¶ Android Offline Maps for Burning Man 2026
This guide installs a downloadable Black Rock City map in the Meshtastic app for Android. The map is provided as an MBTiles file and appears as a custom map style after it is imported.
Complete the download and import while you still have a reliable internet connection. You do not need to connect a Meshtastic radio to prepare the map.
¶ Video tutorial
¶ Before you begin
You will need:
- an Android phone or tablet with the current Meshtastic app installed;
- Google Chrome or another web browser;
- enough free storage for the MBTiles file; and
- an internet connection for the initial download.
Important: The high-detail map shown in the tutorial is approximately 222 MB. Make sure your device has enough free storage before downloading it.
¶ 1. Download a 2026 map file
- Tap the button below to open the BurningMesh 2026 map folder.
- The Google Drive folder contains two map files:
BM2026Regular.mbtiles— smaller download for general use;BM2026HighDetail.mbtiles— larger download with more detail.
- Choose the file that best fits your available storage and desired detail.
- Open the three-dot menu beside the file and tap Download.
- Wait for Android to confirm that the file was downloaded. By default, it is saved in Downloads.
Tip: You only need one MBTiles file. If storage is limited, use the regular version.
¶ 2. Open the custom map controls
- Open Meshtastic and select the Map tab.
- Tap the map-style button in the green toolbar at the top of the map.
- Tap Manage Custom Tile Sources.
- On Manage Custom Tile Sources, tap Add Local MBTiles File.
¶ 3. Import the downloaded MBTiles file
- In Android's file picker, open Downloads.
- Select the
BM2026Regular.mbtilesorBM2026HighDetail.mbtilesfile that you downloaded.
- Return to the map and open the map-style menu again.
- Select the newly added map. Its name is based on the imported filename, such as BM2026HighDetail.
¶ 4. Verify the Black Rock City map
- Pan and zoom to northern Nevada and Black Rock City.
- Zoom in until the city streets, clock positions, plazas, and access roads are visible.
The custom MBTiles map is stored on your device and remains available without internet service.
¶ Verify the setup before you leave service
- Open Black Rock City in Meshtastic and confirm the custom map renders at several zoom levels.
- Temporarily enable Airplane Mode and verify the map still loads.
- Re-enable your normal network settings afterward.
If the normal Google map appears instead, open the map-style menu and select your BM2026 custom map again.
¶ Updating or changing the map
Return to Manage Custom Tile Sources whenever you need to add a different MBTiles file. The files in this guide are specifically for Burning Man 2026; download and import an updated map if BurningMesh publishes a newer version.