Share your iPhone’s GPS with an iPad

The big iPad map—even without built-in GPS

Rivers & Seas 1 revealed two problems that many people only discovered once aboard. A Wi-Fi-only iPad has no built-in GPS receiver. That is easy to miss when buying the less expensive model, especially when your boat already has Wi-Fi. Out on the water, an accurate position can therefore be missing altogether.

On iPads with GPS, very calm conditions could reveal another nuisance: when the device barely moved, its position updates could go to sleep. The boat stayed behind on the map and later jumped to its new position, so you had to keep moving the iPad.

Rivers & Seas solves both problems with the iPhone in your pocket. It is moved more naturally, keeps its accurate position active, and continuously supplies it to the large iPad map.

There is no Bluetooth GPS receiver to buy and no manual pairing. Open Rivers & Seas on both devices. When they are on the same Wi-Fi network or Personal Hotspot, they find each other automatically. The transfer happens locally and does not depend on an internet connection while underway.

1. Allow the iPhone to send its position

Open Rivers & Seas on the iPhone first. Allow access to your precise location, then choose Always when asked. This lets the iPhone continue sharing its position while Rivers & Seas is in the background or the iPhone is locked.

Also allow access to the local network. The iPhone does not search for devices; it simply makes its position available to your iPad. Sharing is initially switched on automatically.

2. Only the iPad searches for the iPhone

1. Open Rivers & Seas on the iPad.
2. If the iPad has no accurate position of its own, “Use the iPhone’s Position” appears after a moment.
3. Tap “Allow Device Search”.
4. When iPadOS asks, tap Allow so Rivers & Seas can search the local network.

That is all. The iPad finds the iPhone and connects automatically.

3. How to tell that it is connected

Once connected, the position received from the iPhone appears as a green device marker on the iPad map. Rivers & Seas also uses it for speed and course over ground.

For heading, the iPad prefers its own compass. If no suitable value is available, it can use the iPhone’s heading instead.

You can now lock the iPhone or leave Rivers & Seas running in the background. For a longer trip, keep the iPhone where it has a clear view of the sky and connect it to power.

4. Wake the iPhone automatically and save battery

After the first successful connection, Rivers & Seas offers to wake the iPhone automatically when its position is needed. Position sharing does not have to remain active continuously, which saves battery while still giving the iPad a current position whenever it needs one.

1. Wait until “Wake Your iPhone Automatically” appears on the device.
2. Tap “Allow Bluetooth”, then confirm the request from iOS or iPadOS.
3. Allow this on both the iPhone and iPad, and leave Bluetooth switched on on both devices.

That is all. The iPad can now reach the iPhone automatically when needed. There is no device pairing and no setting to open before every trip.

What both devices need

If the iPad cannot find the iPhone

1. Check that Rivers & Seas has been opened on both devices.
2. Check that both devices use the same Wi-Fi network, or that the iPad is connected to the iPhone’s Personal Hotspot.
3. On both devices, open Settings › Privacy & Security › Local Network and allow Rivers & Seas.
4. On iPhone, open Settings › Privacy & Security › Location Services › Rivers & Seas. Choose Always and turn on Precise Location.
5. Open Rivers & Seas again on both devices.

Your position stays between your devices

Rivers & Seas sends position, accuracy, speed, course, and—when needed—heading directly from the iPhone to the connected iPad. No Rivers & Seas account is required, and the position is not uploaded to a Rivers & Seas server.

Only allow searching on your own iPad, and use Wi-Fi or a Personal Hotspot you trust.