# Specialized - Mission Control — user reviews > 61 indexed App Store user reviews of Specialized by Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc., rated 2.50/5 from 167 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/specialized-mission-control/id1420151502/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/specialized-mission-control/id1420151502.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 27 · 4★ 17 · 3★ 24 · 2★ 43 · 1★ 56 ## Newest reviews (15 of 61) ### 2/5 — Needs Work *2023-07-28* Here’s what I’d like to see: A setting that allows me to tune how much assist I want when starting from a complete stop tied to each assist level. E-bikes are heavy and while I may not need much assist while actively peddling, some extra power while starting would be helpful sometimes. Apple Watch & Health Integration. Recording a cycling workout on my Apple Watch produces results more in line with riding a regular bicycle. Recording an e-bike ride on Strava gives me heart rate and other metrics, but no information from the bike. Recording a ride on the app and importing to Strava means no heart rate. Having an Apple Watch companion app that allows me to record metrics both from my watch and the bike would make this much easier for the user. The app should be able to “wake up” the bike for tuning. Also, under the specific scenario, the lights wouldn’t need to come on. ### 2/5 — Has some glitches *2023-04-09* I have had similar issues as the previous reviewer. The app will not allow you to use it unless tracking is set to Always. Developers need to allow setting of While Using App. And you must set your iPhone to Never for locking the screen. Drains the phone battery. I have ended up using Map My Ride which has no such problems when the screen goes dark. It’s early spring and I haven’t ridden my Turbo Creo since the fall. The app will not recognize my login, password or my bike. This app isn’t working for me now at all. ### 2/5 — Good but should be better by now *2023-03-25* The app overall has nice features and it’s cool to be able to track your rides tweak your settings etc. I can’t understand that after all the versions, they still haven’t listened to the comments that all say the same thing. The tracking only seems to work when Always On is selected. If you choose only when using app, it doesn’t seem to register. This is an ongoing flaw that you’d expect to be fixed by now. ### 2/5 — Needs Work *2023-03-16* It’s nice to be able to do some tweaks and lock the bike. But I would never use it to track a workout as it’s just too clunky. The constant nagging about wanting location on all the time is also a significant barrier on my end. I’m not going to let it just run down my phone battery. Oh. And you can use the phone’s GPS to gather altitude data but you can’t set the time on the bike from the phone? Seriously? Yeah it’s minor but it’s so minor that it’s assumed. I LOVE MY BIKE. This app sits on my phone for the rare occasion that I lock it up. That’s it. ### 3/5 — Location services always on? *2023-01-28, version 3.9.0* This is the only app I have this issue with if you select location services while using the app it will keep asking you to turn on location services. The screen also shuts off while using the app another pain that needs to be updated. ### 3/5 — Too many warnings *2022-11-21, version 3.5.0* With you latest update I am forced to comply with a safety warning each time I connect to the bike UNACCEPTABLE! I accepted that stupid warning when I agreed to purchase the bike! Worse yet, once the warning is accepted, the gps connection is dropped and I have to restart the app, which issues the prompt, etm ### 2/5 — Location services needs to be always on *2022-11-05, version 3.4.0* The app requires location services to be always on - why? It’s only needed when the app is running. No need for this. ### 3/5 — It’s Not BLEvo *2022-10-23, version 3.3.0* Just bought a gen 3 Levo with mastermind and unfortunately BLEvo is not compatible. I’ve been on a gen 2 Levo using BLEvo for nearly 2 years and a Kenevo before that. You would think that with as much tech goes into these bikes and how large Specialized is as a company that they would have an app as as good as if not better than BLEvo. Come on Specialized ! Step it up ! If some random app creator can make BLEvo surely you can come up with something better than the current Mission Control app. ### 3/5 — GONE GONE GONE *2022-10-09, version 3.3.0* I lost all of my previous ride data with the update and I had to re sync the bike. It now thinks I’m riding a Turbo Levo instead of a Vado 4.0. A bit disappointed not to have my old data. ### 2/5 — You don’t ALWAYS need to know my location *2022-10-02, version 3.2.0* No other tracking app always needs my location. You need it while I am tracking, during my ride. Once I’ve started my ride I should be able to use mapping software or have my phone locked and still track my ride, without the location always setting. That’s an easy change every other fitness app I’ve ever used has. easy programming. ### 2/5 — Won’t update mastermind TCU *2022-10-02, version 3.2.0* Battery is up to date but TCU software won’t update. It gets between 3%-18% and the app just says it can’t update. This is one of the most basic functions it should be able to do. ### 2/5 — Thank goodness bike is better than app! *2022-10-02, version 3.2.0* Have to say your first impression for an app starts with log in, and this is a pretty bad customer experience from the outset. Seems like ridiculous security for a bike control app, and apparently the designers didn’t really think much about the fact they had a piece of HW, likely with all the unique ID they needed to pair to the HW and authenticate the user. To not leverage ownership and HW identity as a tool to improve the entire experience shows they simple either haven’t spent enough time really thinking through this product or they just aren’t very good at SW yet. You guys should study Apple… they have a seamless experience and you should deliver the same. Worse yet is that it tarnishes the entire brand, which is sad because my Como is so far one of the finest pieces of machinery I have ever owned. So specialized UX team: get your act together and aspire to be as good as the products you are supporting!! ### 2/5 — I don’t use it *2022-09-24, version 3.2.0* Why bother other than to make very minor tweaks and check battery status? The Trek ebike app is far superior. But I still like my Specialized Vado SL, but the app is a weak point. ### 3/5 — Works Okay with Garmin Edge *2022-09-23, version 3.2.0* Integrates with Garmin Edge 530 to show Assist Level and %battery remaining. Garmin collects the ride data. Tried to change assist levels at the side of the road using Mission Control but changes did not stick. However when at home, Mission Control saved the changes. Works okay in this limited capacity but would like to be able to update assist levels while stopped at the side of the road. ### 2/5 — Limiting? Not worthwhile. *2022-09-17, version 3.2.0* I just went out on my Vado (2021) using this app on 100% boost… 20mph was some effort. More effort: excusing this app from its connection. Turbo mode active, no app: 25mph with slight effort. Not sure what’s happening here, but fairly sure it’s related to why I wouldn’t buy the current (2022+) model with the color display… I will not use this app further, and I discourage the makers from nannying the riders. My Vado even came with a 40T chainring; if I wanted a Peloton I would have purchased that instead. Who wouldn’t rather have a go-anywhere tool? Modifying that bike now, glad I have the previous gen model. I’ve been told the new ones have more nannying in place (and less reliable parts, due to miniaturization). ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Great Idea - Flawed Execution *2023-07-29* Mission Control has a logical, easy to use interface, has an excellent mapping system, and allows customization of the ebike’s power settings. However, there are a some significant problems that absolutely ruin the app: 1) The app requires Location be set to “Always” each ride. If you forget to turn Location off after riding, it will contribute to drain the phone’s battery. The developers need to make the app work when Location is set to “While Using.”. 2) The app requires Display and Brightness - Auto Lock to be set to “Never” so that the map remains active while riding. Again, if you forget to return Display and Brightness to its prior setting, it will continue to drain the battery. 3) The app reads the battery capacity (viz., %)at the start of the ride, but doesn’t change during the ride, rendering that feature useless. 4) Since applying Apple’s latest security patch, Mission Control no longer saves My Rides in history. Come on Specialized, hire some competent iOS programmers! ### 1/5 — Pure Garbage, App and Customer Service, a Disrespect to their Customers *2023-07-19* Before I relay the issues I’m having with the app, let inform, in case you don’t know already, that Specialized’s customer service is pathetic. You call customer support, but are never able to speak to anyone. You’ll on hold for years until you hang up. Now to the app. This app is junk, and Specialized is not putting much effort to fix the problems. A few of the issues I’m having: - When charging, the screen either show the SOC at 0% or 1%, no matter what the actual SOC actually is; - I set the charging limit to 80%, but it charges to 100%. Sometimes setting the limit works, sometimes it doesn’t; - I set my personal preferences, say for screen layout, cadence, but then, eventually, it changes back to factory default; - sometimes the screen comes on when charging, sometimes it doesn’t. Go figure. One would think a giant company like Specialized would care about the quality of their products and customer satisfaction, but that’s not the case. Either don’t know what they’re doing or they don’t care. Or both. ### 1/5 — Could (and should) be better. *2023-07-18* My Specialized Turbo Vado is a great bike that’s a pleasure to ride, but this app leaves so much to be desired, it’s a disappointment from a company as innovative as Specialized. Aesthetically it’s fine; it’s on-brand and looks like you’d expect. That’s nice. But it’s lagging in the features and content you’d expect from a premium brand like Specialized, and their competition is getting ahead. For me, the most glaring omissions: The map still doesn’t offer turn-by-turn navigation, and your recorded rides still can’t be exported to Apple Health or Apple Fitness. I get the impression Specialized can’t figure out what they want this app to be. It insists on having always-on location data and staying in the foreground during a ride. I get the reasons behind that, but it’s lacking too many features to be a true “ride companion” app. More detailed maps with layers for trails, bike lanes, and turn-by-turn is a starting point. I’d like to see integrated audio playback controls (similar to how Waze did it) so I don’t have to switch apps so often. And I really don’t understand why there’s still no ability to sync Health and Fitness data. Strava does it. Peloton does it. Get with it, Specialized. Your bikes are great, but your software is lagging way behind. ### 1/5 — Location tracking is aggressive and unnecessary *2023-02-21, version 3.11.0* I do not use the app to track rides and I never plan to, I only use it to check the status of my bike charge, for firmware updates, to change settings, or to lock the motor. It is extremely irritating that the app requests always on location access every single time I open it. ‘Keep turned off’ doesn’t seem to mean the same thing to Specialized that it does to me. Stop asking for my location. ### 1/5 — Specialized Turbo Levo *2022-12-01, version 3.6.0* I own a Levo and can attest to the garbage app that Specialized put out — it never works. Useless updates that makes app even more useless. Specialized — fire your app dev team and farm this out. It’s not rocket science. ### 1/5 — Crap since the update! *2022-11-12, version 3.4.0* Ever since the last major update this app turned to crap and has been pretty much worthless to me. I’ve lost data so many times trying to record rides, I’m ditching this app and just using Strava from now on. ### 1/5 — Pairing problem *2022-10-25, version 3.3.0* Have two turbo bikes and can’t pair one of them. Given all of the other issues this app has I’ll be sticking with my Garmin 820 for tracking rides. Don’t need all of the frustration that comes with this app. ### 1/5 — Disappointing *2022-09-14, version 3.2.0* Been using this app to track my rides for three seasons now and it worked as it should until this summer. Now it doesn’t track and save your rides and all the data associated with it. I’ve contacted Specialized multiple times and they are aware but have no answer or a fix in site. What’s more disappointing is the fact that every app on my phone has had updates the past few weeks except Mission Control. Specialized needs to let it’s customers know what’s going on instead of being mute and silent. Either make a new app, fix the current one or advice us to look somewhere else for an app and/or different bike company. ### 1/5 — Does not record rides *2022-09-05, version 3.2.0* After update to this version you will not be able to save your ride. Says processing ride and never saves! Please fix! ### 1/5 — Rides won’t process *2022-09-01, version 3.2.0* Mission control has had its ups and downs but never a down as low as right now. I just completed a 3-day trip to Tahoe and literally all of my rides from the trip are forever stuck on the “Processing ride” screen. Please provide a fix that allows me to recover the info stored on my bike from the most recent rides 🙏 ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Very nice *2022-11-16, version 3.5.0* I already had a turbo levo. I bought a new generation just to get this display and app. This is one of those rare apps that continues to improve. Thank you! ### 5/5 — Can’t see map of my ride get *2022-08-17, version 3.1.0* Can’t see map of my ride just shows the message “trying to get location “. Update to July 28, 2022 review: “ trying to get location” error message seems to have been corrected. I can now see the map as I should. Thanks for fixing it! ### 5/5 — Update: problem resolved *2022-08-08, version 3.1.0* Left a 2 star previously for the “trying to find location” issue. It appears to be fixed as of the update 2 days ago. Awesome! ### 5/5 — Great tool for tuning bike and ride recording *2022-08-04, version 3.1.0* Great app to tune power modes, record rides (map and stats) and update bike software. ### 4/5 — Love it but… *2023-09-04* Love it but could you have an option to have bigger font size? Is it fair to say that most people with this bike are over 50 and might need to view while they’re riding? Also, have an option to physically input the number (heart rate) instead of using your finger to scroll the numbers and let off you even pick it. Never is the right number. ### 4/5 — Past rides processed and uploaded after the latest update *2022-11-23, version 3.6.0* Been waiting for a few months for the update that would fix the processing and uploading of rides. Looks like today’s update fix that and prior rides are now updated :-) ### 4/5 — Suggestion for developer *2022-11-02, version 3.4.0* I use this bike for commuting and often just get on and go without starting the app first. It would be nice if the onboard computer would sync with my phone the next time I use the app with the bike. My phone shows a much lower number of actual rides than my onboard computer shows. The logs should be even between both devices after sync. ### 3/5 — Need to change some settings *2023-08-01* One thing I hate is when apps want to track me all the time. I have to turn on always allow tracking in order for the software to track my rides. It won’t if you try to set on ‘track only while using the app’. I’m tired of stuff like this draining my battery tracking all my moves. I only want to track my rides. Not where I live and shop. Selling my data? Sheesh. Other than that gripé I’m happy with what it does track. And seeing ride results. ### 3/5 — Covers the basics but... *2023-06-24* As others have noted the app requires that your location services are set to "always". This is ridiculous and absolutely should not be necessary to function. I also use the Strava app and it works perfectly fine in "while using" mode. I suspect the developers that created Mission Control are either not capable of threading that needle, or (more likely) want it set to "always" so they can sell your data. It drains the battery and unnecessarily tracks you when you're not actively using the app. I had to create a macro to get to the settings to easily turn this on and off. The app would also benefit from a little bit of fine-tuning regarding the menu structure and where functionality is within the software. getting to some settings seems very non-intuitive. ### 3/5 — Lots of great features but where’s the Watch app? *2023-06-14* There’s a lot to like here, like over the air bike updates and setting up your own three specific motor tunes. I have no idea why Specialized don’t have it linked to the Apple Watch so I can use that instead of bringing my large and heavy $1,300 iPhone 14 on the trails? I have the Apple Watch specifically with the cellular service feature so I don’t need to bring my iPhone in case of emergency. --- *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 2026-06-10.*