswalks, Speed cameras, and Tunnels on and off. Other alerts are active by default if the widget is enabled.

  • For the Speed Limit alert type, you can adjust the Speed limit tolerance value in the voice prompt settings to better match the vehicle speed and GPS speed.

  • Most alerts are displayed on the screen and announced by voice prompt for 15 seconds, as well as the trigger time for passing a Waypoint, Favorite Point, or POI. Read more here.

EnableAndroid Menu β†’ Configure profile β†’ Navigation settings β†’ Screen alerts
iOS Menu β†’ Settings β†’ Configure profile β†’ Navigation settings β†’ Screen alerts

Alert Types​

Alert types have a different visual design, which depends on the Driving region and can be configured through Settings β†’ General settings. OsmAnd does not aim to represent 100% identical road signs but points out some similarities.

NameDescriptionIcon
Traffic warningsTraffic calming uses physical design and other measures to improve safety for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.Alert traffic calming widgets Alert traffic calming us widgets
Pedestrian crosswalksA pedestrian crossing (primarily British English) or crosswalk is a place designated for pedestrians to cross a road, street, or avenue. OsmAnd shows the alert of the uncontrolled pedestrian crossing.Alert traffic calming widgets Alert traffic calming us widgets
Speed limitIn most countries, the Road speed limits set the legal maximum, middle, or minimum speed at which road vehicles may travel on a given stretch of road. In OsmAnd the alert is shown when you exceed the speed. You can set parameters of speed exceeding (0, 5, 10.. km/h). Alert ex_speed widgetsAlert speed_limit widgets Alert speed_limit_ca widgets Alert speed_limit_us widgets
TunnelsA tunnel is an underground passageway, esp cars that pass under a mountain, river, or a congested urban area. In OsmAnd the alert Tunnels has information about tunnel length. If you are in a tunnel it shows distance to the end of the tunnel. Alert ex_tunnel widgetsAlert warnings_tunnel widgets Alert warnings_tunnel_us widgets
Speed camerasTraffic enforcement cameras and speed cameras record traffic offenses, including speeding, running red lights, and other types of illegal behavior.
NOTE: Speed camera alerts are prohibited or illegal in some countries. To completely remove speed cameras from OsmAnd, go to main Menu β†’ Settings β†’ OsmAnd settings β†’ Legal β†’ Uninstall speed cameras
Alert traffic calming widgets
Stop signA stop sign is a traffic sign designed to notify drivers that they must come to a complete stop and make sure the intersection is safely clear of vehicles and pedestrians before continuing past the sign.Alert stop widgets
Railroad crossingsThis warning means that there is a railway crossing ahead.Alert warnings_railways widgets Alert warnings_railways_ca widgets Alert warnings_railways_us widgets
Border controlThis warning indicates that border control is ahead.Alert border control widgets
Border controlHazard symbols or warning symbols are recognizable symbols designed to warn about hazardous or dangerous materials, locations, or objects, including electric currents, poisons, and radioactivity.Alert warnings_hazard widgets Alert warnings_hazard_us widgets
Toll boothThis warning indicates that a toll booth for a toll road is ahead. Alert toll_booth widgetsAlert speed_limit widgets

Street name​

The Street name widget shows the current street name with a straight arrow or the next street name with the maneuver to be performed. The street name usually consists of a highway shield, a name, a ref, an internation ref, and a destination. Switching between the current street name and the next street name happens when you approach the place where you want to perform the maneuver (~20 seconds), similar to the voice prompt Turn in X m.

  • When driving along a street or highway, the widget shows the name or designation of the current street (road) with a blue arrow.

Street name POIs widget_2

  • When you change direction, the widget shows the scheme of the maneuver and the name (designation) of the street (road) to which you need to turn.

Street name POIs widget

EnableAndroid: Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Widgets β†’ Top panel/Bottom panel β†’ Street name
iOS: Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Widgets β†’ Top panel/Bottom panel β†’ Street name
By tappingNo changes

Approach POIs/Favorites​

Approach POIs/Favorites/Waypoints widget is combined with Street name and displays approaching and passing Points of interest, Waypoints of followed track, and Favorites along the route. It displays the name, the icon of the point, and 2 distances: route distance and deviation distance. Route distance (top) displays how much distance needs to be covered by the following route, deviation distance is a straight distance from the closest route point to the point itself.

Android:

Street name POIs widget_android

iOS: in addition to the distance from the nearest route point, the side (left or right) of the route where the point is located is also shown.

Street name POIs widget_ios

EnableAndroid Menu β†’ Directions β†’ Settings β†’ Show along the route β†’ Points of interest (POI), Favorites, Traffic warnings
iOS Menu β†’ Start navigation β†’ pencil button

This article was last updated in August 2024