Getting Started - Install the app and create an account
NaviTabi is an app for playing rogaining and orienteering events and permanent courses. This page explains the steps from installing the app to logging in.
What this guide covers
The Participant Guide covers the following use cases, including both organizer-run events and public permanent courses.
- Play events and permanent courses
- Learn how team play works
- Keep a free-form record with Rogaining Camera
- Share your location in a Safety Tracking Event
Install the app
NaviTabi is available as a smartphone app. Download it here.
- iOS (iPhone / iPad): App Store
- Android: Google Play
You can search for events, browse course information, and check results from NaviTabi Web. However, joining an event and creating a new account require the smartphone app.
You can start without creating an account
When you launch the app for the first time, you can start using it immediately without seeing a login screen. Internally, NaviTabi creates an anonymous account, so even without logging in you can go all the way through finding an event, checking in, being approved by the organizer, and playing a course.
What changes when you log in
| What you can do | Without logging in (anonymous) | After logging in |
|---|---|---|
| Search for events and view their details | Yes | Yes |
| Entry requests, check-in (including QR check-in), and organizer approval | Yes | Yes |
| Playing a course and checking that play's result | Yes | Yes |
| Playing permanent (no time limit) events | No | Yes |
| Buying additional play slots or subscribing to a paid plan | No | Yes |
| Joining groups, liking events, and commenting | No | Yes |
| Your profile and activity history, and the web version | No | Yes |
| Keeping your records after changing devices or reinstalling | No | Yes |
Application forms, showing your own QR code, exports such as PDF maps, and creating or organizing events also require login. Your Display name, on the other hand, can be set and changed without logging in, and the messages you send to the organizer during play (both event-wide and private) also work without logging in.
An anonymous account is stored only on your device. If you delete and reinstall the app, or change devices, you lose not only your records but also your check-in and approval status. Even if you checked in the day before, you have to check in again if you reinstall the app before the event. If you plan to keep using NaviTabi, log in early.
When you start a check-in or an entry request without logging in, a confirmation appears: "Logging in lets you keep your check-in and approval status after switching devices or reinstalling the app. Log in?" Choose Login to go to the login screen, or Proceed without logging in to continue with the check-in or request as you are.
Create an account or log in
Login methods
You can create an account and log in using the following methods.
- Google Account - Log in with your Google account
- Sign in with Apple - Log in with your Apple ID (iOS only)
- Facebook - Log in with your Facebook account
- Email address - Register and log in with an email address and password
Sign in with Apple is not available on Android. Please use Google, Facebook, or email address login instead.
Login steps
- Open the Settings tab in the app.
- Tap Login.
- Select the login method you want to use.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete authentication.
If you had already been using an anonymous account, logging in automatically converts it into a normal account. Your existing activity data is kept.
If the Google, Apple, Facebook, or email account you log in with is already registered in NaviTabi, the anonymous account cannot be converted, so you are logged in to that existing account. In this case the data recorded under the anonymous account is not carried over. If there are records you want to keep, log in before you start using the app.
Agree to the terms
After your first login, you will be asked to agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Review them and continue.
Set up your profile
After logging in, you can configure the following profile information.
- Display name - This name appears when you join events and in rankings (it is also used as the creator name of My Spots published by organizers). It is initially set from your authentication provider name, but you can change it later.
- Profile picture - You can set this from your camera or photo library.
You can update your profile at any time from the settings screen.
NaviTabi supports 20 languages, including Japanese and English. The display language follows your device's language setting, so it switches automatically to match the language configured on your device.
Log in on the web
You can log in to NaviTabi Web using the same account you created in the smartphone app. Google, Facebook, and email address login are supported.
The web version is for login only. If you do not have an account yet, create one first in the smartphone app. You cannot use the web version while you are on an anonymous account (that is, using the app without logging in).
Log out
You can log out from the settings screen. After logging out, you can still continue using the app as an anonymous account.
Items on the Settings screen
The items you can open from Settings on the home screen.
| Item | What it does |
|---|---|
| Account | The account you are logged in with. On iOS, tapping it lets you choose Change profile image / Logout / Delete account. On Android it opens the login screen, and Delete account is a separate item on the Settings screen |
| Display name (Android: Change display name) / Profile | Edit your display name and profile |
| Subscription (or Subscribe to paid plan if you have none) / Purchase history | Buy and manage plans, and view purchase history (on iOS, purchase history is shown only when the device language is Japanese) |
| Verify purchases | Re-checks your purchases when a one-time purchase such as additional play slots is not reflected |
| Reset password | Reset the password if you log in with an email address |
| App Settings | Play settings (punch with shake gesture, map rotation bar position, auto punch sound and its test, auto punch notification test, error sound; on Android also Camera type and Adjust shake sensitivity) and General settings (Display new events, Clear map tile cache) |
| Notification settings (Android only) | Opens the device notification settings. Check here when auto punch notifications or organizer messages do not arrive |
| Help (Android: Support site) | Opens this help site |
| Notices from NaviTabi / Notices from event organizers (iOS) | Notices from NaviTabi and direct messages from organizers. A badge shows unread items |
| Contact us (Android: Inquiry) | Email to support |
| Report inappropriate contents or use / Report mistranslation | Report inappropriate posts or translation errors by email |
| Terms of use / Privacy policy | Read the terms |
Phone settings to check before you play
Before you play an event or a permanent course, check the following phone settings. If you are joining a safety tracking event, see Participant Preparation and Event-Day Flow.
| Setting | Recommended | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Location services | On | When off, your current location cannot be obtained, so GPS punches and track recording do not work |
| Location permission for NaviTabi | Always Allow (on iPhone, "Always") | So that your track and auto punches are recorded while the screen is locked or another app is shown. Without enough permission, you may not be able to start playing |
| Precise location | On | When off, your position is only approximate, so punches and track recording do not work correctly. On iPhone, check Precise Location under Settings → NaviTabi → Location; on Android, check Use precise location in the location permission |
| Airplane mode / mobile data | Airplane mode off, mobile data on | The app uses the network to load the course and send your record |
| Low Power Mode (iPhone) / Battery Saver (Android) | Off | It restricts device functions and may affect GPS and notifications |
| Wi-Fi | Off is recommended | A position calculated from Wi-Fi may point to a place far from where you actually are |
| Other apps | Close them | Device load or low memory may cause NaviTabi to freeze or quit |
| Battery | Fully charge it | Playing uses a lot of battery. The screen does not turn off automatically while the play screen is shown. Bring a mobile battery for long courses |
Under Play settings in the app's App Settings, it is also a good idea to check the following.
- If you want to hear sounds on auto punch courses, turn up the device volume, turn off silent mode, and check that the sound plays with Test auto punch sound
- If you want to punch by shaking your phone on manual punch courses, turn on Punch with shake gesture
- On Android models where the in-app camera does not take photos properly, change Camera type (Troubleshooting — The camera does not open after punching)
How to carry your phone while playing
- Auto punches and track recording continue while the screen is locked or another app is shown (Troubleshooting — What happens to your record when the screen locks or the app is closed). However, background operation may stop depending on the model, OS, and device state. If auto punch does not respond, keep the play screen displayed
- Manual punches (the punch button and shaking) work only while the play screen is displayed. When you approach a spot, display the screen before punching
- If it is hard to hold the phone with the screen displayed, try a smartphone armband, or put the phone in a pocket with the screen facing away from your body
What to read next
- Find an event or course and start playing: Find an event or course and start playing
- Learn the standard play flow: Join and play an event
- Learn about team play: Team Play
- Keep a free-form record with photos: Rogaining Camera
- Join a safety tracking event: Join a Safety Tracking Event