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Quick Action (Custom buttons)

Overview​

Quick Action widget is an interactive user interface element that provides fast access to key functions or actions without opening additional settings. This widget is placed on the main map screen and allows you to simplify and speed up interaction with the application, making it more convenient and efficient.

Quick action widget

Quick Action Widget​

Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Custom buttons β†’ Quick action

Quick action widget_android

To use the Quick Action button, you have to enable this widget first.

Add and Delete Actions​

Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Custom buttons β†’ Quick action β†’ Tap Delete (Bin icon on the right top corner) β†’ Select actions

Quick action widget_android_add Custom button Android

All actions are organized in the Add Action menu and grouped by type. A complete list of actions and their descriptions can be found in the Action types section.

You can assign one or more actions to the quick action button. There are two ways to add actions.

  • In the Configure screen. Select a button from the list, and tap theΒ  "οΌ‹" Β button. You need to select the action type first, and then change its name and parameters.
  • In the quick action button panel. Tap the Quick Action button on the map screen. At the end of the list, on the latest screen in the panel, is the "οΌ‹" Β Add Action box. Tap it and select an action from the list of types.
note
  • Each action must have a unique name.
  • The screens, labeled numerically as Screen 1, Screen 2, etc., are created automatically when the number of actions in the list increases to 6 items.

Action Parameters​

Quick action widget_android_order

The actions assigned to a quick action button are grouped into screens. These groups of actions are opened when you tap that button on the map. New screens are automatically created when the list of actions exceeds 6 items. You can rearrange actions to suit your preferences by following these steps:

For Android.

  1. Via configure screen:

    • Go to Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Custom buttons β†’ Quick action.
    • Use Hold & Drag on the two vertical lines icon to rearrange actions.
  2. Via quick action menu:

    • Open the quick action menu, then long tap Add Action.
    • Use Hold & Drag on the two vertical lines icon to rearrange actions.

For iOS.

  • Navigate to Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Quick action.
  • Tap Edit (pencil icon), then Hold & Drag on the three vertical lines icon to rearrange actions.

Actions in Loop​

Custom button Android

For some actions, you can assign a list of layers that will change in a circle with each tap: Map source, Map style, Overlay, Underlay, Terrain color scheme, Add profile.

The button allows you to assign a single layer or a list of layers that change circularly when tapped or with an interim dialog.

  • Show an interim dialog. Displays a dialog with a list of maps.
  • Do not show an interim dialog. The map sources change in a defined order.

Change Position on the Map​

The Quick Action widget appears at the bottom corner of the map screen when you first enable it. You can move the widget to any part of the screen by holding and dragging.

  • Initial appearance. By default, the quick action widget is placed in the lower right corner of the map interface.

    Quick action widget_view

  • Move the widget. Long tap the widget and drag it to reposition it anywhere on the screen, allowing you to customize your map interface.

    Quick action widget_tap

  • New placement. Once moved, the widget will remain in its new position on the map screen until manually adjusted again.

    Quick action widget_move

  • Multiple Custom buttons. You can add multiple quick action buttons to the map screen. These buttons can also be customized and repositioned individually using the same drag-and-drop method.

    Quick action widget_move

Custom buttons​

Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Buttons β†’ Custom buttons β†’Β  "οΌ‹" Β β†’ Add button

Custom button Android

Custom buttons are additional buttons on the map that act the same as the Quick Action button. You can create a button with one or more actions and display it on the map screen. Custom buttons are located in the Configure screen β†’ Buttons β†’ Custom buttons list. Each button has a profile-independent actions list and should have a unique Name, however, a button could be switched on/off individually for each profile.

All available actions are identical to those that can be applied to the default quick action. Custom buttons can be configured as Single-action buttons, which apply the selected action immediately upon being tapped, without the need to navigate through an extra menu.

Quick Action Button Appearance​

⚠️ Android only
This feature is currently not available for the iOS version of the OsmAnd app.

Quick action button appearance

You can modify the appearance of Quick Action buttons through: Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Custom buttons β†’ Quick action β†’ three-dot menu β†’ Appearance. This setting provides options to personalize the button's size, shape, icon, and background opacity, offering greater control over how the buttons look on your screen.

For detailed customization settings, refer to the Configure Screen article, where you can learn how to fine-tune each button's appearance to match your preferences.

Touch Screen Lock​

Quick action button Touch Screen Lock Android

Use the Touch Screen Lock feature to avoid accidental taps during navigation. This is especially helpful for activities like cycling or hiking, where unintentional touches might disrupt your route.

Unlocking.
Tap the on-screen button, or, if the lock is activated, via an external button (e.g., Volume Down), press the external button and tap the on-screen button.

Setup.

  • Navigate to Menu β†’ Configure screen β†’ Custom buttons.
  • Select + β†’ Add action β†’ Interface β†’ Touch Screen Lock.

Clear on-screen messages will guide you when locking or unlocking the screen.

Action Types​

Configure Map​

ActionDescription
Show / Hide
Routes
You can select route types to enable or disable their display.
Some routes have additional settings. By default, if you have not selected anything in the Configure Map menu, the first route type from the list will be assigned, otherwise, a type of your choice will be assigned. You can read more in the Routes article.
- Cycle routes Β (Route, Node networks)
- Mountain bike routes Β (MTB scale, IMBA)
- Hiking routes Β (OSMC, Network affiliation, Node networks)
- Hiking trails difficulty grade Β (SAC scale, CAI scale)
- Ski slopes
- Horse routes
- Whitewater sports
- Running routes
- Fitness trails
- Travel routes Β (Tracks, Travel books, Points)
Show / Hide
Topography layers
All topography data is presented as separate map layers. You can quickly switch the visibility of these layers with Quick Action.
- Contour lines
- Terrain. Β (Depending on the layer selected in the Configure Map menu, Hillshade, Slope, or Altitude will be displayed.)
Change
Terrain color scheme
Allows you to select one or more palettes from a list of existing ones, which will change when you tap the button.
Show / Hide
Weather layers
All weather data is presented as separate map layers. With Quick Action, you can get quick access to switch the visibility of these layers on the map.
- Precipitation layer
- Cloud layer
- Pressure layer
- Wind layer
- Temperature layer
Open
Weather screen
Android only
Opens the Weather forecast screen with the detailed information.
Show / Hide
Favourites
Show or hide the favourite points on the map.
Show / Hide
Tracks
Show or hide the last visible tracks on the map.
Show / Hide
POI
Enable or disable the display of POI layers with selected categories on the map.
You can select multiple POI categories. The action replaces the POI categories from the Configure Map selected without using Quick Actions.
Change
Map mode
Quick access to switch between day and night modes.
Change
Map sources
The button allows you to assign a single map source or a list of source that change circularly when tapped or with an interim dialog.
- Show an interim dialog. Displays a dialog with a list of maps.
- Do not show an interim dialog. The map sources change in a defined order.
- Displayed Name - Map source >. ">" after the map name indicates which map source is currently selected.
- Displayed Name - > Next map source. ">" before the map name indicates what the next selected map source will be if the action is executed.
- Note. To change map sources in OsmAnd, you can either set up a single quick action that allows you to switch between multiple map sources, or create several separate quick actions, each for a specific map source.
Show / Hide
Public transport
Enable or disable the public transport map layer
- Transport type. On the first tap, you can select one or multiple transport types, including Transport stops, Bus, trolleybus, and shuttle routes, Tram and train routes, Subway routes.
Change
Overlay
Create a list of map sources as a map overlay and cycle through them.
- Note. To change map overlays in OsmAnd, you can either set up a single quick action that allows you to switch between multiple map overlays, or create several separate quick actions, each for a specific map overlay.
Change
Underlay
Create a list of map sources as a map underlay and cycle through them.
- Note. To change map overlays in OsmAnd, you can either set up a single quick action that allows you to switch between multiple map underlays, or create several separate quick actions, each for a specific map underlay.
Change
Map style
Create a list of map styles for vector maps and cycle through them.
- Note. To change map styles in OsmAnd, you can either set up a single quick action that allows you to switch between multiple map overlays, or create several separate quick actions, each for a specific map style.
Show / Hide
Mapillary layer
Allows you to view map layers with street-level imagery provided by Mapillary.
Show / Hide
OSM notes
You can select to display or hide all OSM notes on the map with a single tap of the button.

Interface​

ActionDescription
Navigate
Previous screen
A toggle to navigate to the previous screen.
Show / Hide
Navigation view
Toggles visibility of the navigation screen view.
Show / Hide
Search view
Opens or closes the search view.
Show / Hide
Side menu
Toggles the visibility of the main side menu for accessing core features.
Turn On / Off
Touch screen lock
Activates or deactivates touch screen locking to avoid unintended screen interactions.

Map Interactions​

ActionDescription
Map
Zoom in
Zooming in the map with simultaneously increasing the amount of data displayed.
Map
Zoom out
Down scaling the map. It is convenient to use with Developer widget - Zoom level.
Move
Map down
You can use the quick action button to move the map down.
Move
Map up
When tapped, the map screen moves up.
Move
Map to the left
When you tap the button, the map screen moves to the left.
Move
Map to the right
With a quick action button, you can move the map to the right.
Move
To My location
Moves the map to My location position.

My Places​

ActionDescription
Start / Pause
Trip recording
Android only
Begin a recording session of the current track or pause to temporarily stop without completing the trip.
Start
New trip segment
Android only
Start a new segment of the trip without stopping the overall recording.
Save
Recorded Trip & Continue
Android only
Save the current trip recording and continue recording without interruption.
Finish
Trip recording
Android only
End the current trip recording session.
Add
Favorite
Adds a favorite to the selected (central) map location.
- Show an interim dialog. Displays a confirmation dialog.
- Group. Adds a favorite to the selected group.
- Color. Adds a favorite with a preselected color
- Name. Adds a favorite with the specified name prefix.
Add
Track waypoint
Adds a new Track waypoint to the currently recording track or any track in My Places.
- Show an interim dialog. Displays a confirmation dialog.
- Group. Adds a favorite to the selected group.
- Color. Adds a favorite with a preselected color
- Name. Adds a favorite with the specified name prefix.
Add
Map marker
Adds marker to a selected (center) map location.
Add
Parking place
Adds parking to a selected (center) map location. The old parking position is deleted.
Add
POI
Adds POI to a selected (center) map location map (same as context menu action).
- Show an interim dialog. Displays a confirmation dialog.
- POI Type (optional). Preselects the OSM POI type.
- Tag/Value (multiple). Adds OpenStreetMap tags / values
Add
OSM Note
Adds an OSM note
- Show an interim dialog. Displays a confirmation dialog.
- Message. Adds a default message to the note.
Add
Media notes
Starts audio / photo / video note recording for a selected (center) map location.
Create
New route
Android only
Opens the Plan a route tool and creates a route for the selected (central) location on the map.
ActionDescription
Add
First intermediate
You can select the center of the map screen as the first intermediate point. The previous destination remains the same.
Turn On / Off
Voice prompts
Mute or unmute voice guidance during navigation.
Set
Start point
Mark a selected (center) map location as a point of departure.
Set
Destination
Add the selected (central) location on the map as a destination. The previous destination becomes the last intermediate point.
Replace
Destination
Set / Replace a selected (center) map location as a destination. The previous destination is deleted.
Turn On /Off
Auto-zoom map
Enable or disable map auto zoom during navigation.
Start/stop
Navigation
Start navigation (if there is a destination point present) or stop navigation.
Pause / Resume
Navigation
Pause / Resume navigation.
Remote
Next destination point
Removes next intermediate point, if present, otherwise removes destination and displays finish navigation dialog. Action is inactive if you don't have any destination.
Simulate
Location by GPX
Simulates the location and movement of your device using a GPX track.

Settings​

ActionDescription
Change
App profile
Create a list of application profiles and cycle through them.
- Show an interim dialog. Displays a dialog with a list of profiles.
- Do not show an interim dialog. The profiles change in a defined order.
- Note. You can customize a single action that allows you to switch between multiple profiles, or create several separate actions, each for a specific profile.
Change
App profile to next
Switches to the next profile in the list.
Change
App profile to previous
Switches to the previous profile in the list.
Change
Display position always in center
Android only
Allows you to set the placement of the My Location cursor on the map. Enables or disables the cursor to always be in the center of the screen.
Change
Location position on screen
iOS only
Allows you to enable or disable the display of the previously selected My Location cursor position on the map.

Use Keyboard for Actions​

⚠️ Android only
This feature is currently not available for the iOS version of the OsmAnd app.

Menu β†’ Settings β†’ Profiles β†’ General settings β†’ External input devices β†’ Type β†’ +

External devices

Using the Quick Action tool's functionality, you can assign required actions to the keys of your external input device. A description can be found in the Interact with Map article.

This article was last updated in December 2024