❓ How to use Spot3
What is it?
Spot3 gives every 3 m × 3 m square on Earth three codes: 3 words (our own system, e.g. ///mask.hind.chat),
a Plus Code (Google's free code, e.g. 9C3XGV2G+75) and a Geohash. It helps you send your exact spot to family
and read it out to emergency services.
What do I do?
- Find a spot: tap 📍 Find me (uses GPS), or click / tap the map, or type a code in the box at the top and press Go.
- Copy a code: press Copy next to it. Link opens Spot3 at that exact square.
- Emergency: tap 🆘 Emergency. Press the big red number to call. Read out the address, position or Plus Code if asked.
- Family: tap 👪 Send to family. Add people once (name + mobile). Then one tap sends a Text or WhatsApp with your address,
a Google Maps link, the Plus Code and the 3 words. Or press Share to pick any app.
- Walking home? In Send to family, pick Keep sending every 5/10/15 min. Spot3 beeps with a big Send button each time. ■ Stop ends it.
The 4 lights
- On Spot3 is open and ready.
- Working flashing: finding you / looking up the address.
- Done finished OK (beep + pop-up unless 🔔 is off).
- Error something did not work. The message says what to do.
Buttons
🔔 beep + pop-up on/off · 🌓 light/dark · ⬇ Install as an app · 📱 QR code to open Spot3 on another phone · ■ Stop keeps-sending.
Typing codes
3 words: ///a.b.c, a.b.c or a b c (any case). Plus Code: 9C3XGV2G+75.
Geohash: gcpuvpk44. Position: 51.5007, -0.1246.
Good to know
Easy words where people live: in towns and cities all 3 words come from the 5,000 easiest everyday words; in villages and
lived-in countryside from the 10,000 easiest. Sea, desert and empty moor get rarer words. The words for a square never change.
- Emergency services (999/112) do not know Spot3 words. Give them the address, position or Plus Code.
Phones calling 999/112 usually send your GPS position by themselves.
- Nothing is sent unless you tap Share, Text or WhatsApp. Only the address look-up asks OpenStreetMap about the spot.
- The 3 words come from our own list of 40,000 English words. They are not what3words.
Problems and fixes
- "Location is blocked": tap the padlock / site settings, allow Location, try again.
- "Not secure (http)": phones only give GPS to https pages. Use the https web address of Spot3, or tap the map instead.
- Position is far off: GPS needs open sky. Go near a window or outside, then 🔄 Find me again. Check the ± metres.
- No address: the address service may be busy or you are offline. The position and codes still work.
- Map is blank: you are offline. Codes still work; the map comes back when online.