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Get up and running with the Forerunner mobile app in a few steps. This guide walks you through installation, initial sign-in, and preparing your device for field data collection.

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Download the app

The Forerunner mobile app is available on iOS and Android:
1

Find the app

Open the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android) on your device.
2

Search for Forerunner

Search for “Forerunner” and look for the official Forerunner app.
3

Install

Tap Get (iOS) or Install (Android) to download the app to your device.
The app requires iOS 18 or later, or Android 12 or later. If your device doesn’t meet these requirements, you won’t be able to install the app.

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Sign in to your account

1

Open the app

Launch the Forerunner app from your device’s home screen.
2

Enter your email

Type the email address associated with your Forerunner account and tap Continue.
3

Select your account

If you have access to multiple communities, select the account you want to use. You can switch accounts later in Settings.
4

Enter your password

Type your password and tap Sign in.
5

Complete two-factor authentication

If your account has two-factor authentication enabled, enter the verification code from your authenticator app or the code sent to your phone.

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Biometric unlock

There’s nothing to set up. If you’ve been away from the app for 15 minutes or more, it asks for Face ID, Touch ID, your fingerprint, or your device passcode when you come back. If that doesn’t work, or your device doesn’t have biometrics, you’ll need to sign in again.

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Grant permissions

The app needs certain permissions to function properly:

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Location access

When prompted, tap Allow While Using App or Allow to enable location services. Location access lets the app:
  • Show your position on the map
  • Suggest coordinates when creating properties
  • Share your location with team members (if enabled)

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Camera access

Grant camera permission when prompted. This allows you to:
  • Capture photos for records
  • Take pictures of documents
  • Document site conditions

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Photo library access

Allow access to your photo library to attach existing photos to records.
If you deny location permissions, some features won’t work correctly. You can change permissions later in your device’s Settings app under the Forerunner app.
The mobile app has three main sections accessible from the bottom navigation bar:

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Map tab

The Map tab is your primary workspace. From here you can:
  • View properties and parcels on an interactive map
  • Tap locations to see property details
  • Create new properties
  • Access records and tasks for any property
  • Toggle map layers on and off
  • Download offline map packs

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Tasks tab

The Tasks tab shows all tasks assigned to you:
  • Filter by status (To do, In progress, Complete)
  • Search for specific tasks
  • View task details and linked records
  • Create records directly from tasks
The Tasks tab only shows when tasks are turned on for your account.

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Settings tab

The Settings tab has:
  • Your account (tap it to switch accounts)
  • Offline maps
  • Location sharing
  • Data syncing
  • Log out
Your app version is shown at the bottom.

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Prepare for field work

Before heading into the field, complete these steps to ensure you can work offline:
1

Connect to Wi-Fi

Download offline data while on a strong Wi-Fi connection to avoid using cellular data.
2

Open offline maps

Go to Settings > Offline maps to manage your offline data.
3

Download a map pack

Tap Select new area to download, zoom to your work area, tap Download, and name the map. The download includes:
  • Base map tiles for the area
  • Property data
  • Parcel boundaries
  • FIRM flood zone data
  • Any custom map layers
  • Tasks assigned to you in that area
4

Wait for completion

Large areas may take several minutes to download. Offline maps shows download progress until it’s done.
5

Verify your pack

Once downloaded, navigate to your work area on the map while still on Wi-Fi to confirm everything loaded correctly.
Offline packs expire after 15 days. Update your pack before it expires to ensure you have the latest data. The app notifies you when a pack is approaching expiration.

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Check for app updates

Keep the app updated to access the latest features and fixes:
1

Check your version

Open Settings and scroll to the bottom to see your current app version.
2

Update when prompted

If an update is available, the app displays an update prompt. Minor updates are optional, but major updates are required to continue using the app.
3

Update manually

You can also check for updates in the App Store or Google Play by searching for Forerunner and tapping Update if available.

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Switch accounts

If you have access to multiple Forerunner accounts:
1

Open Settings

Tap the Settings tab in the bottom navigation.
2

Tap your account

At the top of Settings, tap your account.
3

Select a different account

Pick the account you want in Select account, then tap Select.
4

Confirm the switch

You’re logged out and need to sign in to the new account. You may need to download new offline packs for the new account’s work areas.
Switching accounts while offline is not available. Any unsynced data from the current account will remain on your device and sync when you next connect with that account active.

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Next steps

Now that you’re set up:
Test the app while connected before your first field visit. Create a test record, verify it syncs to the web platform, and familiarize yourself with the interface.