Offline survival app help
FAQ

Survive Link is an offline-first preparedness app for keeping guides, family plans, checklists, contacts, and saved information close. It also includes maps, field tools, and communication options with different connection and hardware requirements. It is a planning and reference tool—not an emergency response service, a guarantee of rescue, or a replacement for official instructions.

Every mobile app feature is free. Buying gear is optional and does not unlock app features. A compatible radio, mobile data, optional external services, and other equipment can have their own costs; free app access does not mean those outside services or devices are free.

The app is being developed for iOS and Android. Check Get the app on this website for current release availability and official download links; do not assume a public store release is available just because a feature is shown here. Phone hardware, operating-system version, app build, and permissions affect advanced tools. A browser preview is not a substitute for the installed phone app.

Your local preparedness information stays on your device. A website login is not required to read your locally saved mobile guides and plans.

Start on Home, choose your language, and explore the main sections. Add the emergency contacts and family meeting information you want to keep locally. Review the guides, build a simple checklist, and save the maps or extra content you need while connected. Then test those items without internet. Set up radios or Walkie separately if you intend to use them, and practice before a disruption.

No. This website explains the app, provides public articles, and links to optional gear and examples. It is not your on-device emergency kit and should not be relied on to load without internet. Website Field AI examples are demonstrations, not access to your phone’s saved conversations or personal plans.

Use the customization and mode controls offered in your installed version to keep useful shortcuts visible and hide cards you do not need. Lite and Full are presentation choices. Hiding a shortcut does not mean your saved information was deleted. Check the main sections or Settings if a tool is not on Home; labels can vary by build.

Bundled guides, locally saved plans, contacts, checklists, inventory, notes, and the basic local Field AI guidance remain useful without internet. Successfully downloaded content and supported saved maps are also available locally. Live weather, current alerts, live place search, internet Walkie, and online AI need connectivity. Radio messaging needs compatible external hardware; losing cell service does not turn a phone into a radio.

Save the needed maps and optional content while connected. Add important pins, addresses, meeting places, emergency contacts, and a simple family plan. Open each saved item, confirm its download completed, and test access without internet. Bring power and a printed or written backup. A download listed as incomplete is not a dependable offline resource.

Offline mode keeps the workflow focused on local information. Online mode can use connected features when the internet is actually reachable. Selecting Online does not create a connection. If live requests fail, return to saved guides and plans rather than assuming the app has current weather, roads, alerts, or messages.

Yes: open the guides, plans, and saved maps after disconnecting and check what remains available. Airplane mode may also disable Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or other connections until you enable them separately. Test location access and radio pairing as separate checks. Successful access to one guide does not prove that every map or communication tool is ready.

Not necessarily. Cached information reflects the last successful update, not changing conditions. Check timestamps and the connection state. Official carrier and local-authority broadcasts remain authoritative; the app feed is supplemental and best-effort. Do not use an old forecast or alert to decide that it is safe to stay, travel, or return.

No. The bundled reference material provides a starting point. Download optional content relevant to your location and plans, check available storage, and confirm completion. Large downloads need a dependable connection and enough space. Keeping fewer useful, tested resources can be better than collecting incomplete downloads you have never opened.

Only while the phone has power. Location tracking, bright lights, audio, radios, and long sessions can use more battery than reading saved text. Reduce unnecessary activity and bring an appropriate power backup. Do not disable a permission or connection that a tool you need depends on. Keep essential written information available in case the phone shuts down.

In the updated supported installed app, open the map library while connected, choose a center and a 2, 5, or 10 km square in a supported U.S. region, review its coverage, and confirm Download. Each download is bounded below OpenFreeMap’s published limits: at most 2,500 provider requests and 40 MB, with no more than four simultaneous requests. Whole-state downloads are no longer offered from this provider. Previously saved maps are preserved. Wait for completion and test offline before relying on a map. Expo Go, web previews, and older native builds cannot download these packs.

Reconnect and check storage and power. A compatible partial small-area download can resume only when you tap Resume, using the remaining budget from that same download. If a provider limit is reached, choose a smaller area rather than repeatedly retrying or automatically splitting a state. Old partial state packs cannot resume under the new policy. Never treat a partial pack as ready, and do not delete unrelated saved maps to fix one area.

The Delete action for a selected state is intended to remove that state’s saved pack, not every other state. Confirm the state name before approving deletion. Previously saved map files are shown separately where supported. After deleting or changing downloads, reopen the maps you still need and verify their availability before travel.

Phone location hardware may obtain a position without mobile data, but it needs permission and a usable signal from location sources. Buildings, terrain, weather conditions, and the phone can affect a fix. A last-known location may be old. If the app has no fresh fix, do not assume a displayed position is your current location.

Not automatically. Displaying a saved map and calculating a route are different capabilities. Offline directions require the appropriate saved road data and support in your installed version. If the app says routing is unavailable, use the map and your saved planning notes rather than inventing a route. Live directions need a working connection, and neither mode proves a road is open or safe.

Mark useful places, give them clear labels, and save the routes or notes you want to review later. Include a destination, meeting point, and backup option when relevant. Check the saved information before disconnecting. A pin is a planning reference—not confirmation that a business is open, a shelter is available, or someone is waiting there.

Maps and place records can be incomplete or outdated. A downloaded map does not update itself while disconnected, and live place lookup needs connectivity. Verify important destinations with official or current sources when possible. Respect signs, closures, property boundaries, weather warnings, and instructions on the ground even if an old map suggests otherwise.

Check whether your app version supports saved phone maps, whether the chosen state finished downloading, and whether the map is centered on that area. Unsupported previews can show a simplified atlas instead of the installed-app map. Some detail or live services may be unavailable offline. Read the screen’s status message before assuming you have complete coverage.

Use Field AI to ask practical preparation questions, find relevant guidance, and organize your saved planning information. State your situation, what supplies you have, and whether you are online or offline. Keep questions specific and answer any clarification it asks. Field AI is not a doctor, emergency dispatcher, live road inspector, or guarantee that an answer fits your situation.

Basic local guidance remains available from the included material without an online service. An optional on-device AI download can improve how some answers are presented on supported phones; it is not required just to access the core local references. Download optional resources while connected and check storage and completion before relying on them.

Yes. Add relevant details or ask a follow-up in the conversation, and check that the answer still relates to the same situation. If the response misunderstands your question, correct it directly or start a new conversation for a different topic. Review saved conversation controls in Field AI when you want to revisit or delete a chat.

Use the optional online path only when you have a connection and have chosen to use that service. It can help with connected information, but should not replace your saved offline references. Read the consent and provider information before sending a question; online services may receive the question and any context you choose to share. Avoid unnecessary personal or sensitive information.

Do not guess from an unclear answer. Give a useful clarification, open the related guide, or check a reliable current source. For immediate danger, medical emergencies, or evacuation decisions, use official directions and emergency services when available. A confident tone does not prove an answer is correct, and missing local information cannot be replaced by certainty.

Check available storage and the download’s status before retrying. Use the app’s download management controls to remove an unwanted or incomplete optional pack rather than deleting unrelated plans or conversations. Core guides remain a separate resource. Large downloads are best completed on a stable connection with power available.

These are different communication paths, not interchangeable names. The radio path uses compatible external LoRa hardware. Walkie uses an internet connection for foreground push-to-talk. Nearby-phone options depend on supported builds and device capabilities; do not assume phone-only offline Bluetooth messaging is verified or universally available. Choose the path shown as supported on your own devices and test it first.

Yes, the radio path needs compatible external LoRa hardware running firmware supported by the app and a supported installed phone app. Bluetooth can link the phone to the radio; the radio carries the messages. An ordinary Bluetooth speaker, Wi-Fi router, or phone alone is not a replacement.

Charge the radio, follow its manufacturer setup instructions, and use the app’s radio connection screen to select and connect the supported device. Allow the permissions requested for that connection. Test with another compatible radio using matching settings before a trip. Keep configuration private and use manufacturer documentation for setup or firmware changes.

There is no guaranteed range. Terrain, buildings, antennas, placement, power, local settings, and participating radios affect results. Test your actual equipment and location rather than relying on an advertised maximum distance. Keep a check-in and meeting plan for times when the radio path is unavailable.

No. Drafted, sent, relayed, and confirmed received are different states. A radio transmission or relay does not prove that someone saw the message. Read the status shown, ask for a reply when appropriate, and follow your backup check-in plan if you cannot confirm contact. Never wait for an unconfirmed message instead of seeking available urgent help.

No. Survive Link Walkie requires working cellular data or Wi-Fi and a supported app build. It is foreground push-to-talk: take turns speaking rather than talking over another person. Allow microphone access and check the channel and connection status. It is separate from offline radio and should not be described as a no-signal replacement.

Do not rely on background transmission. Use Walkie with the app open and check that your channel is connected before speaking. Its audio is not recorded or stored by the app. OS interruptions, incoming calls, lost connectivity, and leaving the app can interrupt a session; return to the channel and confirm the connection again.

Use the channel’s invite or share controls, and let the other person open the invite or scan it using the supported flow. They may need the installed app and permissions. Check the participant limit and channel status before trying again. Treat invitations as private: sharing one more widely can share access. Saving a person as a contact is not the same as joining a channel or proving they are online.

No. Internet audio streams need connectivity and do not turn the phone into a universal AM, FM, or weather receiver. A LoRa text radio is also different from a broadcast weather radio. Use equipment appropriate to the broadcasts and local warnings you need, and do not assume one device receives every emergency channel.

No. A low-data or satellite setting does not add satellite hardware, carrier service, or coverage to a phone. Any satellite connection depends on your actual device and provider. Follow their instructions and limitations. Avoid large downloads on a limited connection, and do not assume an app setting can reach responders.

Open Family Circle or the planning tools, add the household information you choose to keep, and agree on contacts, meeting places, and backup steps. Keep instructions clear enough for everyone to understand. Review the plan together and update it when people, locations, or needs change. A saved plan is preparation—not an automatic notification or promise of rescue.

No. A family handoff shares a snapshot of selected information, not continuous cloud synchronization or proof of a person’s identity. Review the information before sharing, and agree on how to distribute later changes. The receiving person should confirm what they imported. Only share with people you trust.

Paper Twin helps create a printable or shareable version of supported planning information. Choose what to include, review the preview, and use the available print or share controls. Printed pages and their QR codes may contain personal details; keep them secure. A paper copy is useful if the phone fails, but it still needs to be kept current.

Kid Mode is a simplified offline space with parent-selected tools and age-appropriate local guidance. Set it up before handing over the phone, choose the allowed tiles, and review family contacts and meeting information. It does not replace supervision, contact emergency services automatically, or guarantee a child can obtain help.

Use the parent controls and authenticate with the configured parent unlock method, then change the allowed tools or turn Kid Mode off. Keep the parent PIN private. Optional biometric unlock should not be enabled if the child’s face or fingerprint is enrolled on the device. Kid Mode protects app screens; it is not a phone-wide parental lock.

No. The child helper uses short, child-appropriate local guidance and directs children to find a grown-up for unsafe or urgent situations. It is not an open-ended online chat for children or a substitute for a trusted adult. Parents should practice the available tools with the child and explain what each one actually does.

Check the phone volume, audio output, installed device voice, and the permission requested for the light. Some phone features are unavailable in previews or unsupported builds. Test while supervising the child; a moving symbol does not prove sound is audible or a flashlight is visible to others. Keep a simple adult-help plan that does not depend on audio or a screen.

Open the emergency guides or the reference library and choose the relevant topic. Use the offline material for preparation and reference, and verify that the advice matches the actual situation. The app cannot diagnose an injury or confirm current hazards. In immediate danger, follow official instructions and contact emergency services when available.

Do not assume that it does. Read the specific action and confirmation: supported calls and messages use the phone’s own apps and your selected contact or number. Review what will be shared and complete the phone’s confirmation. Carrier coverage and device services still matter. A visible SOS screen or a drafted message is not proof that help was contacted.

Use checklists to track preparation tasks and inventory to record supplies you actually have. Review counts, dates, and household needs regularly. Ration tools support planning from the information you enter; they do not measure real stock or prescribe safe medical, dietary, or water needs. Confirm assumptions and seek appropriate guidance for individual health requirements.

They are aids, not guarantees. Compass readings depend on phone sensors and can be affected by metal, magnets, electronics, and calibration. Sun information depends on the location and date entered or detected. Cross-check your surroundings and map, and carry appropriate navigation backups for remote travel.

Use the supported light or Morse screen, choose a short message, and test with a person who knows what to look for. Flashlight use needs compatible hardware and the requested permission. Camera reading depends on visible flashes and conditions; manual decoding may be needed. Light signals need a usable line of sight and are not a call to responders or confirmation of rescue.

Do not assume automatic live sharing. Start and stop supported trail recording intentionally, allow location access, and check the app’s recording status. Saved trail points are planning records and can be incomplete if location or the phone fails. Sharing a saved route does not automatically update someone else’s phone or prove that the route remains safe.

Use the reference sections available in your installed version and chosen language. Included material and successfully saved content can be read locally; verify any additional download before disconnecting. Audio or read-aloud options depend on available device capabilities and content. These optional reference tools do not change the app’s emergency-service limitations.

Check the specific sharing option and the information shown before confirming. A location card, map link, or message is a deliberate handoff, not proof of continuous tracking or receipt. Your location may be missing or stale when the phone cannot obtain a fresh fix. Confirm that the intended person received the information and avoid posting personal location publicly.

No. Treat planning calculators as estimates based on the information entered, not electrical measurements or approval to connect equipment. Use manufacturer ratings and qualified guidance for actual devices, batteries, generators, and wiring. Never infer that a combination is safe just because a calculator displays a result.

Water Clock supports water-related planning and reminders; it is not personal medical advice. Quiet Hours limits the app’s Mesh scanning, advertising, relaying, and transmissions unless you explicitly override it; it does not silence official carrier alerts. Skill Day supports practice, not professional certification. Read each screen’s settings and limits. Phone settings and interruptions can affect reminders, and quiet communication settings can affect availability.

No. A saved note, transmitted packet, or drop-style planning tool does not establish that another device will store, collect, or deliver it later. Use only the delivery and pickup status actually shown, confirm contact when possible, and keep an alternative plan. Do not treat unconfirmed delayed delivery as a dependable emergency service.

Core mobile preparedness records stay on the device. The public website does not need access to your emergency profile, family plan, contact list, or local chat history. Exporting, printing, sending a message, sharing a QR, or choosing an online service can share the information you select. Review each handoff and your device’s own backup settings.

No automatic Survive Link cloud synchronization should be assumed. Keep a supported export or printed backup where available, and use the app’s explicit sharing or import tools for selected information. Download maps and optional resources on the receiving device as needed. Confirm the import rather than assuming that logging in or scanning one invite restores everything.

Read the confirmation carefully. Deleting one item is different from clearing all local data. Broad deletion or uninstalling can remove plans, contacts, conversations, and downloads; do not count on the website to restore them. Keep the backups you need before making a destructive change, and confirm afterward what remains on the device.

Do not post passwords, parent PINs, private invitations, radio access details, personal contact information, health records, or precise private locations. Review screenshots and exports before sending them. Support usually needs the phone type, app version, affected screen, and a plain description of the problem—not your private settings or someone else’s emergency profile.

It can. Live searches, directions, optional online AI, communications, and OS sharing use external services or recipients as part of their operation. Read the feature’s notice and choose deliberately. The core local record policy is not a promise that every online request stays on the phone. Use local mode and saved references when you do not want to send a question.

Use the language option in the app’s Settings. The choice is saved locally, and supported Spanish content is provided locally rather than requiring the website to translate each answer. Website language is a separate preference. If a screen or optional resource does not change as expected, check its availability in the selected language and report the specific screen.

Allow permissions for the tools you choose: location for location-based tools, camera for supported scanning or light functions, Bluetooth or nearby-device access for compatible radio connections, and microphone for Walkie. Denying one permission can limit that tool without making every saved guide unusable. Change permissions in your phone’s app settings and test the tool again.

A displayed connection is not proof that internet is reachable. Check whether another normal internet service works, whether the network requires a sign-in page, and whether the app is in Online mode. A weak, restricted, or interrupted connection may fail. Keep using saved resources until the screen confirms a successful update.

Check power, supported hardware and app version, required permissions, and the radio’s own connection instructions. Keep it nearby during setup and make sure another app or device is not holding the connection. Reopen the connection screen and retry normally. Do not expose private settings or make unverified firmware changes just to troubleshoot; use official documentation or support.

Confirm that both people are on the intended channel, connected to working internet, and using supported builds with the app open. Check microphone permission, speaker volume, and Bluetooth or headset audio routing. Take turns and read any channel-capacity or connection message. Rejoining may be necessary after a call or network change; do not assume another person is online because their contact is saved.

Local records may not be recoverable unless you made a usable backup or explicit shared copy beforehand. Do not assume a Survive Link account or the website holds a restore copy. Review your phone’s backup options, keep supported exports or paper records, and test any import on the new device. Plan replacement before an emergency when possible.

Reopen the app, check the affected screen, permissions, connection mode, and saved downloads. Read any compatibility warning rather than dismissing it. Do not start by deleting all local data or reinstalling. If the problem remains, contact support with the app version, phone type, and what happened, removing private information from screenshots. Test important offline resources again after changes.

No. Shopping is optional and supports ongoing development through qualifying purchases. The radio feature needs compatible equipment, but buying through our store is not required. Choose gear based on your actual needs, compatibility, local rules, and manufacturer information.

The website links to physical products through Amazon; checkout happens there, not inside the mobile app. Check the destination listing for current price, seller, stock, shipping, return terms, and specifications. Survive Link may earn from qualifying purchases as an Amazon Associate. A product listing does not guarantee compatibility with every phone or feature.

Use the app guide for a broader feature tour, the Contact page for a question not answered here, and the website’s credits and Thank You page for public acknowledgments. Optional donations go to the linked projects and do not unlock app features. Keep private emergency information and access details out of public questions.