Your guided setup

Make the essentials available when the internet isn’t.

Prepare offline maps, key documents, your household plan and power basics—then run a real airplane-mode drill. Allow 45–60 minutes, plus map download time.

No account. No cloud profile.Your checklist and household entries stay in this browser. Export a backup before clearing browser data or changing devices.

1. Set upClear device-specific steps. Internet is required for the initial downloads.

2. Save locallyDownloaded means on this device—not merely synced to a cloud account.

3. Prove itUse airplane mode to test your own setup. Third-party apps are self-checked.

Before you start

Connect to reliable Wi-Fi and keep your charger nearby.
Know your Apple/Google account details if an app requires them. Never enter them here.
Have your household contact and meeting-point details ready.
Keep the printed field cards as a separate fallback.

Independent preparedness tool. Not an emergency service, live alert feed, government product, or guarantee of safety/connectivity. Local official instructions always take priority.

Module 1 · about 5 minutes

Set your baseline

Choose the instructions for this device. You can repeat the setup on another phone later.

Which phone are you preparing?

Your choice only changes the instructions shown here.

Make room and protect the basics

Record this device and repeat on other essential phonesOne prepared phone does not prepare the whole household. Check available storage before downloading maps or modelsiPhone: Settings → General → iPhone Storage. Android: Settings → Storage. Labels vary by version. Enable local official emergency alerts and your regional warning appOffline Ready does not provide live alerts. Availability and settings depend on your country and carrier. Keep a charged, accessible power source and know your phone’s emergency-call optionsEmergency calling is network-dependent; downloaded content does not guarantee a connection.

Do not store passwords, full identity numbers or bank credentials in this app.Use it for contact and meeting details only. Protect sensitive documents with an appropriate locked/offline storage method.

Module 2 · 10 minutes + downloads

Put your essential areas on the device

Download the area around home and the routes/places your household may actually need. A map on your screen while online is not proof that it is stored offline.

Choose your primary map app

Apple Maps · iOS 17 or later

Open Maps and tap your profile picture.
Tap Offline Maps, then Add Offline Map.
Resize the selection to cover the area you need and tap Download.
Review automatic updates and Optimize Storage; storage optimization can remove unused downloads.

Official Apple instructions ↗

Google Maps · iPhone

Open Google Maps while online and tap your profile picture.
Tap Offline maps → Select your own map.
Adjust the area and download it. Repeat for a separate essential area if needed.
Open the Offline maps screen periodically and refresh downloads before they expire.

Official Google instructions ↗

Google Maps · Android

Open Google Maps while online and tap your profile picture.
Tap Offline maps → Select your own map.
Adjust the area and download it. Repeat for separate essential areas if needed.
Review auto-update settings and refresh maps before they expire.

Official Google instructions ↗

Select iPhone or Android in Module 1 for tailored steps. If your device uses another map app, consult its official offline-download documentation and run the same verification drill.

Independent alternative: Organic Maps

Organic Maps is a free, open-source, third-party offline map app using OpenStreetMap data. Download its regional maps while online, then test the exact areas and features you need. It is not a government or OS-vendor service.

Organic Maps FAQ ↗

Offline maps have limits.Some regions do not support downloads. Google’s offline maps can expire and do not provide transit, cycling or walking directions offline; live traffic and alternate routes also require connectivity. Features vary by app and region. Test—do not assume.

Your map setup

Download the area around homeInclude nearby family, school/work and essential services as appropriate. Download a second essential area or routeChoose your household meeting area or a realistic evacuation destination. Save important places and write their addresses on paperSaved-place availability can differ offline; the written fallback matters. Set a recurring map-refresh reminderCheck downloads monthly and again before travel or a forecast event.

Module 3 · 10 minutes

Make the right files genuinely local

Cloud sync is not the same as an offline copy. Download each essential file and open it during the drill.

A minimal, sensible document set

Your household plan and out-of-area contact card.
Insurance/policy reference and property inventory, where appropriate.
Prescription or medical-summary copies managed securely, where appropriate.
Pet records, essential warranties or other household-specific documents.
Printed copies of the most important pages in a waterproof folder.

Do not place unencrypted identity, financial or medical files on a shared or unlocked device. Use your device’s appropriate secure storage and follow local professional guidance.

Download for offline access

Open Files and locate the document in iCloud Drive or another provider.
If it shows a cloud/download indicator, tap to download it. Keep a local copy in a suitable on-device location.
Open the downloaded file once while online, then again in airplane mode.
If you use a third-party document vault, follow its official offline and security instructions.

Apple Files guide ↗

In Google Drive, find the file and open its ⋮ menu.
Tap Make available offline for each required file, including non-Google files such as PDFs.
Alternatively, use your device’s trusted local file manager and a securely stored local copy.
Open each file in airplane mode to verify it.

Google Drive offline help ↗

Choose iPhone or Android in Module 1. For any other provider, use its official “available offline” or download function and verify each file in airplane mode.

Save your household/contact plan locallyExport or print it from Module 4. Download your chosen essential documents individuallyDo not assume an entire cloud folder is available. Open every essential file once before the drillConfirm the correct app can display it and you know where to find it. Put the most important details on paperInclude contacts, meeting points, local emergency number and key addresses.

Module 4 · 10 minutes

Write the plan everyone can find

Keep it short and usable. Entries below remain in this browser and are not transmitted by Offline Ready.

Household label

Primary meeting point

Alternative / out-of-area point

Out-of-area contact

Contact number

Local emergency number

Relevant utility / local contact

Household reminders

Changes save automatically in this browser. An export contains your entries; store it securely.

Talk it through together

Agree on primary and alternative meeting pointsMake sure children and other household members know what to do. Confirm the out-of-area contact and country codeAgree who calls whom and how to retry if lines are busy. Include children, older people, accessibility needs and petsUse local professional guidance for medical or specialist needs. Give each relevant person a paper or offline copyA plan trapped on one locked phone is not a household plan.

Module 5 · 5–10 minutes

Make the battery and communication plan realistic

A downloaded map on a dead phone is not available. Reduce avoidable battery use and keep a non-digital fallback.

Power basics

Charge and label a suitable power bank and cableFollow the manufacturer’s safety/storage instructions; do not use damaged batteries. Find Low Power Mode / Battery Saver and test your essential apps with itiPhone: Settings → Battery. Android: Battery settings vary by manufacturer. Reduce avoidable drainLower brightness, close unneeded high-drain activity and avoid extreme temperatures. Have a non-phone information sourceA suitable battery/hand-crank radio and local printed information can help; follow regional guidance.

Networks may be congested or unavailable.A downloaded resource does not restore cell service. Follow local official advice; use text messages or an agreed out-of-area contact when appropriate, and never delay an emergency call to complete this checklist.

Lock-screen and paper access

Review your phone’s built-in emergency contact/medical information features and decide what is appropriate to display. Available features and privacy implications vary. Keep critical contacts on paper as well.

Review lock-screen emergency informationOnly add information you are comfortable making accessible from the lock screen.

Module 6 · 5 minutes now; revisit quarterly

Save the official starting points for your location

Use official sources for current local alerts, kit quantities, health guidance and emergency numbers. External links require connectivity; save or print the pages you need while online, respecting their terms.

Filter by country / region

Filter by region

Not a live emergency feed.During an incident, use your local authority’s current channels. National guidance may be supplemented or replaced by regional/local instructions. Offline Ready is independent and is not endorsed by these agencies.

Find your national and local official preparedness sourcesSave their exact URLs in your household notes or bookmarks. Save or print the specific official guidance you may needCheck copyright/reuse terms and include the source and date on your copy.

Optional module · technical preview

Offline AI, without pretending it is an authority

A small local language model can run on some phones after an initial download. It can help summarize your own notes or brainstorm non-critical lists. It is not required for Offline Ready.

Never rely on an LLM for emergency, medical, water-safety, evacuation or other safety-critical answers.Models can invent plausible but wrong information and may not know current local instructions. Use cited official sources and emergency services instead.

One transparent third-party option: PocketPal AI

PocketPal AI is an independent community project that runs compatible language models on iPhone/Android. It is not affiliated with Offline Ready or any emergency agency. Model speed, quality and feasibility depend on your phone’s memory, storage and the model you choose.

While online, install PocketPal AI from its official site-linked app store listing.
Check free storage and choose the smallest suitable model offered for your device. Large models may be slow or impractical.
Download the model completely while online. Keep the model license and source information.
Load the model, then enable airplane mode and start a new chat.
Test a harmless prompt such as “Summarize this note: our meeting point is…” Do not paste sensitive personal information.

Official PocketPal site ↗Source & documentation ↗

Decide whether local AI is useful on this deviceSkipping it is a valid completion choice; the core setup does not depend on AI. If installed, verify one harmless offline promptDo not mark this complete unless the model actually ran in airplane mode. Leave unchecked if you skip installation.

Module 8 · 5–10 minutes

Prove it in airplane mode

Finish all downloads first. Keep this app open or installed, then enable airplane mode. Do not enable it if you are expecting an urgent call or need to contact emergency services.

✓

Self-verification, not a remote promise

Offline Ready cannot inspect third-party apps or certify your safety. Only check what you personally opened and confirmed.

Enable airplane mode and confirm the connection badge changesIf the badge still says online, wait a moment or toggle Wi-Fi off too; airplane-mode behavior varies. Close and reopen this installed app while offlineIf it does not open, reconnect, install/cache it correctly and use the downloaded field cards as backup. Open your downloaded map area and locate an essential placeTest any navigation feature you expect to use; do not assume every mode works offline. Open one essential downloaded documentIf a cloud placeholder appears, download that file properly and repeat the test. Open the household plan or its paper copyConfirm another household member can find and understand it. Turn airplane mode off after the testRestore normal connectivity and confirm alerts/calls work as expected.

Found a gap? That is a useful result.Reconnect, fix one item at a time, then repeat the drill. Preparedness is a maintained setup, not a badge.

Module 9 · your maintenance loop

Keep the setup alive

Phones update, downloads expire, browser storage can be cleared and households change. A short review prevents silent decay.

Monthly

Check map downloads and available storage.
Charge/inspect your power bank according to its manufacturer’s instructions.
Open one essential offline document.

Every three months

Repeat the full airplane-mode drill.
Review contacts, meeting points and local official guidance.
Export a fresh household-plan backup and replace old paper copies.

Before travel or a forecast event

Download the new area and check local emergency numbers/alert services.
Refresh essential documents and charge essential devices.
Follow current local authority instructions; this app is not a forecast or warning service.

Lock in the maintenance habit

Export or print your current household planStore the backup securely and replace outdated copies. Set a recurring three-month drill reminderInclude map/document checks and a fresh look at local official guidance.

Your local data controls

Export your plan before clearing browser storage, uninstalling the app or switching devices. Reset permanently removes the entries and checklist state from this browser.

You have a system now.Keep the downloads current, keep the paper fallback accessible, and use local official instructions whenever conditions change.