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Getting Started with ATAK

Chaos Koalas / Getting Started with ATAK

What Is ATAK?

ATAK (Android Team Awareness Kit) is a situational awareness and mapping application originally developed for military use. The civilian version, ATAK-CIV, provides powerful offline mapping, GPS navigation, team tracking, and communication tools for emergency response, search and rescue, disaster relief, and community resilience.

ATAK can work with or without cell towers or internet access. You can see your location, navigate using offline maps, track team members, share waypoints, and communicate over multiple data links, including Meshtastic mesh networks.

What Makes ATAK Useful: Offline operation, no dependence on commercial infrastructure, integrated communication, position tracking, and the ability to share situational awareness data across a team in real time.

Prerequisites

ATAK is Android-only, so you'll need an Android device. An older phone or tablet works fine as a dedicated ATAK End User Device (EUD). You don't need an active cell plan. After following this guide, ATAK can work over Wi-Fi, mesh networks, or in airplane mode with GPS and Bluetooth enabled.

Required: Android 5.0 (API 21) or later and a graphics processor that supports GLES 3.0 (this includes most Android devices).

Recommended: 64GB+ storage for offline map data, external battery pack, screen protector, and a rugged case if you're using this in the field.

Step 1: Install ATAK

You have two installation options depending on whether you want access to the latest official .apk files or prefer simplicity. Either way, ATAK will ask for a LOT of permissions on your device. Grant all of them, or you'll likely run into problems.

Option A: TAK.gov Account (Recommended)

The official route gives you access to the latest ATAK releases & plugins.

  1. Go to tak.gov and click "CREATE AN ACCOUNT"
  2. Fill out your email address and click "REGISTER"
  3. Follow any additional instructions & wait for account approval
  4. Once approved, log in to TAK.gov and select ATAK-CIV from the "Products" section
  5. You want ATAK 5.6 unless you have a reason to use an older version (Jan. '26)
  6. Click "DOWNLOAD ATAK-CIV PRODUCT/PLUGINS FOR THIS VERSION"
  7. Under "Products" -> "ATAK 5.6.0" select the one that ends with "civ-release.apk"
  8. Under "Plugins" select "DataSync 5.6.0" "GRG Builder 5.6.0" and "VNS 5.6.0"
  9. Click "Submit" at the bottom of the page & download the resulting .zip to your Android device
  10. Extract the .zip and install the ATAK .apk first & then the plugins (DataSync, GRG Builder, VNS)

Option B: ATAK-CIV from Play Store

The simpler option if you don't want to deal with TAK.gov registration or need the latest version.

  1. Open the Play Store on your Android device
  2. Search for "ATAK-CIV"
  3. Install the civilian version of ATAK
  4. Install the following ATAK plugins from the Play Store: DataSync, GRG Builder, VNS
Note: The Play Store version may lag behind the TAK.gov version by a few releases. However, it's the fastest way to get started and works perfectly fine for basic use.

Step 2: Set Your Callsign & Enable Your Plugins

Your callsign is how other ATAK users will identify you. Set this immediately after installation.

  1. Open ATAK
  2. Tap the three lines (hamburger menu) in the upper right corner
  3. Tap "Settings"
  4. Tap "Callsign and Device Preferences"
  5. Tap "Callsign Preferences"
  6. Tap "My Callsign" and enter your callsign
  7. Your callsign will appear on the map as your position marker and will be visible to other ATAK users you're networked with

Enable Plugins:

  1. Tap the three lines (hamburger menu) in the upper right corner
  2. Tap "Plugins"
  3. Under "Status" check the "Loaded" box for all the plugins you want to use (DataSync, GRG Builder, VNS)
Callsign Best Practices: Keep it short and easy to say over radio. Avoid special characters. Use your actual call sign if you have a ham or GMRS license. Examples: "BASE-1", "MOBILE-3", "KE5XYZ".

Step 3: Install XML Files for Offline Maps

Mental model for offline maps & vehicle routing (steps 3–7):
  • XML files = a variety of map sources & providers for use in ATAK
  • Tilesets = downloaded map imagery for offline viewing (the actual maps)
  • VNS regions = downloaded road data for offline routing

The following XML files define high-resolution map tilesets optimized for ATAK that you can download from various map providers:

Download ATAK Maps XML Files
  1. Go to https://github.com/joshuafuller/ATAK-Maps/releases
  2. Navigate to 'Downloads' in your Android device's file manager
  3. Open the atak-maps-x.y.z.zip file and extract its contents
  4. Move all extracted map files from the atak-maps-x.y.z/ folder to the Internal storage/atak/imagery folder

Note: If you don't see the Internal storage/atak folder, open ATAK once and then close it.

These map providers will now be available in ATAK's map source selector.

Step 4: Select Your Preferred Map Source

ATAK supports multiple map layers and sources. You can switch between them or overlay them depending on what you need to see.

Important: Selecting a map source doesn't automatically make it available offline. Offline use requires cached tiles (Steps 5 & 6) along with the XML files from Step 3.

  1. Tap the Maps icon (looks like an unfolded paper map) in the upper right
  2. Select "Google Hybrid" (satellite imagery with road overlays) or any other map source you prefer
  3. You can enable multiple layers simultaneously for different contexts
Map Source Tips: Google Hybrid provides excellent situational awareness. Topographic maps are better for navigation in wilderness areas. Street maps work well in urban environments. Experiment with different sources to see what works best for your use case.

Step 5: Download Map Tiles for Your Area

Even with map sources selected, you need to cache map tiles for offline use. ATAK lets you define a geographic area & download map tiles at multiple zoom levels.

Cache Map Tiles
  1. Tap the Maps icon (looks like an unfolded paper map) in the upper right
  2. Near the bottom of the screen, look for "Map Source"
  3. Tap the white arrow near the bottom right corner
  4. Tap "Select Area"
  5. Choose your selection tool:
    • Rectangle: Quick box selection
    • Free Form: Draw a custom boundary
    • Lasso: Freehand selection
    • Map Select: Pre-defined regional boundaries
  6. Select your area on the map
  7. Set the coarse slider to 19m
  8. Set the fine slider to 1m
  9. This configuration keeps you under ATAK’s 400,000-tile per-tileset download limit while providing good detail. 19m coarse gives you a good area overview; 1m fine is detailed enough to recognize buildings and terrain features
  10. Tap "Download"
How the coarse/fine sliders work: Coarse = lowest detail you'll see, Fine = highest detail. More detail means more tiles, more storage, and longer download time.
  • Quick & wide: 76m → 4m
  • Balanced: 19m → 1m
  • High detail small area: 9m → 0.3m
Tile Limit Warning: ATAK has a hard limit of 400,000 tiles per download. If you exceed this, reduce your selected area or adjust your zoom levels. The 19m/1m configuration is a good starting point that balances coverage and detail while staying within limits.

Step 6: Create the Tileset

After initiating the map tile download, you'll configure how the tileset is saved and used.

  1. When prompted after tapping "Download", select "Create a new tileset"
  2. In the "New Layer Name" field, enter a descriptive name for the area (e.g., "Home_5mi", "County_South", "BOL_Area")
  3. Check the box for "Suggest that this layer be used as an overlay that can be displayed over other map sources when imported. Note: this will add '.ovr' to the filename and potentially reduce the range of the data saved"
  4. This overlay option allows you to layer this tileset on top of other maps for maximum flexibility
  5. Confirm and let the download complete
Tip: Tile downloads can take a while. Do this on reliable Wi-Fi (hotel/airport/home) and let it run while you're waiting around.

Step 7: Download VNS Regions for Offline Vehicle Routing

This requires the VNS plugin. Think of it like offline navigation that can automatically plan vehicle routes for you.

  1. Open ATAK's main menu (three lines, upper right)
  2. Tap "VNS"
  3. Tap "Manage Offline Regions"
  4. Select your geographic region from the list
  5. Tap the "Download" button
  6. Wait for the download to complete

Step 8: Connect to a TAK Server

TAK servers enable network-based team tracking, chat, and data sharing. You can connect to a public server, a private community server, or run your own.

Note: Building and hosting your own TAK server will be covered in a future article. For now, this section covers how to connect to an existing server.
  1. Open ATAK's main menu (three lines, upper right)
  2. Tap "Settings"
  3. Tap "Network Preferences"
  4. Tap "TAK Servers"
  5. Tap the 3 dots in the upper right and then "Add" or "Quick Connect" based on your TAK server provider's instructions
  6. Enter the server details, authentication & certificates from your TAK server provider
  7. Tap "OK" to save & enable the connection

Once connected to a TAK server, you'll see other connected users on your map, can send and receive chat messages, and share location data and tactical information in real time.

Step 9: Integrate Meshtastic

Meshtastic integration allows ATAK to share position and chat data over LoRa mesh networks without internet or cell service. This is ideal for off-grid operations.

Detailed Guide Available: For complete Meshtastic integration instructions including firmware versions, plugin configuration, and optimal settings, see the ATAK over Meshtastic Configuration Guide.

5-Minute Checkout (Verify It Works)

  1. Get a GPS lock (blue chevron updates while moving)
  2. Airplane mode test: confirm cached tiles/local tilesets still render
  3. Drop a marker, rename it, and re-find it later
  4. Open GeoChat and send a message (server/mesh if configured)
  5. If using Meshtastic: confirm the plugin shows connected and you see at least one update

Using ATAK: The Basics

Now that you have ATAK installed, configured, and networked, here are the essential operations:

Navigation

Your position is marked on the map as a blue chevron (pointing in your direction of travel). The map auto-follows your location. To navigate to a waypoint, tap and hold a location on the map, select "Navigate" from the menu, and ATAK will provide bearing and distance.

Adding Markers

Tap and hold anywhere on the map to create a marker. You can add notes, change the icon, and share the marker with your team. Markers are color-coded by category (waypoint, hazard, resource, etc.).

Chat and Messaging

Access chat through the "GeoChat" menu at the top of the screen. You can send direct messages to specific users or broadcast to all connected users. Messages sync across TAK servers and Meshtastic networks if configured.

Team Tracking

When connected to a TAK server or Meshtastic network, you'll see other users' positions on the map in real time. Tap their icon to see details, send messages, or navigate to their location.

Drawing and Planning

Use the drawing tools (main menu → "Drawing") to create routes, boundaries, sectors, and tactical graphics. These can be shared with your team for coordination.

Next Steps

You now have a functional ATAK setup with offline maps, navigation capability, and the foundation for team networking. From here, you can expand your capabilities:

ATAK is a powerful tool, but it's only as useful as your proficiency with it. Spend time learning the interface, practicing navigation, and testing your network connections before you need them in an emergency.

Troubleshooting

Common Issues:
  • GPS not working: Ensure location permissions are granted in Android settings. ATAK needs "Allow all the time" location access. GPS can take several minutes to acquire satellites on first use.
  • Maps not showing offline: Verify map tiles are downloaded and stored in the correct folder. Check available storage space.
  • Can't connect to TAK server: Verify server address and port. Check firewall rules. Ensure SSL/TLS settings match server requirements.
  • Meshtastic not connecting: Check Bluetooth pairing. Verify Meshtastic device firmware is compatible with the ATAK plugin version.

Additional Resources

For more information on ATAK and related technologies:

iPhone/iPad Users: You can use iTak, but prepare to be underwhelmed. Basic features work, but the app is very watered-down. There is also no Meshtastic plugin for iTak.