Let an ordinary journey count
You do not need to start a quest or fill a calendar before going outside. A familiar errand and an unplanned turn can both contribute observations when location access and device conditions allow recording. A day can be worthwhile even when it adds little new ground.
Nowhop’s main Map keeps that context visible without making a dense route line the entire experience. Hop and Passport provide the more detailed day review. Those views have different purposes while relying on the same accepted history.
Read Fog as presentation
A denser Fog setting makes unexplored surroundings more obscured. A lighter setting lets you see more of the geography. Neither changes the saved cells used to calculate exploration. Turning Fog off is a display choice, not a command to mark the whole city as visited.
A custom terrain theme should remain when Fog is disabled. For example, comparing an original map and a stylized scene changes their appearance while leaving the personal journey intact. An appealing scene is not evidence of additional progress.
Keep permission and missing data honest
The app needs usable observations, not just a destination name. Apple’s location privacy guidance explains that access is controlled through system permissions. Background delivery also depends on iOS conditions; a granted setting is not a guarantee of perfect tracking.
Valid recorded segments before and after a gap can still contribute to exploration; the missing interval itself is not filled in. If an area does not reveal, inspect the recorded day and permission state. A pending city boundary can delay a percentage without meaning that personal movement was discarded. Do not infer that a complete road network should be lit simply because a navigation app knows how to route through it.
Questions this guide answers
Can indoor GPS drift accidentally count as exploration?
The recorder checks accuracy, uncertainty, continuity and later evidence, and holds a fixed stationary anchor to reduce wandering indoor noise. It cannot promise flawless filtering on every phone; a suspicious jump should not become instant exploration.
Does the map only reveal when I am walking?
The current movement policy is not limited to a walking-speed threshold. Accepted bicycle, vehicle or rail observations can contribute too; missing signal and quality filtering still matter.
Can swiping a discovery card reveal its destination?
No. A card creates an intention in Plan. Only accepted movement supports exploration; choosing, completing or sharing a plan does not manufacture a visit.
Why can a repeated commute add little new area?
Already explored cells are counted once. The journey can still add recorded distance and a dated memory without presenting familiar ground as a new discovery every morning.
Sources & scope
Official pages reviewed for this guide on October 31, 2026. Features and availability can change; check the linked provider before choosing.
Nowhop behavior is based on our implementation specification. Public demos use samples. Read our editorial approach.
See how a day comes together.
Try the Nowhop preview ↗Sample data. No sign-up or location access.