Navigator Settings – Backup, Restore, Reset and Transfer

If you are changing your device or reinstalling Navigator, you will probably want to keep your settings, favourite places, routes, and other preferences. Since Navigator offers many customisation options, it would be inconvenient to start from scratch.

Note: We recommend creating a backup regularly, especially before updating or reinstalling the app.

Backup, Reset & Restore in Navigator for Android

MapFactor Navigator - Settings - Backup and reset local settings

MapFactor Navigator - Select preferences for backup

There are two basic ways how to backup settings in Navigator for Android.

A) Online Backup & Restore with Google Drive – recommended

When connected to the Internet, the easiest way to back up, restore and transfer your Navigator settings is by using Google Drive.

1. Creating an online backup:
  • run Navigator on your older device
  • go to Settings/Advanced/Backup and reset/
  • tap Backup your settings to Google Drive
  • choose the Google Account you wish to use for the backup
  • from the list of preferences (files) choose which of the settings you wish to backup.
2. Restoring settings / Importing (transferring) the settings into a new device:
  • Install Navigator on your new device
  • run Navigator
  • go to Settings/Advanced/Backup and reset/
  • tap Restore settings from Google Drive
  • choose (the same) Google account
  • your settings will be imported.

You can easily delete your settings backup by tapping Delete settings from Google Drive.

B) Local Storage Backup & Restore (Offline)

If you do not want to back up online, Navigator for Android also offers a backup using local storage on your device.

Note: If you plan to reset your device, please save the backup file on an SD card or other external storage. On Android OS 9 and later, files in the default backup folder may be hidden by the system. If you wish to copy the backup files later to external storage or another device, change the Local backup folder setting to User defined folder — choose a folder that you can easily access.

B1) Local Backup & Restore on the Same Device

1. Creating a local storage backup:
  • Run Navigator on your device
  • Go to Settings → Advanced → Backup and reset
  • Tap Backup your settings to local storage
  • Select which preferences (files) you want to back up and tap OK
  • A backup will be created.
2. Restoring from a local backup:

To restore your settings from a local backup:

  • Run Navigator
  • Go to Settings → Advanced → Backup and reset
  • Tap Restore settings from local backup
  • Select the backup files to be restored
  • Your settings will be imported.

B2) Transferring Navigator Settings to a New Device (using Local Backup)

1. Create a local backup on your old device:
  • Run Navigator on your old device
  • Go to Settings → Advanced → Backup and reset
  • Change the Local backup folder setting from Default (internal app folder) to User defined folder — choose an accessible folder on your internal storage or SD card, e.g. Downloads or another easily accessible location
  • Tap Backup your settings to local storage
  • Select the preferences (files) you want to back up and tap OK
  • A backup file will be created.
2. Prepare a local backup folder on your new device:
  • Install Navigator on your new Android device
  • Create a local backup to a User defined folder — repeat the same steps on your new device as on the old one, and set the same folder name/path as before.
3. Copy the backup file to your new device:
  • Locate the backup folder (internal memory or SD card) on your old device using a file manager app. (If you cannot see the backup file, try using another file manager that displays hidden files.)
  • Copy the backup file from your old device to the same backup folder on your new device — overwrite the existing files.
4. Restore the backup file on your new device:
  • Run Navigator on your new device
  • Go to Settings → Advanced → Backup and reset
  • Tap Restore settings from local backup
  • Select the backup file to restore
  • Your settings will be imported.

Reset Options

In the Local Storage of the Backup and reset section, you can also:

  • Reset to default settings – this will restore the Navigator app to its factory settings. All your custom settings, favourites and routes will be deleted, so make sure to create a backup first.
  • Backup and reset local settings – Navigator will create a backup and then reset to default settings.

Again, you can delete the local backup files by tapping Delete.

C) Copying selected setting files individually (offline version) – available only for older Android OS versions

Note: In Android OS 9 and above, these files are unfortunately hidden by the system, i.e. unreachable. It is therefore necessary to use another backup/restore method.

In older Android OS version, you could manually copy files (such as Favourites or Routes). You do not have to create a backup, just copy the selected files individually.

  • Go to local storage on your older device (internal memory or SD-card)
  • Find the following folder: /android/data/com.mapfactor.navigator/files/navigator/
  • Find the file or files you wish to copy – e.g. favourites.xml (Favourites), routing_points.xml (Routing points and My routes), vehicle_profiles.xml etc.
  • copy this file/files to the same folder on your new device (overwrite the existing files)
  • restart Navigator and the settings will be available in the app

Note concerning Navigator’s paid features:

Purchase before June 2020:

If you purchased TomTom® maps or online traffic information (HD traffic) before June 2020 and wish to move the licence to your new device, please contact our Support team at support@mapfactor.com.

The Premium Features (Alternative routes, Head-Up-Display, Colour Themes and No Ads) are connected to your Google Account. Just you use the same Google Account on the new device and the premium features will be available automatically.

We recommend going to Map manager (Tools / Map manager / Download maps) to initiate a connection with your Google account and refresh the purchases.

Purchase after June 2020:

Since June 2020, all in-app purchase (TomTom® maps, HD Traffic and all Premium Features) are connected to your Google Account. Just you use the same Google Account on the new device and the features will be available automatically.

We recommend going to Map manager (Tools / Map manager / Download maps) to initiate a connection with your Google account and refresh the purchases.

Backup, Reset & Restore in Navigator for iOS

Navigator for iOS offers both online backup using Google Drive and local backup to your device storage.

A) Online Backup with Google Drive

If you are signed in with your Google account, you can easily back up and restore your Navigator settings using Google Drive.

Backup Navigator for iOS Settings on Google Drive

To create an online backup:

  • Open Navigator on your iPhone or iPad
  • Go to Settings → Advanced → Backup and reset
  • (If not already signed in, sign in to your Google Drive account)
  • Tap Backup
  • Choose the items you wish to back up and confirm

To restore your online backup from Google Drive:

  • Install and open Navigator on your device
  • Go to Settings → Advanced → Backup and reset
  • Tap Restore
  • Select backup to restore
  • Choose the items you wish to restore and confirm
  • Your saved settings will be imported automatically

B) Local Backup, Reset and Restore (Offline)

If you prefer not to use cloud storage, you can create a local backup directly on your device.

Backup Navigator for iOS Settings on Local Storage

Backup Navigator for iOS Settings on Local Storage - Select Backup Data

Backup Navigator for iOS Actions with User Defined Backup File

To create a local backup:

  • Run Navigator on your iPhone or iPad
  • Go to Settings → Advanced → Backup and reset → Local storage
  • Tap Backup
  • Choose whether to save the backup to the Default (internal app folder) or a User defined folder
  • Select which settings you want to back up and tap Done

If you select the Default (internal app folder), the backup is saved automatically in the app’s internal storage and no further action is needed.
If you select a User defined folder, an action menu will appear showing the generated .zip file. You can then share, copy it, Save it to Files, or send it elsewhere — it’s up to you how to handle the backup file.

To restore from a local backup:

  • Open Navigator
  • Go to Settings → Advanced → Backup and reset → Local storage
  • Tap Restore settings from local storage
  • Select the backup file to import your settings

 

Reset Settings Options

Under Local Storage of the Backup and reset section, you can also:

  • Reset to default settings – this will restore the Navigator app to its factory settings. All your custom settings, favourites and routes will be deleted, so make sure to create a backup first.
  • Backup and reset local settings – Navigator will create a backup and then reset to default settings.

Find further useful tips & guides on Support – How to? 

Last update: October 9, 2025