Choose a map layer

Last reviewed: 2026-10-08 · Requires: Gold or Platinum

DroneScout draws detected drones on OpenStreetMap by default. With a Gold or Platinum subscription you can switch to other map layers — satellite imagery to see fields, rooftops and tree lines, terrain to see hills and valleys, or street maps from Google, HERE and NAVER.

Switch the map layer

On the map screen, tap the map icon in the toolbar at the top (next to the history icon). It's only there with Gold or Platinum.
The Select Map Layer list opens. The current layer has a green check mark.
Tap a layer. The map redraws and a short message confirms your choice.

DroneScout remembers the layer you picked, also after restarting the app.

Which layer to use

Layer	Good for
OSM (OpenStreetMap)	The default. Clear street map with paths, buildings and land use; available on every plan
Google Maps	Familiar street map with place names and businesses
Google Maps Satellite	Recognising what's on the ground: fields, rooftops, tree lines, open water — useful to find where a drone or its pilot is
Google Maps Terrain	Hills and valleys, which shape where radio signals reach
HERE Normal, HERE Satellite, HERE Terrain	Alternatives to Google's street, satellite and terrain maps — sometimes newer imagery in your area
NAVER Map (Korea), NAVER Satellite (Korea)	South Korea, where Google and other providers have limited map detail

Satellite imagery is the most useful view when you need to match a drone's position with what you see around you. If one provider's imagery is old or blurry in your area, try the other.

Below the online layers, the list has one more: your own offline map, which you import as an MBTiles file — see Use maps offline.

Without internet

The map layers are online maps: they need a data connection and can't be saved for offline use. For areas without mobile signal, make your own offline map and import it — see Use maps offline.

Drone detection itself never needs internet: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Remote ID are received directly from the drone. Without a map, drones still appear in the list and on the (empty) map.

Good to know

If your subscription drops below Gold, the map switches back to OpenStreetMap. Your chosen layer comes back when you subscribe again.

Troubleshooting

Problem	What to check
No map icon in the toolbar	Map layers need Gold or Platinum; the ⋯ menu (three horizontal dots) shows your current plan at the top
Map stays grey or blank after switching	The phone is online; zoom in or out a little to load the map; try another layer
Satellite imagery is out of date	Try the other provider (Google or HERE) — they update different areas at different times