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SurvivalToolKit

When help is far, tools are close.

Offline-first Battery-aware Emergency SOS No tracking No ads

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Need help, found a bug, or have a feature request? We're here.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does the app work without an internet connection?
Yes. Compass, level, altimeter, GPS coordinates, route tracking, sun times, Morse code flash, whistle, signal mirror, and all guides work fully offline. Only the Home weather card requires an internet connection.
How do I activate the Emergency SOS?
Open the app and tap the red Emergency SOS button on the Home screen. Confirm the prompt and the app will simultaneously flash Morse SOS, play a whistle SOS pattern, set screen brightness to maximum, and save your last GPS coordinates. Tap Stop to end.
Why does the Live Activity stay on my Lock Screen after I stopped recording?
Live Activities are managed by iOS and may briefly persist after the app ends them. Swipe the activity left on the Lock Screen and tap the close button, or relaunch the app — it automatically clears any stale activities on launch.
Why does my altitude reading drift?
Altitude is measured by the device barometer (relative) or GPS (absolute). Barometric altitude is sensitive to weather pressure changes — strong wind or storms can shift it by several meters. GPS altitude has roughly ±20m vertical accuracy. The Route tracker filters out small noise to avoid false ascent/descent counts.
Why is my compass spinning or showing low accuracy?
The phone's magnetometer needs calibration. Hold the device flat and slowly move it in a figure-8 motion until accuracy improves. Stay away from metal objects, magnets, and electronic devices.
Can the app run in background to record routes?
Yes, but iOS requires the "Always" location permission for background tracking. When you start recording, iOS will ask. If you grant only "While Using", tracking pauses when you lock the screen.
How accurate is the offline weather prediction?
The app uses your device barometer to detect pressure trends — a sharp drop usually indicates an incoming storm. This is a directional indicator, not a precise forecast. For accurate weather, the Home weather card uses Apple WeatherKit (online).
Does the app drain my battery?
Active GPS tracking is the biggest consumer. The built-in Power Saving mode (tap battery card on Home) reduces sensor frequency automatically as battery drops. When idle, the app uses negligible power.

System Requirements

  • iPhone running iOS 16.1 or later
  • Live Activities require iOS 16.2 or later
  • Dynamic Island display requires iPhone 14 Pro or later
  • Barometric altimeter requires iPhone 6 or later (most modern iPhones)

🔒 Privacy Policy

Last updated: May 5, 2026

The short version

SurvivalToolKit is designed to work offline and respect your privacy. We do not collect, store, sell, or share any personal data on our servers. We do not run analytics, advertising, or third-party tracking SDKs. Everything you do in the app stays on your device, except for the few cases below.

Data we handle

Data Where it goes Sent to us
Location (GPS) Stays on your device No
Saved routes Local storage on your device No
Sensor data (barometer, motion) Used only in the app, not stored No
Last SOS coordinates Local storage on your device No
App preferences (selected tools, hints) Local storage on your device No
Approximate location for weather Sent to Apple WeatherKit only Apple

How your data is used

  • Location: used only to show your coordinates, calculate sunrise/sunset, track routes you record, and determine your local weather. Coordinates are never transmitted to us.
  • Barometer & motion: used in real time for the altimeter, level, and weather prediction features. Not stored.
  • Saved routes & preferences: stored only in your device's app storage. Deleted when you uninstall the app.
  • SOS coordinates: when you activate Emergency SOS, your last known coordinates are saved on your device so you can show them to rescuers later. Not transmitted.

Third-party services

The app uses one third-party service: Apple WeatherKit. When you open the Home screen with an internet connection, the app sends your approximate coordinates to Apple's WeatherKit service to fetch the current weather forecast. Apple's handling of this data is governed by the Apple Weather Privacy. We do not see, store, or relay this data.

The app does not use any analytics SDKs (e.g., Firebase, Mixpanel), advertising networks, crash reporting services, or social media SDKs.

Permissions we request

  • Location (When In Use): for compass, GPS, sunrise/sunset, weather, and route start. You can revoke this at any time in iOS Settings → SurvivalToolKit → Location.
  • Location (Always): requested only when you tap "Start Recording" on the Route screen, so tracking continues with the screen locked. Optional — you can decline and tracking will pause when locked.
  • Camera (Torch): required to control the LED flashlight for Morse and Flashlight features. The camera image is never accessed or recorded.
  • Motion & Fitness: required for the level, altimeter, and barometric pressure features.

Children's privacy

SurvivalToolKit does not knowingly collect any data from anyone, including children under 13. Because the app collects no data at all, there is no children's data to handle separately.

Changes to this policy

If this policy changes, the new version will appear on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Material changes will be announced in the app's release notes.

Contact

Questions about this policy? Email contact@orangecatsoft.com.