CalTopo Account Management
let's begin
While the use of CalTopo does not require an account, creating an account will allow you to return to saved maps, share maps more easily, and much more.
Here we cover Login Methods and Account Acceess, which covers creating an account and logging in to the account. In the following lesson in this chapter, we look at all the information stored in your account as you use CalTopo.
Lessons in this Chapter:
- Managing Your Account Items including Your Maps, Your Layers, Your PDFs, and more
Topics on this Page:
- Account Creation and Login
- Account Basics, including changing your subscription level or changing auto-renew status
- Alternate Logins
Account Creation and Login
Caltopo.com: Most users will be using caltopo.com to login. Some users who are using the program for first response and search and rescue operations will use sartopo.com.
These two systems are currently on different servers and thus if you have both SAR maps and CalTopo maps, you will see the set of maps only when logged in to the proper server for each type.
ID provider: When you click sign in, it will ask you which type of account you want to use. These account providers give CalTopo a way to verify your account access without us having to write our own login credentials and store your information. Read more about why we use this method in our FAQs.
Each login ID provider is a separate account. That is, if you sign in normally using Google, then one day you sign in with Yahoo, you just created a second account.
When you login for the first time, this action will create an account.
Accounts can be linked to each other after creation by going to Your Account -> Add Alternate Login but you can only combine two accounts.
When adding another login, consider which you would like to be the primary login, as any subscription you have will get tied to that login ID, and if you ever split the accounts again the subscription as well as any maps you have saved will go with the primary account. You can also disassociate accounts from each other by using the red X.
Creating and Account on a Mobile Device
At this time, you cannot create an account directly in the mobile app. When you try to do so, your web browser on your phone should open and the steps will be identical to the rest of this page.
If you have trouble opening the link from the app, go in your phone browser to caltopo.com and create the account there, or do so from a computer.
Account Basics
Account types and privileges
- Our platform is free to use as long as you want, with additional features available via an annual subscription.
- See this page for details regarding account types and what you can access from each subscription level. And the FAQ for additional information.
- If you plan to use the mobile app offline, you will need to subscribe to the Basic subscription level at a minimum in order to download base layers to your device.
Changing subscription levels
- You can upgrade your account subscription yourself at any time. The charge will prorate to accommodate your previous purchase, though the system will display the full amount of the upgraded subscription.
-
Login to your account, and click the Upgrade button at the top of the page, or navigate to your account by clicking on your user name, then the your account tab. You will find an upgrade link near your subscription status.
- To downgrade an account, please contact us at help@caltopo.com.
Managing Auto-Renewal and Card Updates
You can control whether your subscription renews automatically every year. Go to Your Account, and in the subscription box of the Your Account tab you will see a button to change status.
On the next page, you will see what subscription you have currently and a button to either renew your account or cancel the auto renewal.
Alternate Logins
If you have multiple Google, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft or Yahoo addresses, you can use more than one address to sign into a single CalTopo account. This allows you to create backup logins (in case you find yourself locked out of your primary login) and also makes it easier to access your CalTopo data regardless of which email account you're currently using. CalTopo recommends having an alternate provider login just in case of downtime.
Merging accounts should only be done for a single user. If you merge your account with accounts that you do not have control over, it can result in unexpected outcomes such as the loss of data or modification of other account info such as billing info or maps.
Start by logging in to one of the accounts, to the the Your Account panel, and next to your login name you will find a link that says "Add Alternate Login."
You must choose whether to make the account you are already logged in with the primary, or vice versa. If you have a paid subscription, the account with the subscription should be your primary one. If both accounts have associated subscriptions, or if you mix this up and your combined accounts do not seem to have the subscription anymore, you will need to contact us to sort things out.
You will be redirected to a login page. Select the appropriate provider and sign in with the alternate account that you wish to merge with your primary account. If your team uses a custom login server, enter your team alias in the indicated space.
After you sign in, you will be asked to confirm that you want to merge that email address with your primary account. Click on "Looks Good" to confirm.
After saying "looks good!" your accounts are merged. You can now use either account to sign in and access all of the maps and PDFs that belong to the primary account (youremail1@gmail.com in this example). You can view all your logins under "Your Account".
To view or delete your alternate login, go back to Your Account. All of your connected logins are listed here. Click the red X to remove the alternate login, then confirm.
