Frequently asked questions

Getting started

Do I need to set up a server?

No. One person needs only one device. For teams, an iPad, Mac, or Android tablet in the office acts as the host, and other devices pair and connect with it on the same local network.

Does it cost anything?

FleetDispatch is a free download on the App Store and Google Play, and there are no ads in the app.

Which languages are supported?

Traditional Chinese (Taiwan, Hong Kong), Simplified Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, French, Indonesian, Thai, and Vietnamese.

Can I try it without touching my data?

Yes. Choose Try with Sample Data First during onboarding, or later choose Try with Sample Data under Data & Sync in Settings, to try the app with isolated sample data (Sample Mode is only available in Solo mode). When you tap End Trial, the sample data and any changes you made during the trial are cleared.

Data and sync

How do I move my data to a new phone?

Sign in with the same Apple Account and turn on iCloud, and your data syncs automatically. Starting with 8.0, both the old and the new device need to run 8.0 to sync with each other. If your other devices haven’t been updated yet, restore from your automatic iCloud backup during onboarding on the new device, or import an encrypted backup file.

Can I move my data between iPhone and Android?

Yes, with a password-encrypted backup file: export a backup with a password on the old device, move it to the new device, and import it to restore. iCloud sync works only between Apple devices, but Apple and Android devices can sync together in the same fleet over the local network.

After updating to 8.0, why aren’t some of my devices syncing?

8.0 uses a new way to sync through iCloud that doesn’t connect with 7.0. iPhone, iPad, and Mac on the same Apple Account sync with each other once they are all on 8.0; devices still on 7.0 sync only with other 7.0 devices. Please update all your devices together. Each device keeps its existing data when it updates.

How do team members connect?

One iPad, Mac, or Android tablet in the office acts as the host, and other devices, including iPhones and Android phones, pair with it on the same local network. Traffic is encrypted with TLS, and both sides compare a security code when pairing.

Does my fleet data pass through your servers?

No. Your data is stored only on your devices, in your own iCloud, and on the host device you choose to pair with.

Does Apple Watch update in real time?

Starting with 8.0, data on Apple Watch comes from your paired iPhone instead of syncing with iCloud on its own, and the watch shows when it was last updated. If the data isn’t current, open FleetDispatch on your iPhone and keep the iPhone near your watch.

Does the app record my location?

Only after you turn on Record this trip’s route, and only while that trip is in progress. Recording stops automatically when you return the vehicle. You can turn it off in Settings at any time.

Reports and export

Which formats can I export?

PDF reports (with templates such as monthly operations, single vehicle, cost analysis, and compliance and due dates), detailed CSV, and full backup files encrypted with AES-256-GCM.

Will a CSV show garbled text in Excel?

No. CSVs are exported as UTF-8 with a BOM, so Excel opens Chinese text correctly. Dates use ISO format (for example, 2026-10-15).

Upgrades and versions

Is my data kept when I update from 7.0 to 8.0?

Yes. The first time you open 8.0, the app brings your 7.0 data, settings, and team pairing information into 8.0 on the device, and keeps the 7.0 data files on the device. We still recommend exporting an encrypted backup before you update. If a client says the host’s security code has changed, compare it with the code shown on the host before you continue.

Is my data kept when I upgrade from 6.0 to 7.0?

Yes. We still recommend exporting an encrypted backup before you upgrade.

Can devices on different versions sync as a team?

Yes. 8.0, 7.0, and 6.0 devices can sync together over the same local network: when connecting, both sides confirm which features they support and automatically use a compatible method. We recommend upgrading the host first. iCloud sync is different and needs every device on 8.0 (see “After updating to 8.0, why aren’t some of my devices syncing?”).

Why do maps look different in 8.0?

8.0 uses OpenStreetMap maps from OpenFreeMap, labeled “© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap” on the map. Loading maps needs an internet connection, and navigation still opens a maps app. The map service doesn’t receive your fleet data; see the FleetDispatch Privacy Policy.

Is the in-app Help Center the same as this website?

Yes. In 8.0, the Help Center shows the articles from the INSTW docs center (this website). It loads the latest content when you’re online and uses a built-in offline copy when you’re not. The French, Korean, Thai, and Indonesian versions of the app currently show English articles.

Where did the 6.0 themes go?

7.0 uses a single design system, so the appearance options are just Light, Dark, and Auto. Your previous light or dark choice is kept.

For the changes in each version, see the release notes.

Other

Does it support CarPlay?

Yes. CarPlay is available starting with 7.0 (in the Apple-approved Driving Task category): view trips, dispatch quickly, and check to-dos and frequent places. For safety, you can’t type in the car; finish the return on iPhone after you park.

Is there an Android version?

Yes. It runs on Android phones and tablets with Android 8.0 or later. It’s a free download on Google Play; see Android. The Android version doesn’t include CarPlay, Apple Watch, Siri, or iCloud, and offers home screen widgets, an ongoing trip notification, and app shortcuts instead.

Can I install the beta alongside the released version?

No. The TestFlight beta replaces the released version on your device. If you want to join while the beta is open, we recommend exporting an encrypted backup first.