Compass & Heading
The compass widget in the map header shows both your device heading (where you're physically pointing) and the map bearing (how the map is rotated) at the same time.
What the compass shows​
On mobile, you get a dual-indicator compass, device heading and map orientation are tracked independently:
| Reading | What it represents |
|---|---|
| Device heading | Which way your phone is physically pointing (magnetometer) |
| Map bearing | How the map is currently rotated on screen |
On web, only map bearing is shown (browsers don't expose a compass sensor).
Display modes​
Tap the compass to switch between two layouts:
Compass rose​
A circular ring with two indicators:
- N label (accent color), your device heading on mobile, map bearing on web
- Small dot, the current map bearing (mobile only)
When both are the same (e.g. both pointing north), the dot sits behind the N label.
Bearing mode​
Stacked numbers:
- Large number + cardinal, device heading (mobile) or map bearing (web)
- Small dim number, map bearing (mobile only)
Your preferred mode is saved between sessions.
Rotating the map​
| Platform | How to rotate |
|---|---|
| Mobile (iOS / Android) | Two-finger twist gesture |
| Desktop Web | Right-click and drag left or right |
Long-press to realign​
Long-pressing the compass toggles the map orientation:
- Map is rotated → snaps map back to north-up
- Map is already north → rotates map to match your device heading
This lets you quickly switch between a north-up reference view and a heads-up view aligned to where you're facing.
Direction indicator on your avatar​
A small triangle appears above your own avatar on the map and rotates as your device heading changes. It is only visible to you, other members appear as static circles, their heading is not shared.
Tips​
- If you rotate the map to explore and lose your bearings, long-press the compass once to snap back to north.
- Metal objects and magnetic interference can affect heading accuracy, recalibrate your device if the arrow seems off.