First start and connecting a server
On first start the app shows a short notice about location use, then the permissions assistant (see permissions), and finally asks how you want to use it:
- Only on this device (local mode) – no server needed.
- Connect to server – sync with your own Fahrtenbuch installation.
You can switch later under Settings › Connection. Data recorded in local mode can be migrated to your server with a guided switch.
Local mode
In local mode vehicles, trips and GPS data stay exclusively on the device.
- Start and destination are resolved with the Android geocoder (this needs an internet connection).
- Distance is computed from the recorded GPS track.
- Statistics and PDF/CSV export are created on the device.
Local mode is a good choice if you only drive one car, do not need the web dashboard, or want to try the app first.
In local mode there is no copy on a server. If you uninstall the app or lose the phone without a backup, your trips are gone. Switch on the Google backup or save a ZIP backup regularly.
Server mode
In server mode the app talks to the REST API of your Fahrtenbuch server. It works offline-first: trips are recorded on the device and uploaded in the background as soon as a connection is available. You can keep driving without mobile data.
Pair with a QR code (recommended)
- In the web dashboard, open your profile, go to the device list and choose Add new device. A QR code appears.
- In the app, choose Connect to server › Scan QR code and scan it.
- Confirm the connection. The device now appears in your device list in the web dashboard.
The QR code contains a single-use token and refreshes automatically when it expires. Only show it to a device you want to grant access to your logbook.
Connect manually
Enter the public address of your server, for example https://fahrtenbuch.example.com. The API path /api/v1 is appended automatically.
Signing in
The app asks the server which sign-in methods it offers and only shows those:
- user name and password, with the TOTP code if two-factor authentication is enabled for your account,
- passkey – the same passkeys as in the web dashboard,
- Sign in with Google or Microsoft, if the administrator has set it up. The provider's page opens in the browser and returns to the app; with two-factor authentication you enter the code afterwards.
Google and Microsoft only work after you have linked the account in the web dashboard under Profile › Security. An unlinked account cannot sign in.
Passkeys in the app
In server mode Settings › Passkeys lists all passkeys of your account – created in the web dashboard or in the app – with creation date and last use. Create a new passkey on the device, rename or delete one.
The entry only appears if the server offers passkeys and the phone supports them (Android 14, or Google Play services on older versions). If your password manager says the app does not support passkeys, see the FAQ.
Connection security
Under Settings › Connection › Server settings the app shows how the connection is secured:
| State | Meaning |
|---|---|
| HTTPS, certificate verified | Recommended. |
| HTTPS, certificate not verified | Allowed only for self-signed or invalid certificates – use it in your own network only. |
| Unencrypted (HTTP) | Only within your own network, never over the internet. |
Signing out
Settings › Sign out removes the session from the device; you need to sign in again to sync your trips. A device can also be signed out remotely in the web dashboard's device list.
Vehicles
Vehicles are managed under Settings › Vehicles & Bluetooth. In server mode the app loads the vehicles from your account; in local mode you create them in the app.
- Mark one vehicle as default; manual trips use it unless you pick another one on the home screen. In server mode the default vehicle is synced with your account.
- Assign a Bluetooth device (your car's hands-free system or radio) to a vehicle to enable automatic trip start. The phone must already be paired with the car in Android's Bluetooth settings.
Units and date format
Under Settings › Units & date format you choose kilometres or miles, km/h or mph, the date format (DD.MM.YYYY or MM/DD/YYYY), 12- or 24-hour time and the time zone used to show trip times. In server mode these preferences belong to your account and are shared with the web dashboard (see profile preferences).