Not possible to start TTGo Nav app without internet connection

[mkz]

Hi,
With the last update I've tried to start app in Air plane mode - application stops on "Loading application" screen. I gave up after 15 minutes of waiting. Some versions ago there was no problem with starting the app in that mode - moreover it was the only choice with very weak internet connection (in garage or other places with very poor reception) where starting of the app was very very slow - changing then to air plane mode gave the possibility to start navigation. For now it seems that without internet connection off-line navigation won't start at all - disaster...

 

[Willy875]

Hi
I just started the app in airplane mode, I have no problem starting it.

 

[mkz]

I've tried once more - no luck. Maybe it depends on Android version.... Nevertheless on OnePlus 12 Android 15 app doesn't start without internet connection

 

[kacnje]

I wrote about this problem in my blog review (#14). I was surprised to find that TomTom needed an internet connection. I know that it should work without it, but it is quite rare that it works.

 

[Willy875]

Instead of turning on airplane mode, if you just turn off mobile data, what happens?

 

[BL_BL]

I wrote about this problem in my blog review (#14). I was surprised to find that TomTom needed an internet connection. I know that it should work without it, but it is quite rare that it works.

I tested this now, instead of turning on airplane mode I just turned off mobile data and WiFi...and I'm still waiting for TomTomGo to start, maybe 5 minutes by now.

And when i do "back" I have confirmation dialog for closing app, but nothing happens when I press "Close".

Wow, what a surprise for the app that must work offline!

 

[Willy875]

Mobile data disabled, app took a few seconds to start.

 

[mkz]

Instead of turning on airplane mode, if you just turn off mobile data, what happens?

The same - endless start stopped at "Loading application" screen. I'm sure that on this phone, with earlier v. of Android (14) and some app versions back it was working as for You (start little bit longer but successful)

 

[Filbert]

Have you tried a reboot? Mine is fine in airplane mode (but it's ios) and, as you said, can be the only way to get it to start if signal is poor.

 

[BL_BL]

I tested this now, instead of turning on airplane mode I just turned off mobile data and WiFi...and I'm still waiting for TomTomGo to start, maybe 5 minutes by now.

And when i do "back" I have confirmation dialog for closing app, but nothing happens when I press "Close".

Now I tested it with airplane mode, same result - can't start.

So it does not work without internet connection (Android), at least for me.

 

[mkz]

Hi all. I have probably found workaround (another one...) - at least it works for me. The problem seems to be in logging into TomTom account. When application is left logged out from TT account (fortunately application allows to leave saved places in phone memory so You can freely use them) then start in airplane mode is possible and quite fast, even after clearing the cache and/or rebooting the phone. Please test if it is general workaround and TomTom people please share this finding with development team to introduce proper solution into app.

 

[JuergenAMS]

Going through Play Store reviews, someone with this issue states that he has to disable an add blocker. Is that perhaps it?

 

[mkz]

Not in my case. I don't have system wide add blocker. I'm using firefox with ublock as my default browser. To be sure I've turn off ublock but this doesn't change anything. Also changing default browser to Google Chrome doesn't help.

 

[JuergenAMS]

I cannot reproduce this. The app is simply opening in flight mode on two Android test devices with no other 3rd party software installed and on my personalised iPhone.

 

[kacnje]

I tried again, but it didn't open.

But don't stop reading here
Then I TURN OFF Wireguard (which routes all my internet traffic through my server with Pi-Hole) and then go to AIRPLANE mode. And guess what? It worked.

 

[canderson]

But don't stop reading here
Then I TURN OFF Wireguard (which routes all my internet traffic through my server with Pi-Hole) and then go to AIRPLANE mode. And guess what? It worked.

So it seems that it's not really a question of whether GO has an internet connection as much as whether it thinks it has an internet connection that it should be using. There's no fallback to offline mode if that connection fails?

 

[mkz]

After today's actualization of software (from Google Play, not system wide) GO starts without problem without internet access (both airplane mode or after turning off wifi and cellular data) and no workaround is needed. So it seems that it was something in Android/software libraries (there was of course no TomTomGo actualization - but it was Google Chrome and MS Teams there)

 

[BL_BL]

After today's actualization of software (from Google Play, not system wide)

What do you mean by that?

It still does not work for me (both airplane mode or after turning off wifi and cellular data).
Like in image from @kacnje.

 

[mkz]

What do you mean by that?

It still does not work for me (both airplane mode or after turning off wifi and cellular data).
Like in image from @kacnje.

Standard update of various applications. But hmmmm strange things are happening - I've checked once more in this moment and problem is back (as it is for you). I'm wondering now how it was possible to start it yesterday. Fortunately my workaround still works (have You tried this?). Probably @canderson has right - it is the problem for TTGo that it thinks it is possible to connect to network despite of real possibility of connection and it tries indefinitely

 

[piertomhito]

Exactly the same problem here but in addition, even if the app stays for hours on "Loading app" screen of my Android smartphone (Android 11), it works in the background when phone is plugged through USB into my car to Android Auto, which simply shows the working screen of Tomtom Go Navigation app on the Android Auto screen of the car and all the buttons and the navigation work by touching the screen of Android Auto !
But of course this situation does not help in anything to solve the fact that the app is not useable on the smartphone.
The only solution I have to restart the app so I can use it on the smartphone is to be at home to connect on my home WiFi.
When I am not at home, restart the phone and switch on mobile data does not help, it stays on "Loading app" screen.
Immediately after a phone restart and successful app restart with home WiFi ON, if I exit the app and I shutdown the WiFi on the phone then I start the app with only mobile data, it starts.
But later, for example next day, if I am outside without WiFi and only mobile data, when I start the app it stays on "Loading app" screen.
My be a workaround would be to switch off the option MyDrive in the menu "TomTom Services", still to be confirmed with few tries ... Then it could be switched on from time to time at home with WiFi when need to resynchronize the last favourites.