Offline Functionality - Help Center

How Offline Mode Works

After the initial setup, most EUnify features work without an internet connection. The app downloads data on first launch and caches it locally, letting you research universities even when you're offline.

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Initial Setup Required: EUnify requires an internet connection the first time you open the app to download university and city data. After that, most features work offline.

What Works Offline

All of these features work without internet:

Explore & Map

Browse the interactive map
View all institution markers
Pan, zoom, and explore regions
Cinematic flyovers

Institution Details

Full university profiles
Program listings
Campus information
Rankings and statistics
Notable alumni and faculty

City & Country Information

Cost of living data
Housing information
Transport details
Safety indices
Climate information

Compare Feature

Create new comparisons
View saved comparisons
Access all comparison metrics

Campus Tours

All campus tours
City tours
Country tours
Full tour content and stops

Application Checklists

View existing checklists
Create new checklists
Mark items complete
Track progress

Search & Filters

Search institutions and programs
Apply filters
View search history

Profile & Settings

View and edit profile
Change preferences
Export data

What Requires Internet

The following features need connectivity:

Initial setup: First-time data download when you install the app
Data updates: Syncing the latest university and city information (happens automatically when connected)
App updates: Downloading new app versions
Support requests: Contacting our support team
Privacy requests: Submitting formal GDPR requests
Analytics: Sending anonymized usage data (if opted in)
Crash reporting: Sending diagnostic data (if opted in)

How Data is Downloaded

When you first open EUnify, the app connects to our servers to download:

University and college information
Program databases
City metrics and statistics
Country information
Tour content
Job market data

This data is then cached locally on your device, so you can access it offline after the initial download.

Data Updates

To get the latest data:

Update the App

Check the App Store for EUnify updates. Data updates are included with app updates.
Review Release Notes

See what data has been updated in each version.

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Update Regularly: We recommend updating EUnify every few months to get the latest institution data and fee information.

Storage Requirements

Because data is cached locally:

EUnify requires approximately 150-200 MB of storage
Your personal data (comparisons, checklists) adds minimal additional space
When connected, the app may sync updated data in the background to keep information current

Benefits of Local Data

Privacy

Your comparisons, checklists, and bookmarks are stored locally on your device. If you choose not to opt into analytics, your browsing activity stays completely private.

Speed

Everything loads instantly since data is local. No waiting for network requests.

Reliability

Works in low-connectivity situations: airplanes, libraries, commutes, areas with poor signal.

Battery Life

Less network activity means lower battery consumption.

Troubleshooting Offline Issues

App seems slow or unresponsive

Close and reopen the app
Restart your device
Check if device storage is nearly full

Missing data or institutions

Check for app updates in the App Store
Ensure you have the latest version installed
If an institution is missing, let us know at services@vaic.at

Map not loading

Give the app a moment to load map tiles from storage
Try restarting the app
If problem persists, reinstall the app

More Help

Common Issues → Data Accuracy →