Last updated: 11 June 2026
TrailBack is built so your hiking data stays yours. It works with no account, no sign-in, and no cloud — your trails live on your device.
TrailBack uses your device's GPS to record the trail you walk and to guide you back to your starting point. Location is used only on your device. The app requests “When In Use” access at first launch, and “Always” access only when you start a hike so recording can continue with the screen locked. Your location is never transmitted to us — we operate no servers.
Map images come from OpenFreeMap (OpenStreetMap data). When you view or download a map area while online, the app requests those map tiles from OpenFreeMap's servers, which tells them the area you are viewing. Once a region is downloaded for offline use, or whenever you are offline, no map requests leave your device. See openfreemap.org for their terms.
If you attach a photo to a waypoint, you pick it through the system photo picker. The image is copied into the app's private on-device storage and is not uploaded anywhere.
The Emergency screen can pre-fill a text message with your GPS coordinates. You choose whether to send it via your device's Messages app. TrailBack does not send messages on your behalf and does not transmit your location itself.
You can export a trail as a GPX or KML file and share it through the standard iOS share sheet. Where that file goes is entirely your choice.
TrailBack does not knowingly collect data from anyone, including children.
If this policy changes, we will update the date above and post the revised version here.
Questions: riaz.quadri@elivaas.com