- What is TraceWay?
- TraceWay is an iOS app for location tracking and route recording. It captures your route with speed, altitude, and other metrics, then lets you review detailed statistics and export recordings as standard GPX files.
- Is my location data private?
- Yes. TraceWay stores recording data on your device and does not upload it to a server. The app contains no analytics or tracking SDKs. You choose whether to export or share your GPX files.
- Does TraceWay track my location in the background?
- Yes. TraceWay supports background location updates during recording and requests Always location access for background tracking. You can review its permissions in Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → TraceWay.
- What is a GPX file?
- GPX (GPS Exchange Format) is an open XML format for location data that works with mapping apps, fitness platforms, and GIS tools. TraceWay uses optional custom extensions to preserve details such as vertical speed, accuracy metrics, and recording configuration.
- How do I export a recording?
- Open a recording from the Recordings tab, open the menu in the top-right corner, and choose Export. You can save the GPX file to Files, share it with another app, or AirDrop it to another device.
- What happens if the app crashes during a recording?
- TraceWay continuously saves recording progress. After a crash, battery loss, or system termination, you can resume, save, or discard the recovered session the next time you open the app.
- What permissions do I need to record?
- Enable Precise Location and grant While Using the App or Always location access. TraceWay also needs to determine your current location before the recording controls become available.
- How do I choose recording quality and activity type?
- Before recording, open Settings → Recording. Choose Precise, Balanced, Battery Saver, or Custom under Recording Quality, and Aviation, Driving, Fitness, or General under Activity Type. These preferences stay locked while a recording is active or paused, and saved route details show the configuration used when available.
- Does speed smoothing change my recorded data?
- No. Data Smoothing in Settings changes live horizontal and vertical speed readings, and horizontal smoothing also affects the speed heat map. Recorded points, GPX exports, and session statistics retain their original values. Choose None, Moving Average, or Exponential separately for each speed reading.
- Can I access my recordings through Files or Finder?
- Yes. Saved recordings are in the GPX folder inside TraceWay's folder in Files and are available through device file sharing in Finder on a Mac. After changing files externally, reopen the Recordings view or pull to refresh the list.
- What do the speed heat map colors mean?
- Cool colors show slower sections and warm colors show faster sections within each recording. The legend shows the speed range in your selected unit. Each recording has its own scale, so the same color can represent different speeds on different routes. Tap Speed on the live map to expand the legend, or change Speed Heat Map under Display in Settings to show or hide heat maps.
- Why is my route shown in one color?
- The speed heat map may be turned off, or the route may be too short or have too little speed variation to calculate a useful scale. When a scale is unavailable, the legend displays an insufficient-data explanation.
- What happens if location access or Precise Location is disabled while recording?
- TraceWay stops an active or paused recording and saves the collected data. It explains the interruption when you return to the app. Restore the required permissions before starting another recording.
- How do I contact support?
- You can reach us through the contact page on this website.