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Answers to the most common requests. Looking for a full tour? Open the guide.
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👤 Account
How do I sign up?▾
Go to "Sign up", choose email + password or sign in with Google. The confirmation email arrives within seconds.
Can I use Locaria without signing up?▾
Yes: as a guest you can browse the home, Explore, the map and place pages. To save places, build routes, vote, collect badges and use network and messages you need a free account.
I forgot my password, what now?▾
From the login page tap "Reset password": we'll send a link to set a new one.
Can I change the account email?▾
Yes, from profile settings. You'll get a confirmation email at the new address before the change takes effect.
How do I delete my account?▾
From profile settings, tap "Delete account". The action is permanent and removes all your personal data.
Is it free? Are there hidden costs?▾
Yes, everything is free for now. And for those who contribute today — with suggestions and edits — there will be no future costs: your access stays free. Locaria is open source and ad-free, supported by voluntary donations.
🔒 Privacy & data
Where is my data stored?▾
On GDPR-compliant European servers. The Privacy page details which data we collect and how we handle it.
Do my photos contain my GPS location?▾
No: we automatically strip EXIF metadata (including coordinates) before uploading any photo to our servers.
Can I export or delete my data?▾
Yes. You can request export or deletion from profile settings, or by writing to the address listed in the Privacy Policy.
Does Locaria show ads or sell my data?▾
Never. The project is free, open source and supported only by voluntary donations. No ad trackers.
Are my trips and routes visible to others?▾
Routes you create are private unless you choose to make them public. Your visits and saved places stay private; a public profile is optional.
🛠️ Technical issues
I'm not getting notifications, why?▾
Make sure your browser/OS has notification permissions enabled for Locaria. On iOS, web notifications require installing the PWA first.
Where do I see notifications and announcements?▾
Tap the bell in the top bar: it collects unlocked badges, your contribution outcomes, level-ups and Locaria announcements.
The "+" button isn't recording my voice.▾
Check microphone permissions in your browser. On mobile: hold the button and speak after the small initial cue.
I added something offline but I don't see it on other devices.▾
Offline data syncs the first time you go back online. Open the app while connected and wait a few seconds: sync is automatic.
Does it work offline?▾
Yes, with the Android app. You download a whole route — map, stops and place cards — and navigate it without a connection, even with the screen off thanks to background GPS. Downloaded routes stay on your device and you'll find them in the offline screen when there's no network; suggestions written offline send themselves as soon as you're back online.
How do I install Locaria on my phone?▾
When the "Install" banner appears, tap it. Otherwise, from the browser menu choose "Add to Home screen" (Android) or share → "Add to Home Screen" (iOS Safari).
The map won't load or stays blank.▾
Refresh the page and check your connection. If the issue persists, try clearing the browser cache for this domain.
Is there a dark mode?▾
Yes, it's in beta. Turn it on from your profile: tap the theme toggle to switch between dark and light.
Is there an app on the Play Store or App Store?▾
Not yet. On iPhone, install it from Safari (Share → Add to Home Screen). On Android, besides the PWA, you can download the APK with extra features: offline download and navigation of routes, background GPS, a camera that keeps photo location, and voice dictation of suggestions.
🌟 Contributions & moderation
I suggested a place but I can't find it, why?▾
All contributions go through a brief moderation step to avoid duplicates and incorrect content. Check status in Dashboard → My contributions.
I found an error on a page, how do I report it?▾
Open the place, flavor or highlight page and use the report option: your correction proposal goes to moderation and gets reviewed.
What's the difference between Flavor and Highlight?▾
A Flavor is a typical dish/drink of a region or country. A Highlight is a specific detail of a place (a fresco, a statue, a piece of trivia).
How do I unlock badges?▾
By visiting places, tasting flavors or making approved contributions. Thresholds are 25% (bronze), 50% (silver), 75% (gold), 100% (platinum) of the category total.
How do XP and levels work?▾
You earn experience points (XP) through activity on Locaria: approved suggestions, tasted flavors, check-ins and completed routes. Past certain thresholds you level up; your profile shows your current level and how much XP is left to the next one.
How do I become a "Trusted" user?▾
Submit 10 contributions that get approved: you unlock the gold badge, and your future suggestions are published without waiting for moderation.
How do I become an Editor?▾
From your profile tap "Become an Editor" and send your application: an admin reviews it and you get a notification with the outcome. Editors can publish places directly and moderate the community's contributions — a broader role than the "Trusted" user, who only gets immediate publishing of their own suggestions.