Some settings are essential — both for safety and for the proper functioning of the application.

• Disable the device unlock code

You and your crew members must be able to access the navigation app instantly, whatever the situation. At sea, a code is useless — even dangerous if you are unable to handle navigation yourself: your crew must be able to take over quickly.

• Disable automatic sleep mode
  • On iPad / iPhone: Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock = “Never”.
  • On Android devices: Settings > Display > Screen timeout = from 0 to 30 minutes depending on the brand and model — unfortunately, “Never” is rarely available. Set it to the maximum possible time.

Unexpected sleep mode during a critical navigation moment (e.g., nighttime landfall in the rain in an unknown area) can be dangerous if you cannot instantly relaunch the app (e.g., wet fingers or touchscreen not responding). You should manually activate or deactivate your device depending on the situation.

In addition, sleep mode interrupts track recording.

• Disable spell checking
  • On iPad / iPhone: Settings > General > Keyboard > Auto-Correction = disable.
  • On Android devices: Settings > General Management > Samsung Keyboard Settings > Auto spell check = disable.

This prevents wasting time when entering text in the app, such as route names, POIs, etc.

Regarding onboard computers, PC or Mac, the same recommendations apply. Adjust the settings according to the operating system and version used.