Paper Map GPS — Support
Thank you for using Paper Map GPS (Japanese name: 紙どこ). This page covers frequently asked questions and how to contact us.
📨 Contact
For questions, bug reports, or feature requests, feel free to reach out:
📧 Email kamidoko@biz.nifty.jp
To help us respond quickly, please include the following if you can:
- Your iPhone model (e.g., iPhone 15 Pro)
- iOS version (e.g., iOS 18.4)
- App version (see Settings → App Info)
- What happened, or what you’d like to ask
- Steps to reproduce (for bugs)
- Screenshots (very helpful)
We usually reply within 3–5 business days. Support is available in English and Japanese.
🗺 Importing maps
Q. What kinds of maps can I import?
A. You can import from the iPhone camera, your photo library, or the Files app (PDF / images). However, not every map works well.
✅ Maps that work
- Outdoor maps (places where GPS works)
- Maps with a reasonably consistent scale and little distortion
- Examples: theme-park guide maps, sightseeing maps, hiking trail maps, outdoor festival maps, maps of large parks and botanical gardens
❌ Maps that are hard to support
- Indoor floor plans (GPS does not work indoors, so your location won’t appear)
- Hospital / airport / shopping-mall floor maps, station concourse maps, exhibition floor plans, etc.
- Maps with a wildly inconsistent scale (different scale in different areas)
- Hand-drawn maps with arbitrary distances, extremely stylized or cartoon-style maps
- Diagrams that aren’t maps
- Subway-style diagrams that show connections rather than physical space
An outdoor map with a managed scale and little distortion — that’s where this app shines.
Q. A PDF won’t import
A. Password-protected PDFs, PDFs without images (text-only), or PDFs with unusual encryption may fail to load. Taking a screenshot and importing it as an image is the most reliable workaround.
Q. My imported map looks blurry
A. Accuracy improves when you photograph the map straight from above, in good light, without wrinkles or glare. For PDFs, quality depends on the original resolution.
📍 Alignment
Q. My current location doesn’t appear on the map
A. You need 3 or more alignment points. Tap at least 3 recognizable landmarks on the map (entrances, corners, intersections, distinctive buildings) and match each one to where you’re actually standing.
Q. My location appears in the wrong place
A. There are 3 main causes. The most common is that the imported map itself is distorted.
1. The imported map is distorted (most common)
If the paper map was captured in a distorted state, an accurate location display is fundamentally impossible. Check whether any of these apply:
- The paper had wrinkles or folds when photographed
- It was photographed at an angle (perspective turns rectangles into trapezoids)
- The paper was curved (e.g., held in your hand)
- The original map is hand-drawn or stylized, with an inconsistent scale
👉 Fix: flatten the paper on a desk and re-photograph it straight from above. Adding 5 or more alignment points enables TPS (thin-plate spline), a flexible correction that absorbs local distortion — but extreme distortion cannot be fully fixed.
2. Alignment point placement
If your alignment points are too close together or in a straight line, the map-wide mapping can’t be computed well.
👉 Fix: place 3 or more points far apart from each other, including near the corners of the map.
3. GPS signal conditions
Indoors, in valleys, or between tall buildings, GPS itself becomes inaccurate.
👉 Fix: redo the registration outdoors with a clear view of the sky. The translucent blue circle around your location dot shows the margin of error.
Q. I want to redo the alignment
A. Tap “Alignment” at the bottom of the map screen → “Points”, then swipe left on a point to delete it individually.
Q. It says my location can’t be calculated
A. Your registered points may be in a straight line or clustered in one place. Add points farther apart from Alignment.
Q. What is a Share Pass?
A. It lets you share a map and live locations with family and friends via iCloud. Only the person who starts the share pays — invited members join for free (owner-pays model).
Q. What passes are available?
| Pass | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Free 30 Minutes | Free (one time) | Try sharing free for 30 minutes |
| 24-Hour Share Pass | ¥300 (one-time) | Valid for 24 hours. Great for a single outing |
| Monthly Outing Pass | ¥600 / month (auto-renewing) | For people who share regularly |
Prices are shown in your local currency on the App Store.
Q. How do I cancel the monthly pass?
A. Any of the following works:
- iPhone Settings → your Apple ID (at the top) → “Subscriptions”
- App Store → “Account” → “Manage Subscriptions”
- In the app: Settings → “Share Pass” → “Manage or Cancel Monthly Pass”
After cancelling, you keep access until the end of the current period.
Q. I can’t see the other person’s location
A. Ask them to check the following:
- “Share your location on a shared map” is ON in the app
- Location permission is “While Using the App” or better
- Either of the following is true:
- They have the shared map open (if you’re both looking at the app, this alone is enough)
- Or “Share in Background” is ON and location permission is set to “Always” (for sending updates while the screen is off)
- They have a network connection (no updates while offline)
In other words, while both of you have the shared map open, no background setting or “Always” permission is needed. Background sharing is only required if you want updates to continue while doing other things.
Q. How do I stop sharing?
A. Open the shared map and use the “Share” button at the bottom of the screen to stop or leave.
💾 Your data
Q. Where is my data stored?
A. Map images, alignment points, and markers are stored on your device. Data related to shared maps is also stored in iCloud (CloudKit). See the Privacy Policy for details.
Q. Can I transfer data to a new phone?
A. Shared maps sync automatically via iCloud when you sign in with the same Apple ID. Non-shared maps don’t transfer automatically, but you can export them as .gpsmap files and import them on the new device.
Q. Is my data deleted when I delete the app?
A. Yes. All data on the device is removed. Shared maps remain in iCloud, so you can re-accept them with the same Apple ID after reinstalling.
🔧 Troubleshooting
Q. I accidentally denied location permission
A. Open iPhone Settings → “Privacy & Security” → “Location Services” → “Paper GPS” and choose “While Using the App” or “Always”. You can also jump there directly from the “Open Settings” link on the in-app permission banner.
Q. The app crashes or feels slow
A. Please try:
- Fully quitting and relaunching the app
- Restarting your iPhone
- Checking free storage in Settings → General → iPhone Storage
- Making sure the app and iOS are up to date
If it still doesn’t improve, contact us with the steps to reproduce and your iOS / app versions.
Q. The compass points the wrong way
A. The iPhone compass is sensitive to nearby magnetic interference. Moving the iPhone in a figure-eight pattern in an open outdoor area often recalibrates it.