Geocaching HQ

Release Notes (Geocaching® app and Geocaching.com) - April 24, 2017 With this release we have added the ability to include a photo and/or favorite point with a draft in the Geocaching® app. We've also updated Geocaching.com to allow users to complete drafts with photos and favorite points through the new logging page. Website-only updates: We are introducing a new logging page with Drafts on Geocaching.com. The existing logging page is unable to support finishing a draft with photos and favorite points. You can now add a photo while you are logging a cache and report a problem with a geocache without writing a separate log on Geocaching.com. For players looking for Markdown and emojis, please reference this Help Center article. Both of these features are supported in the new logging page. Additionally in the Geocaching® app, you can now retrieve an existing draft when logging the cache again, see which caches have drafts on the map and in lists, and access the cache details page from individual drafts in your lists of drafts. In every release, we also fix bugs and make other small improvements: * Improved handling of timestamps * iPhone only: Added a Nearby Geocaches widget * Android only: improved accuracy of GPS position in app fixed a bug that prevented Attended log option from showing on the day of the event fixed a bug that made it difficult to get to the map after opening a cache from a notification email fixed a bug where trackable inventory was out of sync Also, please note it may take up to two days for some users of the Geocaching® app for Android to have access to the update that includes this functionality. Ben H and Nadja from HQ’s Product Team are watching the thread to answer questions whenever possible. In addition, you can learn more about the new logging experience on the Geocaching Blog. Any posts in this thread should relate to features in this release. Please direct unrelated comments to other appropriate threads. Thanks!

Read previous Release Notes Release Notes (Website only) - April 10, 2017 With this release, we have added Send to Garmin. We teamed up with Garmin to create the best experience possible for Garmin GPS players. With this feature, Premium members can now send a list of caches to their Garmin GPS device with the click of a button. Here’s how it works: Download the latest version of Garmin Express. Search for geocaches you want to find. Add those caches to a list. Visit My Lists. Select Send to Garmin in the (...) menu. Unplug and go geocaching! Which Garmin devices work with the Send to Garmin feature? This feature should work with any geocaching-enabled Garmin GPS device supported by Garmin Express. We do not have an exhaustive lists of all devices. However, our testing indicated many Garmin GPS devices manufactured up to 10 years ago are supported. Can you use this functionality to send geocaches to other GPS brands? At this time Garmin is the only GPS provider that collaborated with us on the “Send to” feature. We welcome other partners in the handheld market to work with us on similar features, but currently have no concrete plans. Ben H from HQ’s Product Team is watching the thread to answer questions whenever possible. Any posts in this thread should relate to features in this release. Please direct unrelated comments to other appropriate threads. Thanks!

As you may have learned from a community volunteer reviewer or from one of our API partners, in early to mid-April, we will begin enforcing changes to the logging rules through the user interface on Geocaching.com and the Geocaching® app. The changes take effect for Authorized Developers on May 8, 2017. Cache owners will no longer be able to log a Find, DNF, Webcam Photo Taken, Needs Archived, or Needs Maintenance on their owned caches. However, event owners can log an Attended or Will Attend on their own events. Players will no longer be able to log more than 1 (one) Find, Attended, Webcam Photo Taken, or Will Attend per cache. Players will still be able to change a Write Note to a Find if they have not already logged a Find on the cache. These changes are not retroactive. Past logs are not affected. Geocaching HQ will not be making exceptions to these logging rules for any specific caches. We believe these changes will streamline the core logging structure of the game, address requests for these changes from the community, and reduce confusion for our newer community members. We’ll share more details in the coming weeks.

Read previous Release Notes Release Notes (Website only) - March 24, 2017 With this release we have improved access to Drafts on Geocaching.com. A notification badge will now show on your profile when you have pending drafts. Additionally, the sidebar menu in your account page (Dashboard) will display the number of pending Drafts. Nadja from HQ’s Product Team is watching the thread to answer questions whenever possible. Any posts in this thread should relate to features in this release. Please direct unrelated comments to other appropriate threads. Thanks!

On Thursday, March 23, 2017, we will fully retire the Geocaching Classic app. Since notifying the community of our plans last year, we’ve been busy adding some of the most requested features to the Geocaching® app. That process ended yesterday with our latest Geocaching® app update, which included the addition of Owner Maintenance, Disable and Enable logs. If you need more information about the Geocaching Classic app retirement, please visit these sources: The Geocaching Classic app is retiring (Feb 2 2017) More Answers on Geocaching Classic app retirement (Feb 17 2017) Inside Geocaching HQ Podcast: Geocaching® app & retirement of Classic app (Mar 8 2017) Thanks for your patience during this process. We encourage you to check out the free Geocaching® app, try out the new features and tell us what you think.

Read previous Release Notes Release Notes (Geocaching® app) - March 21, 2017 With this release we updated how geocaches are displayed on the map for improved accessibility and easier identification of different geocache types. Additionally, cache owners can now submit Owner Maintenance, Disable, and Enable logs for their caches. In every release, we also fix bugs and make other small improvements: Devices will not go to sleep while navigating to a cache. Caches on ignore lists won’t be displayed on the main geocache map and list view. (Android only) Fixed a bug that prevented logs with larger images from posting. (iPhone only) Fixed a bug that prevented the distance to a cache from updating. (iPhone only) Drafts that are edited in the app will post correctly with the edited text. Also, please note it may take up to two days for some users of the Geocaching® app for Android to have access to the update that includes this functionality. Ben H from HQ’s Product Team is watching the thread to answer questions whenever possible. Any posts in this thread should relate to features in this release. Please direct unrelated comments to other appropriate threads. Thanks!

Read previous Release Notes Release Notes (Website and Geocaching® app) - March 9, 2017 With this release, we have added Drafts, a cross-platform queue of unfinished logs. Drafts you create in the Geocaching® app are automatically saved to your account so you can finish them later in the app or on Geocaching.com. This feature was formerly known as Field Notes. To create a Draft in the Geocaching® app Go to the cache details page. Select your log type (Found It, DNF, Write Note) and toggle from logging mode to drafting mode. Select Save. To return to a Draft in the Geocaching® app Tap the ( ☰ ) menu. Select Drafts. Tap the Draft to edit it, or select the (⋯) menu to delete or post the log. To return to a Draft on Geocaching.com Make sure you’re logged into your geocaching account. Click Play from the main menu. Click Drafts. To return to a Draft from your Geocaching.com account page Scroll down the sidebar menu until Drafts. Click Access your Drafts. Functionality to award a Favorite point or add photo to a draft is coming soon. For players who upload batches of field notes to the website from their GPS unit, nothing changes except the terminology. Your workflow remains the same. Also, please note it may take up to two days for some users of the Geocaching® app for Android to have access to the update that includes this functionality. Ben H. from HQ’s Product Team is watching the thread to answer questions whenever possible. Any posts in this thread should relate to features in this release. Please direct unrelated comments to other appropriate threads. Thanks!

Read previous website Release Notes Release Notes - February 10, 2017 We've enhanced the My Lists feature so that it's easier to create and customize geocache lists! Premium members can now use the Geocaching® app and website to Add caches to new and existing lists from the cache page. Add caches to new and existing lists from the search map. In addition to the new functionality above, Premium members can also Sort lists by list name, list status, number of caches, and date modified. Toggle list notifications on and off. Set lists as public, private, or shareable. In every release, we also fix bugs and make other small improvements. Nate from HQ’s Product Team is watching the thread to answer questions whenever possible. Any posts in this thread should relate to features in this release. Please direct unrelated comments to other appropriate threads. Thanks!

Read previous Release Notes Release Notes (Geocaching® app) - February 8, 2017 With this release, we have added the ability to Report a Problem with a geocache. Here’s how it works: iPhone Go to the cache details page in the Geocaching® app. Tap the ellipsis (...) at the top right of the screen. Select Report a Problem. Choose Needs Maintenance or Needs Archived and provide necessary details. Click Post and a Needs Maintenance or Needs Archived log is added to the cache page. Return to the cache page to compose any other logs about your experience. Android Go to the cache details page in the Geocaching® app. Tap the menu icon at the top right of the screen. Select Report a Problem. Choose Needs Maintenance or Needs Archived and provide necessary details. Click Post and a Needs Maintenance or Needs Archived log is added to the cache page. Return to the cache page to compose any other logs about your experience. In the iPhone version, we have fixed an issue to improve download speeds of lists when saving them for offline use to make planning your geocaching adventures easier. In addition, the app is now localized for the Croatian community! We also fixed bugs and made other small improvements. Ben H. from HQ’s Product Team is watching the thread to answer questions whenever possible. Any posts in this thread should relate to features in this release. Please direct unrelated comments to other appropriate threads. Thanks!

Read previous Release Notes Release Notes (Geocaching® app) - January 13, 2017 Premium members can now use offline maps in the Geocaching® app! Offline maps let you navigate to geocaches without an internet connection. When you download a geocache list, offline maps are automatically saved to your device. These maps show the location of the caches in your list. Here’s how it works: Go to the My Lists section of the Geocaching® app. Tap the ellipsis (...) next to the list that you want to download. Select Download Offline Data. Offline maps are saved in the Trails map type. When you’re geocaching without an internet connection, switch to Trails to see your offline maps! Visit our Help Center for a lot more information about how to use offline maps. As with all app releases, we’ve also fixed bugs and made other small improvements. BenH from HQ’s product team is watching the thread to answer questions whenever possible. Any posts in this thread should relate to features in this release. Please direct unrelated comments to other appropriate threads. Thanks!

Read previous Release Notes Release Notes - December 6, 2016 Today’s release brings more design consistency to the Geocaching map as seen on Geocaching.com and the Geocaching® app. All icons on the website map now match what you’ve already been seeing on the Search results page. The new icon colors also match up with the app. The views at various zoom levels on the Geocaching.com map are now more similar to the app. For instance, when you’re zoomed farther out, caches are denoted by a smaller dot icon with color only. When you zoom in, you’ll see larger icons with more detail. We have recategorized the Filterable Cache Types to match the mobile app. We’ve removed the Premium Member Cache key - the circle icon that indicated on the map which caches were PMO. It was only available to Premium Members, and was not well understood or used by many users. We’ll have a few more updates in the coming weeks, and we’ll be sure to let you know when those happen. Nadja from HQ’s product team is watching the thread to answer questions whenever possible.

Read previous Release Notes Release Notes - October 24, 2016 Premium members can now easily edit, share, and organize lists of geocaches. We enhanced this feature to make planning your geocaching adventures easier. With My Lists, you can: Sort geocache lists by list name, number of caches, list status, and last modified. Toggle list notifications on and off. Set lists as public, private, or shareable. My Lists is in beta, meaning it’s still a work-in-progress. Try it out now. Coming soon: Create new lists or add geocaches to existing lists from the map and geocache listings. Nate from HQ’s product team will follow this thread, and answer questions where appropriate.

Read previous Release Notes Release Notes - October 21, 2016 With today’s website release, we have added a couple of small but mighty new features: Search results now show caches at their corrected coordinates in list results (i.e. distance and sorting from the search center). You can now add corrected coordinates for any cache type! (Previously, it was not possible to add corrected coordinates for such types as Traditional, Wherigo, Letterbox, etc.) Ben from HQ’s product team will follow this thread, and answer questions where appropriate. Happy caching!

Read previous Release Notes Release Notes - September 14, 2016 Earlier this summer, our mapping provider ended support for the method we used to provide two mapping options on Geocaching.com. Since then, our engineers and developers have worked to set up our own self-hosted maps. We’re excited to say that the new maps are now live on Geocaching.com! One of the great advantages of this new set-up is that we now have the capability to customize the look and feel of maps. For example, since it’s often important to identify trails while geocaching, our maps have a greater focus on trails. This example shows an area with trails when viewed with the new Geocaching maps: While this example shows the same area when viewed with Google Maps (available to Premium Members): As always, if you don’t like look of the Geocache Map, you can choose a different mapping option by going to View Geocache Map and tapping the tile icon in the upper right corner of the map. Premium Members who wish to switch from Google Maps to Geocaching Maps (or other map styles) should first click the Set Map Preferences button, select Leaflet, and then tap the tile icon in the upper right corner of the map. (Other maps, such as the small map on the cache details page, cannot be changed.) Thanks for your patience during this process! Not only is this a nice improvement for the website, but it’s also a critical step toward supporting offline maps in the Geocaching® app. As we mentioned in the Geocaching Blog last week, that’s one of the important features that our Mobile Team is currently working on. Ben H from HQ’s Product Team will monitor this thread and answer questions when possible.

Today we've shared some updates in the Geocaching Blog about the free Geocaching® app and Geocaching Classic app. We know geocachers are passionate about these apps, so we want to keep you up-to-date about the development of the free Geocaching® app and the eventual retirement of the Geocaching Classic app. Among the main points of the blog post: We originally planned to shut off the Geocaching Classic app in September. However, since the Geocaching® app is missing some of the most requested features, the Classic app will function into next year. What are those features? Offline and trail maps, additional log types, draft logs and Favorite Points. We are working to complete these features in the Geocaching® app by March 2017. Until we get there, the Geocaching Classic app should continue to function. We can't make updates or bug fixes to the Geocaching Classic app, since it's no longer available in Google Play and Apple's App Store. You can read the full blog post via this link!

Read previous Release Notes Release Notes (Geocaching® apps) July 27, 2016 Make vacation plans! It's now easier than ever to explore GeoTours — collections of geocaches designed to introduce you to new locations. In this update to the Geocaching® iPhone and Android apps: Learn how to get started with GeoTours. View GeoTour details for travel destinations. Search for GeoTours by specific GT codes. Bonus: Basic members can find and log GeoTour caches of all types and D/T ratings. The Mobile Team will watch this thread and answer questions when possible. Any posts in this thread should relate to features in this release. Please direct unrelated comments to other appropriate threads. Thanks!

Read previous Release Notes Release Notes - July 8, 2016 Late last month, we announced that on July 11 our mapping provider will end support for the method we use to provide two mapping options on Geocaching.com, as well as OpenStreetMaps in the Geocaching Classic iPhone app. The guidance we provided then regarding the Geocaching Classic iPhone app remains the same. You can read it here. An update on Geocaching.com: The test period with MapBox ends today. If your map preferences were set to one of the MapBox options during the test period, then they will revert to MapQuest OSM or MapQuest Aerial. (These are the same options which were in place prior to June 28, when the test period began.) Sometime on Sunday, July 10, all Geocaching members whose maps are set to MapQuest OSM or MapQuest Aerial will switch to Google Maps. Google Maps are typically only available to Premium Members. If you’re a Basic Member, woo-hoo, bonus! At least for a period of time as we continue testing. As always, if you don’t like the new map, you can choose a different mapping option by going to View Geocache Map and clicking the Set Map Preferences button. Then tap the tile icon in the upper right corner of the map. We’ll keep you updated as the test period continues. David P from HQ’s Product Team will monitor this thread and answer questions when possible. Any questions/comments should be related to features in this release. Any unrelated comments should be directed to other appropriate threads. Thank you!

Release Notes - June 28, 2016 On July 11, our mapping provider will end support for the method we use to provide OpenStreetMaps in the Geocaching Classic iPhone app, as well as two mapping options on Geocaching.com. Here is how this change will affect our users: Geocaching.com We will soon begin a test period with a new mapping provider. This test could begin as early as today, June 28. If your map preferences are set to MapQuest OSM or MapQuest Aerial, then your default map will automatically change. If you don’t like the new map, you can choose a different mapping option by going to View Geocache Map and clicking the Set Map Preferences button. Then tap the tile icon in the upper right corner of the map. Premium Members who have chosen Google Maps in their Map Preferences are unaffected by this change. Geocaching Classic iPhone app (changes effective July 11) Both Apple Maps and OpenCycleMap will continue to function. To download maps for offline, you must select OpenCycleMap and de-select OpenStreetMap. Lists that have been saved for offline with OpenStreetMap before the July 11 deadline should continue to function. To view maps with the app, you must use the "..." menu on the map view to select a map type other than OpenStreetMap: Ben H and David P from HQ’s Product Team will monitor this thread and answer questions when possible. Any questions/comments should be related to features in this release. Any unrelated comments should be directed to other appropriate threads. Thank you!

Release Notes - June 9, 2016 Geocaching® Android App With this release (4.2.1), we have cleaned up the map to make searching for geocaches even easier, as well as added the ability to view your geocache lists on the map. Clustering When zoomed out on the map, caches are now clustered. The clusters break up as you zoom in. Eventually, they break apart completely and the map displays all caches individually. The result is a much cleaner look. Just as important is that clustering addresses performance concerns which arose when mapping a list. Which happens to be the next new feature... Map a List One of the most requested features has arrived! Simply go to the My Lists tab, then tap the icon to the right of the list name. (You could also choose the list and then tap the map icon at the top of the individual lists’s screen.) Other updates Charter Members’ titles are now accurately displayed on their Profile pages. Previously, the only titles were Member and Premium Member. Shop Geocaching is now accessible in Canada. Previously, it was available only in the U.S. The Mobile Team will watch this thread and answer questions when possible. Any questions/comments should be related to features in this release. Any unrelated comments should be directed to other appropriate threads. Thanks!

Release Notes - June 9, 2016 Geocaching® iPhone App With this release (4.3), we have cleaned up the map to make searching for geocaches even easier, as well as added the ability to view your geocache lists on the map. Clustering When zoomed out on the map, caches are now clustered. The clusters break up as you zoom in. Eventually, they break apart completely and the map displays all caches individually. The result is a much cleaner look. Just as important is that clustering addresses performance concerns which arose when mapping a list. Which happens to be the next new feature... Map a List One of the most requested features has arrived! Simply go to the My Lists tab, then tap the icon to the right of the list name. (You could also choose the list and then tap the map icon at the top of the individual lists’s screen.) Other updates Charter Members’ titles are now accurately displayed on their Profile pages. Previously, the only titles were Member and Premium Member. Shop Geocaching is now accessible in Canada. Previously, it was available only in the U.S. The Mobile Team will watch this thread and answer questions when possible. Any questions/comments should be related to features in this release. Any unrelated comments should be directed to other appropriate threads. Thanks!

Read previous Release Notes Release Notes - May 26, 2016 With today’s update, you can now “Select All” results from a search and add them to a list. (Lists are a Premium Member feature.) Once you’ve performed a search, check the header box to the left of Geocache Name. Checking the box will select all caches in the search results (up to the first 1,000) You can then add the selected caches to a new or saved list. (A list can contain a maximum of 1,000 caches.) The lists you create on the website are accessible to you in the free Geocaching® app, and vice versa. Ben H of HQ’s Product Team will follow this thread and answer questions about this feature when possible.

We would like to announce an instance of planned downtime affecting Geocaching properties. Maintenance is planned for 10 pm PDT tonight, Wednesday, May 25. (Convert to your local time here.) The maintenance window could last up to 60 minutes. During that time, Geocaching.com, the forums and all other Geocaching properties may be unavailable. Normal service will resume after the maintenance window. Our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause!

Today we’re happy to announce the end of the moratorium on challenge cache submissions. Effective immediately, new challenge caches may be submitted in accordance with the updated guidelines. Visit the Geocaching Blog for much more information about the new framework for challenge caches. We’ve gone into great detail there about the reasons for the various changes. We’ll share this news in our weekly email to Geocaching members on May 31. Thanks for your patience as we’ve worked through this process. We know a lot of people love challenge caches, and have eagerly awaited the end of the moratorium. Community input has been invaluable as we’ve tried to construct a framework that allows challenge caches to continue and thrive. We’re happy to know that challenge caches will continue to inspire people around the world to achieve exciting geocaching goals!

Geocaching HQ is nearly ready to announce the end of the moratorium on "challenge cache" submissions. However, a few details remain to be addressed. We will complete the process and present an updated framework for challenge caches within the next few weeks. In the meantime, we want to share a few details about one key aspect of the new framework. All future challenge caches must include a web-based challenge checker. At this time, Project-GC is the only website approved to host challenge checkers. This is one of the changes we’re implementing based on feedback from community surveys. We hope that challenge checkers will make it easier for players to determine their qualifications for challenge caches. Additional details are available in this Project-GC FAQ. When the complete framework for challenge caches is ready, we will share that information via the Geocaching newsletter and blog. Thank you for your patience!

Read previous Release Notes Release Notes - March 31, 2016 Say hello to worldwide search! Now, with just a few clicks, you can see a list of the most favorited geocaches or learn just how many Terrain 5 geocaches there are — in the world. With this latest update, you can: Find geocaches anywhere in the world based on keywords, D/T ratings, geocache types and more — no search origin needed. For Premium Members, the 30 mile/50 kilometer restriction on radius searches is gone. See an accurate count of matching results for all searches. (No more ‘15,000+’ limit.) Also, we recently conducted testing of the logged-in homepage. After studying the results, it was determined that the Search page will be the logged-in homepage for all users. This change took effect a few days ago. Ben H of HQ’s Product Team will follow this thread and try to answer Search questions when possible.