# iTAK — Team Awareness Kit

> Collaborative geospatial application for real-time team location and data sharing. (iPhone/iPad app by United States Department of the Army, TAK Product Center.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/itak/id1561656396 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [United States Department of the Army, TAK Product Center](https://appshunter.io/developer/1561656398)
- Category: Navigation, Utilities
- Price: Free
- Rating: 3.60/5 from 155 App Store ratings · 99 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.6 · 276 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2022-04-07
- Data updated: 2026-08-24
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/itak/id1561656396/reviews.md

## What is iTAK?

**Compatible with ALL TAK ecosystem (TAK server, WinTAK, ATAK, WebTAK)**

The Team Awareness Kit (TAK) (known as the Tactical Assault Kit in the Department of Defense) application: 

iTAK is a collaborative geospatial application to see your teams’ locations, sensor information, videos, chat, and more in real-time.  iTAK supports Department of Defense (DoD) and commercial sector standards for icons, sensor information, and communication. Data can be pre-loaded into iTAK or downloaded from the network (via TAK Server) when available.

iTAK capabilities include:
• Online and offline mapping (most standard formats), download the maps right in the app
• Blue force / team tracking (BFT)
• Collaborative mapping, including points, drawings, locations of interest
• Import and display of KML, KMZ, GeoPDF overlays
• Location marking, sharing, with photo tagging
• Chat, file sharing, photo sharing
• Live video streaming with the ability to share video links
• Spotted map to mark and share multiple locations across your map
• Digital pointer to rapidly mark and share items on the map with your team
• Navigation-walking/hiking, driving, also useful flying and air-ground coordination
• Center on self or other objects (e.g. another person in the network)
• Range, bearing measurement tools
• Team Emergency Beacons
• Customizable toolbar
• 3D perspective
• All data is secured and fully compatibility with the TAK ecosystem (ATAK, TAK Server, WinTAK)
• Useful for law enforcement, first responders, hunting, fishing, ornithology, wildlife site survey


System Requirements

Operating System: iOS version 17 and later.

## Key features

- Real-time team tracking
- Collaborative mapping
- Online and offline mapping
- KML/KMZ/GeoPDF overlay import
- Chat and file sharing
- Live video streaming
- Navigation tools

## What do users think of iTAK?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface
- 🚀 Smooth performance when functioning properly
- 📍 Real-time location tracking works well
- 🔄 Good core TAK server connectivity
- 📦 Convenient data package sharing
- 🗺️ Decent map visualization and overlays
- 💰 Free application
- 🎯 Effective for basic tactical operations

**Cons**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- ❌ Significantly fewer features than ATAK Android version
- 🔌 Poor compatibility with ATAK ecosystem
- 🔋 Excessive battery drain
- 🗺️ Limited map options (Apple Maps only, outdated imagery)
- 📤 Export/upload functionality broken
- 🔐 Complicated server connection setup process
- 📚 Lack of documentation and user guidance
- ⚙️ Settings don't persist after app restart
- 🔄 Data synchronization issues with ATAK users
- 🎨 Inconsistent UI/UX compared to ATAK

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App crashes when exporting data packages
- App crashes when uploading files with local data
- App crashes when importing overlays
- App crashes when changing map types
- App crashes when creating missions
- App freezes when handling large numbers of objects (15+)
- Indoor mapping causes app shutdown
- Markers disappear on app reopening
- Markers don't sync deletion status with ATAK users
- HTTP video stream links don't work
- Mesh network mode not functioning properly
- Settings reset to defaults on restart
- Toolbar disappears randomly
- Notification badges don't clear properly
- Unable to rename points of interest
- Duplicate server entries appear
- Unexpected shutdowns and crashes
- Connection failures to TAK servers
- Message notifications not appearing on iPhone
- App won't launch after deletion/reinstallation
- Data Sync broken in version 2.10.1
- Overlay import causes instant crash
- Markers become invisible with ArcGIS updates

**Most requested features**

- Meshtastic and LoRa device support
- GRG (Grid Reference Graphic) functionality
- Mesh network integration (GoTenna, Beartooth)
- Plugin support system
- Google Maps or alternative map providers
- Offline map download capability
- Angular measurement unit conversion (degrees to mil)
- Nautical miles unit of measurement
- Video stream support (HTTP/RTSP)
- CASEVAC calling functionality
- Polar plot tool
- Data package import from Android ATAK
- Bluetooth radio integration
- Apple Watch companion app
- Ability to edit and delete toolbar items
- True/Magnetic bearing distinction
- Point dragging and repositioning
- Contact/team management system
- Mission creation and editing
- Windows TAK Server version
- Improved notification system
- Chinese language support
- Better documentation and tutorials

## Recent user reviews (10 of 99)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/itak/id1561656396/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Ital

*2026-06-03, version 2.12.3*

Not compatible with other users on Android’s. Very frustrating.

### 2/5 — It shouldn’t be this hard

*2026-05-25, version 2.12.3*

I just went through the struggles of blindly setting a server up, and now this is making me want to punt my phone off a mountain.  I have used AI to try and figure out what is going wrong. The android version I setup is running great. iOS won’t let me actually click the certificate for server import. I can’t manually enter the server info QR doesn’t work.

### 1/5 — itak

*2026-04-10, version 2.12.3*

Imagine Apple taking a working product and making it their own less capable less intuitive design, that’s iTAK. Every time I come back to iTAK I am always disappointed. Yes they have made minimal updates but when compared to ATAK it’s completely obsolete.  You can’t share data packages between the two and there are a plethora of tools available for ATAK for your specific applications. If you really need ATAK then you really need an Android, otherwise you’re wasting your time.

### 4/5 — Shines in simplicity, pales in features

*2026-02-18*

This app has the smoothness and simplicity of an iOS app, but greatly lacks the feature richness of ATAK. It’s a trade-off that isn’t well communicated in the app description. Not sure who is funding this effort, but it certainly feels intentional.

### 5/5 — Connection issues

*2026-01-18*

I have been connection issues with my server, the app connects for a few minutes then disconnects. However I’m still connected to the server as I can still receive video and send data from the server. When this happens and it’s “disconnected” from the server all contacts are gone and no contacts are overlayed on the map. Data sync doesn’t work, I’m able to receive data sync however can’t send markers and an error comes up.

### 2/5 — ATAK

*2025-12-09, version 2.12.3*

Why can’t it be more like the ATAK version utilized on Android devices. If it was the same but on iPhone, I would pay for it.

### 1/5 — No funciona

*2025-11-24, version 2.12.3*

No funciona en IOS

### 1/5 — Good luck trying to set it up

*2025-11-13, version 2.12.3*

The app would’ve been good if the sign up process didn’t take a rocket science degree overall not streamlined and clunky. Make it where you can sign in and connect with the account you make on the website so that anyone can navigate it and use it

### 5/5 — Buena app

*2025-11-08, version 2.12.3*

Sencilla y perfecta para conectarse con mi servidor TAK. Espero que la actualicen más a menudo.

### 3/5 — Missing Meshtastic

*2025-10-27, version 2.12.3*

This is desperately missing support for Meshtastic and LORA devices.

## Frequently asked questions about iTAK

### What does the iTAK app do?

iTAK is a collaborative geospatial application that allows users to see their team's locations, sensor information, videos, and chat in real-time. It supports various data formats and offers online and offline mapping capabilities.

### What are the key features of iTAK?

Key features include real-time blue force tracking, collaborative mapping with points and drawings, import of KML/KMZ/GeoPDF overlays, location marking with photo tagging, chat, file and photo sharing, live video streaming, and navigation tools.

### Is iTAK free to use?

Yes, the application is available for free. It does not have in-app purchases or advertisements.

### What devices is iTAK compatible with?

iTAK is compatible with all TAK ecosystem products, including TAK servers, WinTAK, ATAK, and WebTAK. It requires iOS version 17 and later.

### Who would find iTAK useful?

iTAK is useful for a variety of users including law enforcement, first responders, hunters, fishermen, ornithologists, and for wildlife site surveys, providing enhanced team awareness and coordination.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.12.3 — 2025-08-08

- fixes bug causing Data Sync mission sync to fail if the mission contains a chat message
- fixes bug causing Server enrollment to fail when using manual credential entry
- adds re-enrollment option when server connections fail
- corrected SA CoT types to match ATAK
- adds support for QR Code enrollment using predefined JSON string format (Support the TAK Registration QR Code · Issue #66 · flighttactics/TAKTracker )
- alphabetizes Tak Channels list (a-z)

### 2.12.2 — 2025-06-13

New Features:

- adds map object deconfliction to handle selection of stacked map objects
- adds ability to export map items as a KML/KMZ

Bug Fixes:

- fixed issue causing Dark Green and Dark Blue team color to default to white
- fixed issue causing toolbar to appear blank when dismissing view while keyboard is open

### 2.12.1 — 2025-05-30

New Features:

- reworks TAK Channels to only rely on network API calls for channel data (removes persistence and will be session based like all other TAK platforms)
- adds listener for TAK Channels server side configuration changes
- converts all known legacy tool UI to modern drawer UI
- add network listener for Data Sync to enable and disable certain features based on network availability
- adds automatic Data Sync re-sync support when reestablishing network connection

Bug Fixes:

- fixes bug causing line length to appear as 0 when creating a custom line shape
- fixes bug causing Tac 12 UI to become unresponsive
- fixes bug causing certain data packages not to parse and save correctly if an iconset path is not present

Known Bugs:

Closing a drawer with the virtual keyboard open will cause the toolbar to remain white with no tools visible. To Fix: Scroll the toolbar left or right or tap on the map to hide the toolbar and then tap again on the map to show the toolbar again.

### 2.12.0 — 2025-05-07

New Features
- Data Sync - Completely reworked the Data Sync tool with updated UI and additional functionality:
   - Now supports password protected missions
   - Automatic updates when editing markers that are part of a mission
   - Edit markers from within Data Sync mission
   - Stay synced even when iTAK application is not running, on start up will resync mission

- Allow user to be able to create lines from within Draw Tool

Bug Fixes
- XML parsing to allow custom characters (i.e. allow special characters in callsigns)
- Supports Line custom shape CoT messages

Known Bugs
- Lines will sometime have incorrect length shown as 0

### 2.11.1 — 2025-03-28

- updates Video Stream creation and edit UI
- adds ability to add username and password to Video Stream
- fixes bug causing Video Stream sharing to fail
- fixes bug causing GeoPDF sharing to fail
- fixes bug causing Markers with attachments to not be received properly

## Apps similar to iTAK

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
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| [TAK Aware](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tak-aware/id6738631659) | 4.8 (24) | Free | Navigation |
| [CalTopo: Backcountry Mapping](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caltopo-backcountry-mapping/id1460038458) | 4.8 (7,253) | Free | Navigation |
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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-24.*