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Favorites

Overview​

Favorites is one of the OsmAnd's features, that allows the user to make a kind of bookmarks (notes) on the map. By default, they are displayed in the form of yellow stars, though the app provides ample opportunities to customize Favorites using any colour, shape, and icon. They are grouped into a separate map layer, that become visible from the 6th zoom level.

Favorites introduction android

Favorite Point​

Favotires layer Android

Favorites are grouped into one of the map layers. You can show or hide Favorites and their names on the map. Favorite's Context menu opens when you select it on the map, where you can view detailed information about the selected point, and edit or delete it.

Create​

Favorite add description Android Favorite group Android

To create a new Favorite point, you need to select a POI object with a short tap or a structure on the map with a long tap, and then select Add (☆) from the map context menu. If you select a point from OSM data, all information about that POI will be added to the newly selected point. You can also select any point on the map to add Favorite using long tap.

Following fields could be specified for a favorite point:

  • Unique Name per group is required.
  • Address and description are optional.
  • Existing Favorite group from the list or newly created.
  • Visual icon, color, shape are selected by default from group appearance. but could be changed uniquely per a favorite point.

Edit / Replace / Delete​

Favorite edit Android

To edit a favorite point, tap it on the map or access it via My Favorites, then select the Edit favorite button from the map context menu.

  • You can edit all fields that were specified when creating the favorite point, such as name, icon, group, and more.
  • In this editor, there is a Delete button to remove the point from your list of Favorites. On Android, this option is also available in the upper right corner of the screen.
  • If you want to update the location of a specific Favorite, like My parked car, use the Replace option when creating a favorite point with a new location to assign it to the existing Favorite.

Favorite icons​

Menu → My Places → Favorites

My places favorites android

  • For Android, the list of icons consists of all POI images available in the OsmAnd app.
  • For iOS, a special set of the most suitable Favorite icons is compiled: Default, Special, Amenity, Transport, Service, Symbols, Sport, Emergency, Travel, Nautical, Education, Industrial.

Special Favorites (Personal)​

Personal folder is dedicated to special Home and Work points from the Navigation Context menu. This folder does not have a three-dot menu, as you cannot change its parameters.

Manage Favorites​

Menu → My Places → Favorites

My places favorites android

Using My Favorites, you can search for a specific favorite or favorite group and perform bulk operations such as deleting or renaming them.

Order / Sorting / Search​

Favorites folders android

Favorite folders and points are sorted alphabetically, with the personal folder at the top. In the search list, favorite points are sorted by distance from the center of the map.

  • In the iOS version, you can change the order of your favorite points by distance by tapping the Directions icon.
  • In the Android version, you need to access the Search menu. In the search list, favorites are sorted by distance from the previously visible map center. You can also search for favorites by name using Global search.

Bulk Edit / Delete​

Favorites actions android Favorites action delete android

To manage multiple favorites, tap the Delete icon (bin icon on Android) or the Edit button (pencil icon on iOS). This action allows you to select multiple individual favorites or entire folders containing them, enabling bulk edit options.

In both the Android and iOS apps, you will have the Delete option available. Additionally, for iOS, you can also access options such as Move to a Favorite Group, Share, and Change Color for enhanced organization and customization of your favorites.

Favorite Group actions​

Three-dot menu → Change default appearance

Favorites folder functions android

Using the three-dot menu next to each folder, you can customize groups of favorite folders. More details are described in the My Places article.

Change Group Appearance​

Favorites folder functions android

Change Group Appearance allows you to change the icon, color, and shape for all favorites in a group and apply these settings to any new favorites added in the future. This feature greatly simplifies the process of organizing and adding new favorites.

Export / Import​

OsmAnd offers various options for backing up important data and restoring it later. Favorites can be saved as a separate file in internal or external storage, uploaded to OsmAnd Cloud (only if you have an OsmAnd Pro or OsmAnd Start subscription and) or sent to friends using instant messaging apps.

Free Cloud backup​

Menu → My Places → Favorites

Favorites folder functions android

Free Favorites Backup is a special purchase plan that allows you to back up your favorite points (locations) for Android, iOS, or Web versions in the OsmAnd application and restore them from OsmAnd Cloud. This plan is available for users of OsmAnd Free or Maps+.

Free Favorites Backup offers these benefits:

  • No payment is required. Use the backup feature without purchasing paid subscriptions.
  • Save favorite points. Regularly save your favorite points in OsmAnd to avoid losing them if your device crashes or the app is deleted.
  • Transfer favorite points. Import your favorite points to a new device with Free Favorites Backup feature if you use OsmAnd across multiple devices.

Create a Backup​

Menu → My Places → Favorites

Favorites folder functions android

You need an OsmAnd Cloud account to use the Free Settings Backup feature. If you have an account in OsmAnd Pro or an active account in OsmAnd Cloud acount, you will not see the promotion banner.

  • Free Favorites Backup banner. Tap this banner to start the backup process.
  • Complete the registration step if you do not have an OsmAnd Cloud account by following the instructions in the registration guide.
  • Navigate to the OsmAnd Purchases menu (Menu → Settings → Purchases).
  • OsmAnd Start package. Select this option to access the Free Settings Backup feature.
  • Create a backup of your settings.

All Favorites​

Favorites actions android

You can export and import your favorites using the special buttons at the bottom of the Favorites screen. A .gpx file (favorites.gpx) can be sent to Dropbox, email, messengers, and other applications installed on your device that support this feature.

  • Import button (Android) / Import favorite (iOS). Allows you to import favorite points (favorites.gpx) as waypoints from a GPX file (a common GPS data format) from your device's storage.
  • Share button (Android) / Export favorite (iOS). Allows you to export (share) all your favorites as a favorites.gpx file.

Favorite Group​

Favorites folder functions android

Tap the Three-dot menu (Android) or the Edit button (pencil icon on iOS) to open the special features menu for a selected favorites folder. From this menu, choose the Share button to send the Favorites.gpx file to your device's memory or share it with friends via messaging apps.

On iOS, you can also long-tap a folder to open the context menu, then tap the Share button.

Automatic Favorites Backup​

Android → data → net.osmand → files → backup

Favorites backup export Android Favorites autobackup android

After each edit to Favorites, OsmAnd creates a backup file. You can find these backup files using a file manager. On Android, use a third-party file manager app. On iOS, access them using the Files app.

On Android, you can export Favorites backup files using the Export function. The resulting .osf file can be saved to the device's internal memory, uploaded to cloud storage, or shared with other OsmAnd users via messaging apps. To export a backup, go to Menu → Settings → Export to file → Resources → Favorites backup.

caution

In the latest versions of Android, access to system directories is limited. However, after extracting the favorites file from the archive, it remains possible to forward it to messengers or cloud services, etc.

Favorites in GPX File​

All information about a Favourite is stored and described using tags. When creating a Favourite point, you can write your own description or use information from the OSM point of interest (POI) data from which your point was created. Favorite points, POIs, and Waypoints use the same tags to store information and are saved in GPX file format. 

<gpx version="1.1" creator="OsmAnd" xmlns="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/1" xmlns:osmand="https://osmand.net" xmlns:test="https://test.net" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/1 http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/1/gpx.xsd">
    <wpt lat="37.5460870" lon="-77.4532843">
        <time>2023-06-07T12:31:35Z</time>
        <name>Test</name>
        <type>SOTM</type>
        <extensions>
            <osmand:address>Floyd Avenue (The Fan) 907, Richmond</osmand:address>
            <osmand:icon>place_town</osmand:icon>
            <osmand:background>circle</osmand:background>
            <osmand:color>#ff4e4eff</osmand:color>
            <test:country>United States</test:country>
            <test:state>Virginia</test:state>
            <test:telephone>(804) 828-0100</test:telephone>
            <test:postcode>23284</test:postcode>
            <test:start_date>Thursday, June 8, 2023</test:start_date>
        </extensions>
    </wpt>
</gpx>

This article was last updated in August 2024