Mobile navigation has long become an integral part of the life of a modern motorist and pedestrian, and Yandex Navigator occupies a leading position in the market due to the accuracy of the data and ease of interface. However, users seeking to optimize the performance of their device or free up space in the internal memory are often faced with the question of the physical location of downloaded maps. Understanding the file structure of an application is critical for those who want to manually manage data, transfer it to an external drive, or save backup copies before resetting settings.
In modern versions of the operating system Android Google's security policy has tightened access to system directories, which has led to changes in standard data storage paths for many applications, including navigation services. If previously files were stored in open folders, now they are often hidden in protected system directories, access to which requires the use of special file managers with extended rights. This is done to prevent the user from accidentally deleting important data and to protect confidential information.
In this article we will analyze in detail the current paths to map files, look at the differences between Android versions and offer effective methods for managing this voluminous content without losing application functionality. You will learn how to find the treasured folder, what to do if it is empty, and how to correctly transfer gigabytes of map data to a memory card to speed up your smartphone.
Standard data storage paths in different versions of Android
The location of the files directly depends on the version of the operating system installed on your device. Starting Android 11, Google has introduced the Scoped Storage mechanism, which isolates application data in a special system folder, limiting direct access to it for third-party apps and the user himself through a standard Explorer. This fundamental change affected and Yandex Navigator, moving its data from a public area to a protected perimeter.
On devices running older versions of the OS, such as Android 9 or Android 10, maps were most often located in the public domain. The user could easily find them by going to the root of the internal memory and opening the folder with the name of the application. This approach simplified file management, but created risks of data integrity violation due to careless actions of the smartphone owner.
For current versions of the system, the path to data is as follows: you need to go to the root directory of the internal memory, then open the folder Android, then data. This is where the private data of all installed apps is stored. The full path to Yandex Navigator maps on modern smartphones looks like this: /Android/data/ru.yandex.yandexnavi/files/maps. Please note that the folder ru.yandex.yandexnavi may have a slightly different name depending on the package version, but usually it remains stable.
⚠️ Attention: On Android 11 and higher, standard file managers may not display the contents of the folder
Android/data. To view files you will need a special explorer, for example Total Commander with an access plugin or Files from Google with the provision of special permissions through the system menu.
It is also important to consider that some smartphone manufacturers, such as Xiaomi or Samsung, can add their own nesting levels or change the logic of working with external memory. In such cases, the path may differ slightly, but the basic structure Android/data remains the same for applications installed from the official store Google Play.
Differences between internal memory and SD card
Many users prefer to install applications and store data on an external memory card microSDto avoid filling up the fast but limited internal storage. However, the mechanism for working with maps in Yandex Navigator has its own nuances when using an external drive. The system can treat the SD card as portable storage or as an extension of internal memory, and the final path to the files depends on this.
If the memory card is configured as portable storage (removable media), then the path to the data will differ from the system one. In this case, the map files may be located at: /storage/[ID_card]/Android/data/ru.yandex.yandexnavi/files/maps. Here [ID_card] is the unique identifier of your flash drive, which usually looks like a set of letters and numbers, for example 1234-5678. You can find this path by connecting your smartphone to a computer in file transfer mode or using an advanced file manager on the device itself.
In a situation where The SD card is formatted as internal memory (adaptive storage), the system encrypts data and merges spaces. In this mode, the files will be located in the same place as when using the built-in drive - in the directory /Android/data main storage, but they can be physically located on the map. Direct access to them from a computer without root access in this case is often impossible due to encryption.
- 📂 Internal memory: The path is always standard
/Android/data/..., high reading speed, data is protected from accidental deletion when removing the media. - 💾 Portable SD card: The path contains unique media ID, convenient for transferring data between devices, but the speed of the cards may be lower, which affects the smoothness of scaling.
- 🔒 Adaptive memory: The data is encrypted and tied to a specific smartphone, transferring the card to another device without resetting is impossible, the path coincides with the internal memory.
If you plan to transfer cards to an SD card, make sure it has a speed class of at least U3 or V30. Slow maps can cause delays when drawing the map in motion.
Map folder structure and file types
After you have successfully reached the directory files/maps, you will see a set of files with names that are unclear at first glance. This folder does not store ready-made map images, but specialized vector and raster data optimized for fast rendering by the navigator engine. Understanding the structure of these files will help you avoid mistakes when manually cleaning or restoring.
The bulk of the data is occupied by files with the extension .bundle or without an extension at all, which are compiled blocks of cartographic information. Each such file is responsible for a specific region or level of detail. There may also be cache files .cachethat speed up the loading of frequently used areas, but are not critical for the offline mode.
Below is a table describing the main types of files that can be found in the maps folder:
| File type / Extension | Purpose | Can I delete |
|---|---|---|
.bundle / without extension |
Basic vector data of regional maps | No (re-download will be required) |
.idx |
Index files for quick search | No (address search will be broken) |
.tmp |
Temporary download files | Yes (if the download is complete) |
version.txt |
Information about the version of map data | No (the application will not understand the relevance) |
Particular attention should be paid to files whose names contain hash sums or long character sets. These are binary datathat the application reads directly. Trying to open them in a text editor will result in an unreadable character set, and manual editing is guaranteed to corrupt the file. The only safe way to manage this data is to use the standard tools of the Yandex Navigator application itself.
How to transfer maps to an SD card manually
Transferring maps to an external drive can be a salvation if the internal memory of the smartphone is full to capacity. Although the application itself does not always offer a convenient button for migrating data, this operation can be performed manually through the file manager. However, this process requires care and adherence to the sequence of actions so as not to lose the downloaded regions.
First, you need to create a target folder on the SD card that completely replicates the path structure on the internal media. That is, if the path was on the internal memory /Android/data/ru.yandex.yandexnavi/files/maps, then on the flash drive you need to create a similar hierarchy. After this, copy the entire contents of the folder maps from the internal memory to the created folder on external media. Make sure that the copying process is completed completely and without errors.
☑️ Card transfer checklist
After copying the files, you need to inform the application about the new location of the data. In some versions of Yandex Navigator, you just need to restart the application, and it will automatically detect files on external media, if access rights allow it. In other cases, you may need to go to the navigator settings, select "Download maps" and specify the path to the new location, or force clear the application cache so that it scans the storage again.
⚠️ Attention: When transferring files, make sure that the file system of your SD card supports large files. The FAT32 file system has a 4GB per file limit, which can be a problem for maps in large regions. It is recommended to use exFAT.
Clearing the cache and deleting outdated maps
Over time, the folder with maps can grow to an impressive size, especially if you often travel and download maps of new areas, forgetting to delete old ones. The navigator does not always automatically delete data from regions that you have not used for a long time, so periodic manual cleaning becomes necessary to maintain system performance.
The safest way to delete is to use the built-in functionality of the application. Go to the settings menu, select the "Download maps" or "Offline maps" section. There you will see a list of all loaded regions and their size. You can select the unwanted areas and click the delete button. This method ensures that all associated files are deleted, including indexes and temporary data.
If you decide to clear memory manually through a file manager, be extremely careful. Only delete files that correspond to remote regions if you know their IDs. The safest way is to delete the contents of the folder maps completely and download only the necessary regions again through the app. This will eliminate the risk of damage to the data structure and errors during navigation.
What happens if you delete the version.txt file?
If you delete this file, the next time you start the application, it may decide that the maps are out of date or missing, and will offer to download them again, even if the map data itself is in place.
It is also worth remembering the search and route cache, which is stored in neighboring folders, for example, cache or search. This data takes up less space, but clearing it regularly can help solve problems with the interface freezing or incorrect display of travel history. To clear the cache, you can use the standard Android tool: Settings → Applications → Yandex Navigator → Storage → Clear cache.
Solving problems with accessing and displaying maps
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where maps are downloaded, The disk space is occupied, but the navigator claims that there are no maps, or only works in online mode. Most often, the reason lies in violation of access rights to the folder Android/data, especially after updating the operating system or restoring data from a backup.
First of all, check whether the application has permission to access the storage. In modern versions of Android, this permission may be called "Access all files" or "Manage all files." Go to Settings → Applications → Yandex Navigator → Rights and make sure that the desired switch is activated. Without this right, the application physically cannot read map files, even if they are in the correct folder.
Another common problem is the mismatch between the application version and the map format. If you have updated your navigator to a new version, but the map files are still from the old version, a version conflict may occur. In this case, a complete reinstallation of the maps will help: delete the contents of the folder maps and download the regions again through the app interface. This action will synchronize data formats and eliminate reading errors.
The main cause of problems with offline maps on new Androids is the lack of “Access to all files” permission or changes in the folder structure after a system update.
If none of the methods helped, try resetting the application to factory settings. This will revert all paths to default values and clear up possible software configuration errors. Remember that when you reset the application settings, your saved Favorites may be deleted if they are not synchronized with your Yandex account, so take care of backing up important data in advance.
Why is the Android/data folder empty or does not open?
On Android 11 and higher, the system hides the contents of this folder from standard explorers for security purposes. To see the files, use Google's Files app, which will ask for special permission the first time you enter this directory, or install a third-party manager like Total Commander with a system folder access plugin.
Is it possible to copy maps from one phone to another?
Yes, it is possible. Copy the folder from your old device to your computer, and then transfer it to the corresponding directory on your new smartphone. After that, launch the navigator, and it should pick up the maps. Make sure that both devices have similar versions of the application. maps from the old device to the computer, and then transfer it to the appropriate directory /Android/data/ru.yandex.yandexnavi/files/ on a new smartphone. After that, launch the navigator, and it should pick up the maps. Make sure both devices have similar versions of the application.
Where are the voices and skin for the navigator stored?
Voice packs and themes are usually stored in adjacent folders inside the application data directory, for example, in voices or skins. The path is similar to the cards: /Android/data/ru.yandex.yandexnavi/files/. They can also be transferred manually, observing the folder structure.
How to find the exact size of downloaded maps?
The most accurate way is to go to the settings of Yandex Navigator itself, the "Downloading maps" section. The total size of all loaded regions is indicated there. The file manager may show a larger size due to the inclusion of cache and index service files that are not displayed in the application interface.
What to do if, after transferring to an SD card, the navigator does not see the maps?
Check whether you have created the folder structure on the flash drive correctly. The path must exactly follow the original. Also make sure that the SD card is intact and not damaged. Try changing the map storage source in the navigator settings, if this option is available, or reboot the device to remount the file system.