Frequently Asked Questions
New to using the Argo app, or have some questions about how a feature works? Check out our frequently asked questions for help.
Be sure to also review our step-by-step Tutorials for detailed feature overviews.
Using the App
Yes, we are working to make the app available for use worldwide starting in Fall 2026.
The app currently works anywhere in North America, including the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean. Depth data displayed is based on NOAA, USACE and Canadian surveys along with lake data for 12 states in the U.S. We are currently gathering depth data for additional states and have plans to begin crowdsourcing data.
USACE survey data in Argo also recently got a clearer, more detailed view. You can see surveys in high definition and filter them by survey age, making it easier to tell how recent the data is. These surveys are updated automatically.
Open this link. Then sign into your Argo account and choose your plan.
Sign into the Web app and go to the Premium subscription screen found listed under the menu options. If you have an active subscription through the web app you will see an option to cancel at the bottom of this screen.
Yes. The free plan gives you everything you need to navigate, plan trips, and connect with other boaters. You get up-to-date charts, manual routing, a captain’s log to track your adventures, thousands of Points of Interest, and the ability to see and connect with other Argo users.
If you want advanced features like offline charts, autoroute, and extended forecasts (7-day weather, wind, and tides), Premium is $39.99 a year. See the full breakdown of what’s included in each plan.
Argo works on iPhone, iPad, Android phones, and Android tablets. You can also download the app to your Mac for full navigation features.
On the web, you can access Argo from any computer to plan routes, view your log, and manage destinations, but it’s not a full navigation platform—use the mobile or Mac app for that.
If you have Premium, you can connect Argo to your boat’s NMEA network for live instrument readings, import and export GPX files to use with your chartplotter, or export routes into LOOKOUT’s navigation system.
Open the Main Menu (the three lines, top right), tap Account, then Sign Out at the bottom.
We’ve got two short videos if it’s easier to watch:
Yep. Use your account on as many devices as you want, whether you’re on the free plan or Premium.
Yes, you’ll need to create an account to use Argo. It’s worth doing right away—you get to add your boat info, build a log of your trips, and connect with other boaters.
If you don’t get the confirmation email after signing up with Email Sign In, check your spam or junk folder first. If it’s there, reply to it so future emails land in your inbox instead.
Still don’t see it? Re-enter your account info to try again, or reset your password. You can also sign in with Apple or Google if you have an Apple ID or Google account you’d rather use instead.
Still stuck? Email us at support@argonav.io.
First, check your spam folder. Reset emails sometimes land there.
If it’s still not showing up, two things are likely going on: either you signed up with a different email address than the one you’re checking, or you actually signed in with Apple or Google, not email, so there’s no password to reset.
Still stuck? Contact us and we’ll help you find your account.
Check the sign-in screen first. Argo shows the method you used last as the main option instead of listing all three, so that’s usually your answer.
If it’s still showing all three and you’re not sure, don’t guess. Signing in with the wrong method creates a duplicate account. Contact us and we’ll help you find the right one.
That email already has an Argo account, either through email sign-up or Apple/Google. Contact us and we’ll sort out which one.
Usually this happens after you delete and reinstall the app, it forgets which method you used originally.
Not sure which one it was? Contact us before trying another method. Signing in the wrong way creates a duplicate account instead of getting you back into your real one.
You can sign in with Apple, Google, or Email. Each one creates its own separate Argo account, even if you use the same email address. Once you pick a method, sign in that same way every time.
Signed in with email? Reset your password from the sign-in screen: tap “Forgot Password?” and we’ll send you an email. Open it on your phone and tap the reset link there. It has to be clicked from your mobile device.
Need a walkthrough? See our How to Reset Your Password Tutorial.
Signed in with Apple or Google? You don’t need a password at all.
To make it easier to get back into the app, Argo remembers the sign-in method you used last and shows that one first, instead of listing all three every time.
Not sure which one you used? Email us at support@argonav.io and we’ll help track down your account.
Head to the App Store or Play Store and update from there. If your device has auto-updates turned on, you’re probably already on the latest version.
One thing to know: you don’t need to delete and reinstall the app to update it.
Open the Main Menu (the three lines, top right of the main screen), then scroll to the bottom. You’ll see the version number in small print, something like “Argo Version 3.9.0 Build 762.”
Argo uses your location to show you where you are on the map and to assist with navigating. You need to set your location setting for ‘Always Allow’ or ‘All the Time’ so you will not lose your track and other key voyage info when the app is in the background or closed. This will ONLY be used when you are on a voyage.
Your Profile
Yes, as long as each account uses a different email address. One thing to know: you can’t use two different sign-in methods on the same email.
Yes, with a Premium subscription. Add multiple boats to one account and switch between them when you’re routing, so autoroute factors in each boat’s draft and height. Handy if you’re swapping between, say, your sailboat and your tender. Learn how to add multiple boats here.
Any Argo user can search for you and see your name, profile photo, username, boat details, groups, and affiliations, like your yacht club or marina. That’s what makes it easy to find and connect with other boaters on Argo. Your Home Port is the one exception: only confirmed friends can see it, and friend requests require your approval before that happens.
Your on-water visibility is separate, and it’s yours to control. In User Location Settings, choose Public, Friends-Only, or Private for who can see your icon on the map while you’re out on the water. We only show your icon while you’re actually on the water, never if you open Argo at home or anywhere on land, and your last known position stays visible for up to 30 days after your last trip.
Learn more about on-water privacy settings.
Autorouting needs it to route you safely. Argo uses your boat’s height, draft, and buffer (your margin of safety above draft) to build color-coded routes that actually fit your boat.
Your average speed and average fuel consumption drive the ETA and fuel or power estimates on every route you build, manual or Autoroute.
Setting a Home Port makes building routes faster, too.
Learn more about how we use your boat information.
It’ll work, but not well.
Without a boat profile, Argo routes you using a default draft of 5 feet and a 5-foot buffer. If your boat draws more than that, the route may take you through water that isn’t safe for you. If it draws less, you’re being routed around water you could have crossed, so you’re taking the long way for no reason.
Your height matters just as much. Argo uses it to keep you off routes with bridges you can’t clear.
Estimates are off too. Your ETA comes from your average speed, and your fuel estimate comes from your average fuel consumption. Without you giving Argo those numbers, both are guesses.
Filling in your draft, height, buffer, speed, and fuel consumption is what turns a generic route into one built for your boat.
Learn more about how we use your boat information.
Tap the Menu icon (three lines) in the upper right corner of the main screen, then choose My Profile. Tap the Edit (pencil) icon next to the boat you want to update. To add another boat, tap + Add Boat.
Learn more about setting up your boat profile.
Yes. Tap the Menu icon in the top right corner of the main screen, choose Account, then Delete Account. You’ll be asked why you’re deleting, then tap Delete My Account to finish.
You have 10 days to change your mind and restore your account. After that, everything is removed: saved voyages, places, favorites, report pins, messages, and social posts.
Creating Routes
Tap Navigate at the top of the main screen, then choose Autoroute or Manual Route.
Autoroute builds the route for you, using your boat’s draft, height, and buffer to keep you in water you can actually run. Manual Route lets you place the points yourself.
From there, tap the map to set your start and destination. If you’re already on the water, Argo uses your current location as the starting point.
Full walkthroughs: autorouting and manual routing.
You currently cannot edit an autoroute. We intend to add the ability to add waypoints or interim points that could be used to customize routes in future updates.
You may be in Manual Route mode and need to switch to Autoroute mode. In the bottom left corner there is a toggle with options for Autoroute or Manual Route. Make sure the “A” is toggled on (colored blue) to use Autoroute. The app will save the last used mode.
The current routing may not always put you on the correct side of a navigational marker, but you should be in water that is deeper than your profile draft. If you are not comfortable with the depth the route is using then you should increase your buffer.
The routing algorithm is designed to provide you with the shortest path based on your draft and buffer using the current NOAA and USACE depth data. It does not take the markers or channels into consideration, not yet. That is something we are considering adding, perhaps a second optional route that’s longer but safer.
If you need to input gps coordinates in Degrees and Decimal Minutes (DDM) format (e.g., 38° 52.1900 N and 75° 09.094 W) or in Degrees Minutes Seconds (DMS) format (e.g., 38° 52’ 11.3988” N and 75° 9’ 5.6412” W), you need to convert them to Decimal Degrees (DD) format (e.g., 38.869833 -75.151567). Here is a good source for converting: https://www.pgc.umn.edu/apps/convert/
In the future we plan to update Argo to handle multiple formats.
The default longitude is West (minus sign). As you start typing a longitude into the entry field the minus sign will automatically appear. To change to East and remove the negative sign tap on West at the top of the keyboard, this will allow you to toggle the negative sign on/off.
Navigation & Map Views
You can inspect the chart symbols via the NOAA viewer at
https://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/enconline/enconline.html
using the maritime identify widget. Tap on the Info icon and you will see a pointer. Click on the pointer and then tap on the map.
This document is what NOAA directs you to for their symbols. https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/publications/docs/us-chart-1/ChartNo1.pdf
Many of the features require an active internet connection (cellular or wifi, if available), but navigation and offline charts are now available by upgrading to our Premium version.
The app seamlessly goes into “offline mode”, but unless you have upgraded to the Premium version you will lose critical chart information used for navigating. With the Premium version you can download offline charts “before you go,” eliminating any connectivity concerns on the water.
To download offline charts you need to upgrade to the Premium version. Go to Menu in the upper right of the app and select “Unlock Premium Features”.
The charts and depths Argo uses are based on information obtained from NOAA, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) and other government agencies. The depth is low median tide depth so should be lower than the actual depth. Also since NOAA data soundings do not cover all areas some approximations are made particularly closer to shore and around docks.
Tap the Map Options icon located on the main map and change to one of the four available map views: Standard, Satellite, Terrain and NOAA ENC.
Unfortunately we do not yet have depth data for all of the lakes. All features should work, even autorouting. We are in the process of collecting and integrating lake data. If there are lakes you would like us to focus on please let us know.
The Red Alert comes up on your screen if there are issues with the NOAA ENC server or internet connectivity. By tapping on the Red Alert you will be given the option to disable the NOAA ENC and move to a more reliable map view.
When moving, Argo should auto-recenter keeping you on the screen as long as you’re centered on the map. Hit the recenter button in lower right. Once centered it should auto-recenter for you… the map should move and you should stay in the center.
Tap the Speed Dial and change speed from knots to mph.
Tap the Depth Gauge and change depth from feet to meters.
Captain’s Log
From the list view, pull the voyage entry to the right and tap on the trash can, or from voyage details screen of a specific voyage tap the log button.
Check your device’s service connection to be sure you are connected to our server. Verify you are signed in and to the correct account in the event you have multiple Argo accounts.
Places & Pins
Drop a Place pin (e.g., private dock pin). Once you’ve added the pin to the map, tap on it to bring up the details, and then tap on the heart to save it as a favorite. You can also save it to your Captain’s Log by tapping the Log icon so it appears more prominently on your map. Once added to your Favorites list, you can save it as your Home Port within your Profile. Tap on the Menu icon from the main screen to get to your profile.
Create any one of our many Place pins by taping the
icon from Argo’s home screen. Add a name and description, make sure it selected as Private, then save it to the map. Once located on the map, tap on it and save it to the Captain’s Log by tapping the Log icon.
Favorites are just used for searching, but you can save your favorite places to the Captain’s Log to make them more prominent on the map.
If restaurants do not appear on the map you may have to zoom further in. An easier way to see what is in your area is to use Search, tap on a category, then tap on the map icon in the upper right corner. That will pull up a map view of the results. You can also move the map and then hit ‘Search this area’ to show the closest 20 places around where you have the map positioned. See Search to learn more.
We have added over 1000 searchable towns and cities. If we are missing a town or city that you would like added let us know.
You can find fuel docks near you by searching the fuel category. We are hoping that more marinas and yacht clubs will work with us to update their information including fuel.
For places such as marinas, yacht clubs, restaurants, etc. you can add a review, although it is even better to email us directly at support@argonav.io. For report pins you can add a comment.
Yes, if we don’t already have a location just drop a place pin to Add a New Place and submit to make it public.
New public place requests are reviewed before making it public. It might show up within the search within a couple of days but it will be a week or two before it gets on the map.
You can add a Fishing Spot pin and call it whatever you want. It will be a private pin that only you will see unless you choose to make it public.
