When you change hiking apps, you may want to keep the places you walked, the dates and the notes you wrote. Apps can exchange certain files, but support varies by format, platform and account. Make a list of what matters and check how the new app handles each item before changing your old account.
This guide explains what often transfers, what needs a separate backup and how to test the move with one activity first.
Start by listing what you want to move
Most records fall into three groups. Look at each group before exporting.
1. GPS tracks. A recorded track contains points with latitude and longitude and may include elevation and time. GPX is widely used. Some apps also export or import KML, FIT or TCX. Check which type the receiving app can open as an activity or route.
2. Photos, notes and activity entries. Photos, descriptions, comments, ratings and privacy settings often belong to the original service. You may be able to export some as separate files. Check what can be added to a new entry and save important originals separately.
3. Downloaded maps. An offline map normally belongs to the app that downloaded it. Plan to download map coverage again in the new app. A GPX file carries a track or route and related data, while the base map comes from the new app.
List what you expect to see in the new app and what you will keep in an archive. This gives you something concrete to check after the test import.
Use GPX to test the transfer
GPX is an XML format for tracks, routes and waypoints. GPX 1.1 uses WGS 84 coordinates, and point elevation and time are optional. Check whether the old app exports your activity as a GPX track and whether the new app can import it into the place you intend.
Use these steps for one test record.
- Look in the activity, settings or account pages for export, download or data archive. Check the provider's website if the control is absent from the phone app.
- Choose a format the other app accepts. Use GPX Track for a recorded path if the service distinguishes a track from a planned route. Keep the original file too when it is available.
- Read the receiving app's instructions. Check whether it treats a file as a past activity or a planned route, and whether import requires its website, a subscription or an existing activity.
- Import a copy as a new test entry. Review the map, date, times, elevation and visibility before moving more. Avoid replacing an existing record when you are still testing.
Extra fields such as heart rate may appear in extensions the new app does not read. Check a sample that contains the fields you need and compare the original and imported entries. Move the remaining files only after you understand any differences.
What to do with photos, notes and trip entries
Check whether the old service offers original photos, an account archive or text downloads. A photo or note may come out without a link to the activity it belonged to. Give files clear names or keep them together in dated folders.
Two ways to keep material that does not transfer cleanly are:
Keep an independent archive and use the old account to read when needed. Maintain copies of important photos, notes and tracks somewhere you can open. The old app or its website can be convenient for viewing entries while the service and account remain available.
Copy the notes you most want to keep. For a few important trips, save the title, date and notes as text or add them to a private entry in the new app. Check the photos and privacy settings when you rebuild it.
A photo's original timestamp can help match it to the track if the file retains it. Check the time zone and whether location metadata reveals something you want to keep private before sharing the original photo.
What to prepare before switching
Check the old account, the new app and the storage you will use before you start.
Save backups first. Keep independent copies of original activity files, exports, photos and notes. A phone backup can help restore your device, but each app handles its own data. Open the backup files to confirm they are usable before deleting an account or removing its data.
Check the number and size of exports. Find out whether the service offers one archive or individual downloads. Leave enough free storage. For a large collection, use batches with dates or filenames that you can check later.
Check the new plan’s limits. Verify supported formats, upload sizes and map download limits for the plan and device you will use. Save new offline maps and test them with mobile data and Wi-Fi off before the next trip.
Check what an account connection will share. Some services can sync with Garmin Connect or Strava. Check which way the data flows, whether it includes past or future activities and which fields it copies. Review permissions and watch for duplicate records if both syncing and importing.
What to verify after importing
Compare a few entries with the originals before relying on the new archive or removing the old copy.
- The track is in the right place. Check the start, finish, direction, gaps, elevation profile and whether it appears as a route or activity.
- The date and time are right. Compare the original and displayed times. Check for time zone differences and whether the source contains timestamps.
- The import is complete and private as intended. Compare the counts and check a sample from each batch. Look for duplicates and verify visibility before sharing.
If a track looks wrong, keep the original untouched and inspect a copy in a local text editor or a trusted viewer. A GPX file can reveal coordinates and timestamps, so check what you would disclose before using an online converter or sharing it.
Your next step
Find the export option in the old service and the import instructions in the new one. Export one hike, save the original, and import a separate copy with visibility set as you intend. Compare the map and dates, then plan how you will handle the other records, photos and downloaded maps.
Official and provider resources
- TopoGrafix GPX 1.1 format and coordinate reference
- Export, import and backup documentation from the app and device providers