Using GPX and importing Google Maps saved places

By Devan Metz · October 24, 2026

GPX and GeoJSON let you keep map data outside a single browser. Free Hunting Map imports and exports waypoints and tracks in these formats. It also imports supported Google Takeout saved places.

Export a backup

1. Open Share and select the pins and tracks you want to keep.
2. Choose GPX or GeoJSON. Save the file somewhere separate from the browser, such as your files app or backup drive.
3. Check that the file exists and contains the items you expected. Keep a dated copy before major edits or clearing browser data.

Files exported by Free Hunting Map retain its item metadata for importing back into the app. Other software may discard names, notes, symbols or metadata it does not understand. These file exports cover map items, not downloaded tiles, weather, account details or saved lidar analysis runs.

Import GPX or GeoJSON

Open Share, choose Import file and select a GPX, GeoJSON or supported JSON file. The app validates incoming data and merges items with existing records. Foreign GPX waypoints, tracks and routes are supported; inspect the resulting map to check names, positions and track shapes.

Coordinates in GeoJSON are longitude first, latitude second. If data lands far from where you expect, check the original coordinate order and format before editing your map.

Move saved places from Google Maps

1. Open Google Takeout for the Google account holding your saved places. Select Saved; Google documents the process under exporting saved lists. Older saved-place exports can also appear as JSON.
2. Create and download the export. Keep the original archive as a backup.
3. In Free Hunting Map, open Share → Import file. Select the Takeout ZIP, a supported saved-list CSV, or a Saved Places, Starred places or Labeled places JSON file.
4. Review the imported, duplicate and skipped counts. Inspect the pins before using them in the field.

The importer reads coordinates present in supported JSON or embedded in supported Google Maps URLs. Some CSV rows contain only place IDs, short links or addresses with no usable coordinates; those rows are skipped. It does not look up missing coordinates online. This is a saved-place import, not a live Google Maps connection, a map-tile transfer or general KML import.

Organize imported places

Supported Google Takeout saved-list names become categories. Open Organize to rename or recolor a category, hide it from the map, or search its saved places offline. Use Select to move multiple items into another category. GPX, GeoJSON and QR transfers retain the app’s portable category names and trail-camera fields; visibility settings stay local.

Share nearby with QR

Select map items in Share and choose Show QR. On the receiving device, use Scan QR and allow camera access. Larger selections cycle through several codes; keep scanning until the import completes. QR transfer itself does not require internet after both devices have loaded the app.

Keep devices and domains straight

Optional Google sign-in syncs map items, saved lidar candidates and map preferences. It does not transfer cached tiles. A file backup is still useful if you delete something accidentally or lose access to a device.

Browser storage is separate for freehuntingmap.com and the workers.dev alias. Export from the old origin and import on the one you plan to use. See the FAQ for offline and storage limits.