A GPX file is a plain-text record of where you've been, stored in a format that any mapping app can read

GPX stands for GPS Exchange Format. It's a file that contains location data — latitude, longitude, elevation, and timestamps — saved in a way that's designed to work across different apps and devices. When you turn on location services and use maps, fitness apps, or hiking trackers, your phone or computer often creates GPX files automatically as a record of your movement.

The file itself is just text. If you open it in a text editor, you'll see XML code with numbers representing coordinates and times. But you don't need to read the raw code — mapping apps like Google Maps, Apple Maps, Garmin BaseCamp, or AllTrails can open GPX files directly and show you the route as a line on a map.

GPX files are useful because they're a standard format. A file created by your phone's fitness app can be imported into a different app on your computer, or shared with someone else who uses a completely different device. That portability is why GPX became the default format for location tracking across the outdoor and fitness world.

Key Takeaways

  • GPX files contain your location history — where you went, when you went there, and sometimes how fast you were moving — in a format any mapping app can read.
  • Your phone creates GPX files automatically when you use navigation, fitness tracking, or hiking apps with location services turned on.
  • You can view a GPX file by opening it in any mapping app, or export your location history as a GPX file to move it between devices or apps.
  • GPX files are stored locally on your device by default, but some apps also upload them to their servers, so check your app's privacy settings if you're concerned about where your location data goes.

Where GPX files are stored on your device

On an iPhone, GPX files are usually stored inside the app that created them. If you use Apple Maps or a fitness app like Strava, the app keeps its own copy of your routes. To access them, you open the app itself — there's no single "GPX folder" on your phone the way there might be on a computer.

On Android, the location varies by app. Some apps store GPX files in a folder you can access through your file manager (often in a folder named after the app, like /Android/data/com.appname/files). Others keep them inside the app only. Check your app's settings or help section to find out where it saves routes.

On a Windows or Mac computer, GPX files are usually in a Downloads folder, a Documents folder, or a folder specific to the app that created them. If you downloaded a GPX file from a website or received one from someone else, it's most likely in your Downloads folder.

How to export your location history as a GPX file

Most mapping and fitness apps let you save a completed route or trip as a GPX file. The steps vary by app, but the general process is: open the app, find the route or activity you want to save, look for an export or share option, and choose "GPX" or "GPX file" from the menu.

In Google Maps, you can't export your entire location history as a GPX file directly from the app. Instead, you go to myaccount.google.com, click "Manage your Google Account," select the "Data & Privacy" tab, scroll to "read your data," and request your location history. Google will send you a file that you can then convert to GPX using a free online converter.

In Apple Maps on iPhone, you can share a route by opening it, tapping the share button, and choosing an app to send it to. Some apps will receive it as a GPX file; others will open it in their own format. Fitness apps like Strava, Garmin Connect, and AllTrails all have built-in export options — usually a menu icon or settings button on the activity page.

Privacy and security considerations with GPX files

A GPX file is a record of everywhere you've been and when you were there. If someone gains access to your GPX files, they can see your home address, your workplace, your regular routes, and your schedule. For this reason, be cautious about where you store them and who you share them with.

Some apps upload your GPX data to their servers automatically. Strava, for example, stores your activities on Strava's servers by default, which means your location history is no longer just on your device — it's on a company's computer. Check your app's privacy settings to see whether data is uploaded, whether you can turn it off, and whether the company shares it with third parties.

If you're concerned about privacy, keep GPX files in a password-protected folder on your computer, or use encrypted storage. If you share a GPX file with someone, remember that they can see your exact location and timing — which can reveal sensitive information about your routine. Some people delete GPX files after they've reviewed them, rather than keeping a permanent record.

Opening and viewing a GPX file

To view a GPX file, you need a mapping app that supports the format. Google Maps, Apple Maps, Garmin BaseCamp, AllTrails, and most hiking or fitness apps can open GPX files. The process is usually: open the app, look for an import or open option, select the GPX file from your device, and the app will display the route on a map.

On a computer, you can also use free online GPX viewers. Websites like gpxstudio.github.io or umap.openstreetmap.fr let you drag and drop a GPX file into your browser, and they'll show you the route on an interactive map. You don't need to create an account or read anything — just upload the file and view it.

If you want to edit a GPX file — to remove a section of a route, add waypoints, or change the name — you can use desktop software like Garmin BaseCamp (free), GPXLab (free), or online editors. These tools let you modify the coordinates, elevation, or timestamps before saving the file again.

The difference between GPX files and location history

A GPX file is a snapshot of a specific trip or activity — a route you recorded while hiking, running, or driving. Location history is a continuous record of everywhere your phone has been, collected over days, weeks, or months. Google Maps and Apple Maps both keep location history if you turn on that setting.

Location history is usually stored on the company's servers (Google's or Apple's), not as a GPX file on your device. You can read it, but it comes in a different format initially. GPX files, by contrast, are typically created by you — you start recording, do an activity, stop recording, and the app saves that specific route as a GPX file.

If you turn off location services, GPX files won't be created and location history won't be recorded. If you turn off location history in your account settings but keep location services on, apps can still create GPX files when you use them — the difference is that your overall movement pattern isn't being logged by Google or Apple in the background.

Common reasons your phone creates GPX files without you noticing

Fitness apps like Apple Health, Google Fit, Strava, and Garmin Connect create GPX files automatically whenever you start a workout or activity recording. If you have these apps installed and you've given them permission to access location, they'll create a GPX file every time you go for a run, walk, or bike ride — even if you don't explicitly think about it.

Navigation apps like Google Maps and Apple Maps also create location records when you use turn-by-turn directions. These may or may not be saved as GPX files on your device, but they're definitely being recorded by the app and sent to the company's servers.

Some apps create GPX files in the background if you've turned on location tracking or check-in features. If you use an app that tracks your location for any reason — weather, social media, delivery services — it may be creating location records. Check each app's permissions and settings to see what location data it's collecting and where it's storing it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a GPX file and will it affect my phone?

Yes, you can delete GPX files without harming your phone. They're just data files, like photos or documents. Deleting a GPX file removes the record of that route, but it won't affect your phone's performance or any other apps. If the file is stored inside an app, deleting it through the app's interface will remove the route from that app only.

What if I want to keep my location private but still use maps?

Turn off location history in your account settings (Google, Apple, or your phone's system settings), but keep location services on. This lets apps like maps work when you actively use them, but prevents a continuous background record. You can also disable location access for individual apps in your phone's privacy settings — go to Settings, find Privacy or Permissions, and turn off Location for apps you don't need it for.

Can I share a GPX file with someone without showing them my home address?

Yes, but you have to edit the file first. Use a GPX editor to remove the start and end points of your route, or trim the file to show only the middle section. Alternatively, you can share just the route itself without the timestamps, which makes it harder to figure out when you were there. Some apps have a "share route" option that lets you choose what information to include.

Is a GPX file the same as a map?

No. A GPX file is data — numbers representing coordinates and times. A map is a visual display of that data. You need a mapping app to turn a GPX file into something you can see. The same GPX file can look different depending on which app opens it, because different apps use different map backgrounds and styling.

Why would I want to save a GPX file instead of just taking a screenshot of my route?

A GPX file contains detailed information that a screenshot doesn't — exact elevation, speed, distance, and timing. If you want to analyze your workout, compare routes, or import your data into a different app, a GPX file is much more useful. A screenshot is just a picture; a GPX file is the actual data.