First things first: TrackLAB does not need a traditional install. It is not on the App Store or Google Play, and it does not need to be. It is a progressive web app (PWA) that behaves exactly like a native app once you pin it to your home screen. This guide explains what that means, why it is a genuine advantage for a runner or a cyclist, and how to get it set up on your phone in under a minute.
What a PWA is, and why TrackLAB works this way
A PWA (Progressive Web App) is a website built to behave like an application: it opens full screen, some of its features work without a connection, it loads instantly and it updates itself without ever going through an app store.
TrackLAB is built as a PWA for three very specific reasons:
- Speed. No 80 MB download from a store, no waiting for updates. You open it and it works.
- Almost no storage. A PWA takes up between 1 and 5 MB. Strava and Garmin Connect are well over 200 MB.
- One version for everyone. What you see in the browser, what your training partner sees on their Android and what I see on my iPhone is exactly the same thing. No fragmentation, no waiting for a new release to go live.
In short: installing TrackLAB really means pinning it to your home screen. Your operating system creates an icon that opens TrackLAB in app mode, with no browser bar.
Installing TrackLAB on an iPhone (iOS and iPadOS)
This only works in Safari. If you have Chrome, Firefox or Brave open on your iPhone, copy the URL and open it in Safari first — that is a limitation of iOS itself, not of TrackLAB.
1. Open TrackLAB in Safari
Type tracklab.es into the Safari address bar and wait for the page to load fully. If you can see the green TrackLAB logo and the main buttons, you are good to go.
2. Tap the "Share" button
It is the icon of an arrow coming out of a square, in the bottom bar (or the top bar, if you are on an iPad with Safari in desktop mode). If you cannot see it, swipe up slightly to bring the Safari bar back.
3. Select "Add to Home Screen"
A menu will appear with plenty of options (AirDrop, Messages, Mail and so on). Scroll down within that menu until you find "Add to Home Screen". Tap it.
4. Check the name and tap "Add"
iOS will suggest "TrackLAB" as the name. You can leave it as it is or shorten it to something like "Track". Tap Add in the top right corner.
5. Done
Go back to your home screen. You will see the official green TrackLAB icon. Tap it and it opens full screen, with no address bar and no tabs: an experience identical to a native app.
Installing TrackLAB on Android
On Android you have two routes: the universal Chrome method (recommended) or a manual shortcut from another browser. The Chrome method is the one that creates a true PWA, with its own icon, full-screen mode and better performance.
1. Open Chrome and go to tracklab.es
If you use Samsung Internet, Firefox or Brave, the process is much the same but the menus have different names. Chrome is the most reliable route.
2. Tap the three-dot menu
In the top right corner, open the Chrome menu using the ⋮ icon.
3. Choose "Install app" or "Add to Home screen"
The wording changes depending on your Chrome version and the phone manufacturer. You will see one of these options:
- Install app
- Install TrackLAB
- Add to Home screen
- Create shortcut
In practical terms they all do exactly the same thing.
4. Confirm the installation
A dialogue will appear asking you to confirm. Tap Install. Within a few seconds TrackLAB will appear on your home screen (and, on many devices, in the app drawer too).
What you gain by installing it this way
This is not just cosmetic. Pinning TrackLAB to your home screen changes the way you use it on race day or before a long session:
- Opens in under a second. No opening the browser and typing out the URL.
- Full screen. More usable space for the map, the elevation profile and the charts.
- No distractions. No address bar, no open tabs, no browser notifications.
- Partial offline access. Routes you have already opened stay cached, so you can look at them with no signal.
- Invisible updates. Every time we ship an improvement, you get it the next time you open TrackLAB. No pop-ups, no downloads.
Frequently asked questions
Do I lose any features compared with the web version?
No. The PWA and the browser version share 100% of the same code. GPX analysis, maps, comparisons, PDF export, Strava integration — it all works exactly the same.
Do my routes sync?
Yes. If you already have a TrackLAB account, sign in once on your phone. From then on all your saved routes, favourites, plans and settings appear just as they do on your computer.
How much space does it take up?
Between 1 and 5 MB to begin with. As you use the app that may grow slightly with the cache of maps and routes you have viewed. Even so, it is a long way short of the 200-400 MB of Strava or Garmin Connect.
Can I upload GPX files from my phone?
Yes. The iOS and Android file pickers work as normal. You can upload a GPX downloaded from an email, received over WhatsApp, or exported from Garmin Connect / Suunto / Wikiloc.
Does it work offline?
Partly. Pages you have already opened are cached and can be viewed with no network. Uploading a new GPX and analysing it in the cloud does require a connection.
What if my phone does not offer the install option?
Some older browsers do not support PWAs. In that case you can carry on using TrackLAB as normal in Safari or Chrome — you lose no functionality, you will simply see the browser bar along the top.
How do I uninstall TrackLAB?
Just like any other app: on iOS, press and hold the icon and choose "Delete App". On Android, drag it to "Uninstall" or use "Remove from Home screen". Your account and your routes stay safely in the cloud.
In summary
Installing TrackLAB as an app is the most useful shortcut you can set up if you use it regularly. You download nothing, you use almost no storage, you never go near an app store — and yet you get an experience identical to any native running or cycling app. Thirty seconds today will save you a lot of time every time you open the app before a session or on race day.