Trip Mates

1. Install and Launch

Download Trip Mates from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android) and open it on your device. You'll see an onboarding walkthrough explaining the main features.

2. Grant Location Permission

When prompted, tap "Allow While Using App" or "Allow Once" to give Trip Mates access to your location. For continuous sharing, select "Always Allow". Your data stays completely private on your device.

3. Sign Up

Create an account with your phone number or email address. This helps you connect with friends and family.

Create a New Group

Step 1: Tap the "Groups" tab at the bottom of the screen

Step 2: Tap the "+" button to create a new group

Step 3: Enter a name for your group (e.g., "Family", "Road Trip")

Step 4: Tap "Create"

Invite Members

Step 1: Open the group you want to add members to

Step 2: Tap the "Invite" button

Step 3: Choose how to send the invitation:

• Text Message: Send directly to contacts
• Email: Send via email
• Copy Link: Copy invitation link to share manually

Step 4: Recipients will receive an invitation to join your group

Manage Group Settings

Step 1: Open the group you want to manage

Step 2: Tap the group name at the top to open settings

Step 3: Adjust settings such as:

• Group Name: Change the name of the group
• Notifications: Enable/disable notifications for this group
• Leave Group: Leave the group if you no longer want to participate

Start Sharing

Step 1: Open the group you want to share with

Step 2: Toggle the "Share Location" switch to ON

Step 3: Choose sharing duration:

• For 1 Hour: Share temporarily
• Until I Stop: Share until manually stopped
• While Using App: Share only when app is active

Tip: Your location is only shared with members of this specific group.

Stop Sharing

Step 1: Open the group where you're sharing

Step 2: Toggle the "Share Location" switch to OFF

Step 3: Confirm that you want to stop sharing

Note: You can stop sharing at any time, even if you set a longer duration.

Map View

Step 1: Open any group with active location sharing

Step 2: The map will show all group members who are currently sharing their location

Step 3: Tap on any member's icon to see details:

• Name: Member's name
• Last Updated: When their location was last refreshed
• Battery Level: Their device's battery percentage (if shared)

List View

Step 1: Open a group

Step 2: Tap the "List" view button (usually at the top right)

Step 3: See all group members in a list with their status:

• Sharing: Currently sharing their location
• Not Sharing: Not currently sharing location
• Offline: App is not running or location services disabled

Automatic Trip Recording

Step 1: Enable "Trip Recording" in Settings

Step 2: Start moving - the app will automatically detect when you begin a trip

Step 3: Your trip will be recorded in the background

Step 4: When you stop moving, the trip will be saved automatically

Note: Trips are only recorded when you're actively sharing your location with at least one group.

Viewing Trip History

Step 1: Tap the "Trips" tab at the bottom of the screen

Step 2: See a list of all recorded trips with:

• Date and Time: When the trip occurred
• Duration: How long the trip lasted
• Distance: Total distance traveled
• Route: Visual representation of your path

Step 3: Tap any trip to see detailed information including speed graph and location history

Notification Types

Trip Mates sends several types of notifications:

• Member Joined: When someone joins your group
• Location Sharing Started: When a member starts sharing
• Location Sharing Stopped: When a member stops sharing
• Trip Started: When a member begins a trip
• Trip Ended: When a member completes a trip
• Arrival: When a member reaches a significant location

Customizing Notifications

Global Settings:

Step 1: Tap the "Settings" tab

Step 2: Tap "Notifications"

Step 3: Toggle different notification types on/off

Group Settings:

Step 1: Open a specific group

Step 2: Tap the group name to open settings

Step 3: Adjust notification settings for that group only

Data Privacy

Trip Mates is committed to protecting your privacy:

• Location Data: Stored only on your device and shared only with group members you invite
• Account Information: Only email/phone used for account verification
• No Selling Data: We never sell or share your data with third parties
• End-to-End Encryption: Location data is encrypted during transmission

Controlling Your Data

Stop Sharing: You can stop sharing your location at any time

Leave Groups: Leave any group to stop sharing with those members

Delete Account: Completely remove your account and all associated data

Review Permissions: Check and modify app permissions in device Settings

Location Not Updating

Problem: Your location isn't showing correctly to group members

Solutions:

• Check that Location Services are enabled for Trip Mates in device Settings
• Ensure you've granted "Always Allow" location permission
• Restart the app or your device
• Check that Background App Refresh is enabled

Notifications Not Working

Problem: Not receiving notifications from Trip Mates

Solutions:

• Check Notification settings in device Settings → Trip Mates
• Ensure notifications are enabled in the app's Settings tab
• Check Do Not Disturb settings

Invitations Not Sending

Problem: Unable to send invitations to friends

Solutions:

• Ensure you have cellular data or Wi-Fi connection
• Check that you have permission to send texts/emails
• Try copying the link and sharing manually

Need More Help?

Contact our support team at support@tripmates.app for personalized assistance.