You found a great trail online, a friend sent you a cycling loop, or you exported a exported a GPS recording — now you need to open the GPX file on your phone. The good news: importing GPX on iPhone and Android is straightforward once you know which share menu to use.
This guide walks through every common import path and shows how GPX Viewer displays your route on a map within seconds. If you are new to the format itself, start with what is a GPX file for background on tracks, routes, and waypoints.
Before you import: install a GPX viewer
iOS and Android do not ship with a built-in GPX map viewer. You need an app that understands the .gpx format. GPX Viewer is free to download on both platforms and handles import, map display, elevation charts, and route creation out of the box.
- Download GPX Viewer from the App Store or Google Play.
- Open the app once so it registers as a GPX handler on your device.
- Keep the GPX file handy — in Mail, Files, or your downloads folder.
How to open a GPX file on iPhone
Apple’s share sheet is the fastest way to import GPX on iPhone. The exact label varies slightly depending on where the file lives, but the flow is always: find the file → tap Share → choose GPX Viewer.
From the Mail app
- Open the email with the .gpx attachment.
- Tap the attachment to preview it.
- Tap the share icon in the lower-left corner.
- Scroll the app row and select GPX Viewer.
- The route appears on the map immediately.
From the Files app
- Locate the .gpx file in iCloud Drive, On My iPhone, or a connected cloud service.
- Long-press the file and tap Share, or open it and tap the share icon.
- Choose GPX Viewer from the list of apps.
From Safari
Many trail websites offer a direct GPX download link. Tap the link, then tap Download. When the download completes, tap it in Safari’s downloads manager and share it to GPX Viewer. You can also save the file to Files first and import from there.
From a downloaded GPX file
If someone sent you a route or you saved a .gpx from a website, open the file and tap Share. Choose GPX Viewer from the list. The route appears on the map immediately — no conversion or extra steps needed.
How to open a GPX file on Android
Android’s open-with dialog works similarly to iOS sharing, though the menus look different depending on your manufacturer skin.
From Gmail or any email app
- Open the message with the GPX attachment.
- Tap the attachment to download it.
- When prompted, choose GPX Viewer as the opening app.
- If no prompt appears, open your Downloads folder and tap the file.
From local storage or cloud folder
- Find the .gpx file in your phone’s file manager or cloud storage folder.
- Tap the file, then select Open with or the three-dot menu → Share.
- Pick GPX Viewer from the app list.
From your mobile browser
Download the GPX from a website, then open your browser’s download list. Tap the completed file and select GPX Viewer. If Android asks whether to open the file just once or always with GPX Viewer, choose Always for faster imports later.
Troubleshooting GPX import issues
Most import failures come from a few predictable causes. Work through this checklist before assuming the file is broken:
- Wrong file type — confirm the extension is .gpx, not .kml or .tcx.
- Empty track — some files contain metadata but no GPS points; try re-exporting the route from GPX Viewer.
- App not listed in Share — open GPX Viewer first, then retry; restart the phone if needed.
- Very large file — multi-day recordings with second-by-second GPS can be slow; wait a few seconds for parsing.
If the file opens but looks wrong on the map, read our guide on how to view GPX on a map to check map style, zoom level, and elevation settings.
What happens after import?
Once GPX Viewer loads your file, you will see the full route drawn on an interactive map. Swipe up or tap the route card to view distance, elevation gain, and waypoint details. Switch between standard, satellite, and hybrid map layers depending on whether you are scouting forest trails or open roads.
With GPX Viewer Pro, you can also enable live location to see your real-time position and heading overlaid on the track — essential for following GPX trails while hiking or navigating a planned cycling route.
Organizing multiple GPX files
GPX Viewer keeps imported routes in your library so you can switch between them without re-importing. Name routes when you save them, group by activity type, and delete old files you no longer need. When you are ready to share a route back out, use the export feature to generate a fresh .gpx file to share with friends.
Try GPX Viewer free
Open GPX files from Mail, Files, or Safari and view your routes on a map in seconds.
