Store custom maps on phone with QGIS and QField

Apr 27, 2024

I tried many different iOS apps to try and load simple spatial data on to my phone for offline use, and the only way I got it to work for free was with QGIS and QFieldSync plugin, with the QField iOS app.

  1. Setup QGIS and QFieldSync
    1. Download QGIS on your computer
    2. Go to Plugins > Manage and Install Plugins > All
    3. Search QField Sync and install
  2. Add geospatial data
    1. Create a QGIS project
    2. Add the geospatial data of your choosing
    3. When happy, go to Plugins > QFieldSync > Package for QField and choose a directory
  3. Add to iOS device
    1. download QField for QGIS app
    2. Plug your phone into your computer (MacOS) and navigate to the phone in finder
    3. Drag folder that you exported from QGIS into the QField data folder on your phone
    4. Now that it’s loaded onto your phone, pick up your phone and go to the Qfield app. Select Open local file > QField files directory and then select the folder you just added, which for me is sf protected spaces
    5. Select the project file at the top and there you go, the spatial data should load, and will be available offline
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