potholehound-site

Pot Hole Hound — Support

Need help with the app? Found a bug? Have a feature request? This page covers the most common questions, and you can email us directly for anything else.

Quick start

  1. Open the app and you’ll see the Dashboard.
  2. Mount your phone in a cradle, vent clip, or charger holder. A loose phone absorbs vibration and won’t detect potholes accurately.
  3. Tap “Start Monitoring.” Grant location and motion permissions when prompted.
  4. Drive normally. Detected potholes appear on your map (Mine tab) and contribute to the anonymous community map.
  5. Tap “Stop Monitoring” before you pick up the phone again — handling registers as false hits.

Frequently asked questions

Why did the app ask for location and motion permissions?

We don’t track your continuous route — only the moments where impacts are detected.

My phone is in a cradle and I’m driving over potholes — why aren’t they being detected?

Several things have to happen for a hit to register:

  1. The vertical g-force at impact must exceed the detection threshold (default 0.5 g)
  2. Your driving speed must be at least about 4.5 mph (this prevents false positives when stationary)
  3. The phone must be mounted firmly — a loose phone absorbs the impact before the sensor sees it

If you’re confident none of those are the issue and detections still aren’t logging, please email us and include the make/model of your phone — some Android devices have sensor calibrations that may need adjustment.

How do I stop contributing to the community map?

Open the app → Settings → toggle “Cloud Sync” off (if visible). Your detections will still log locally on your phone but won’t be uploaded to the community map.

(Note: Cloud Sync is hidden in the standard Settings view to prevent accidental disabling — it’s recommended on by default. If you specifically want to opt out, contact us.)

How do I change my Hound Name?

Open the app → Settings → Hound Name section → tap the Reroll button. A new randomly generated name will be assigned. You can reroll until you find one you like.

Why does the app drain my battery?

The app uses GPS and the accelerometer continuously while monitoring. Both consume battery — typical usage during a 30-minute drive is around 5-10% battery. Driving with your phone on the charger eliminates this entirely.

To minimize drain when not actively driving, always tap “Stop Monitoring” when your trip ends.

Does the app work in the background?

Not in version 1.0. The app must be open and the screen on for monitoring to work. We’re evaluating background mode for a future release.

My beta tester data — will it carry over to the App Store version?

Yes. When you update from TestFlight to the App Store version, all your existing detections, badges, and Hound Name carry over automatically. No re-onboarding required.

How do I report a problem or request a feature?

Email us at the address below. Please include:

Contact

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