Recorded activity or track
- GPS points collected while you were there
- Each usable point includes its time
- Covers the period when photos were taken
GPX file guide
How to get a GPX file with the timestamps your photos need.
Record the outing with an iPhone app or GPS watch, finish the activity, then export the recorded track as GPX. A planned route or a line downloaded from a map may look correct but often has no timestamps.
Methods checked
01RecordPhone or watch
→
02SaveOutdoor activity
→
03ExportTimed .gpx
→
04ImportReview in LensPin
The short answer
Use a recording, not a route plan.
Planned route or course
- May contain only a line to follow
- Often has no original timestamps
- Cannot prove where you were at photo time
Do not judge a GPX file by the map preview.
For photo geotagging, the useful file contains track points such as <trkpt> with a <time> value. A beautiful route line without time cannot place a photo on the trip.
Choose what you already carry
Four practical ways to create the file.
Record with a phone app
Strava is the simplest familiar option. OsmAnd, Gaia GPS, and Guru Maps are useful when offline maps or direct file export matter.
Compare iPhone recording apps →Record without carrying the phone
Use Strava or WorkOutDoors on the watch, or sync a native Apple Workout through Strava before exporting it.
See Apple Watch methods →Export an outdoor activity
Garmin Connect, the COROS app, and the Suunto app can export a recorded outdoor activity as GPX.
Open watch export steps →Ask for the original activity file
If someone else logged the trip, ask them for the GPX export of the recorded workout—not a screenshot, public map link, or planned course.
Before the first photo
Set up a continuous, believable timeline.
- Turn on automatic date and timeKeep the iPhone, watch, and camera clocks as close as possible. LensPin can correct a fixed camera offset later, but a correct start is easier to review.
- Allow precise location and background recordingGrant the recording app the permissions it needs before leaving. Test it outdoors once rather than discovering a permission problem after the trip.
- Wait for a stable GPS positionStart outside with a clear view of the sky. Begin recording before the first camera photo and finish after the last one.
- Prefer one continuous activityFor photo matching, leaving auto-pause off can make long stops and short walks easier to understand. If you pause manually, remember that the gap remains a real evidence boundary.
- Save the activity before opening LensPinLet the device finish syncing, export the recorded activity as
.gpx, and keep the original file unchanged.
A 30-second file check
Confirm that you exported the right thing.
| Check | Good sign | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| File name | Ends in .gpx | A screenshot, PDF, share link, ZIP, or route-only file |
| Track time | The activity details show the day and duration of the photo outing | The route has distance but no recorded start time |
| Map coverage | The line covers the places and period in which you photographed | The line stops early, starts late, or jumps between distant places |
| LensPin import | Timed track points and continuous segments are detected | “No timed track points” or no coverage near the photo time |
Continue with your device
Follow the export path that matches your setup.
01Phone or Apple Watch
Record a new GPX track
Step-by-step instructions for Strava, OsmAnd, Gaia GPS, Guru Maps, WorkOutDoors, and Apple Workout syncing.
Open the recording guide → 02Existing watch activityExport from Garmin, COROS, or Suunto
Find the correct activity export and avoid downloading a route-only file without time.
Open the watch guide →Already have the file?Use it to geotag camera photos in LensPin →