Oruxmaps Online Map Sources.xml May 2026

The Secret Backdoor to a Million Maps: Deconstructing Oruxmaps' XML Brain

To the casual user, Oruxmaps is just a green icon—a rugged, no-nonsense alternative to Gaia or AllTrails. But to a digital cartography nerd, the app has a secret heart: a humble XML file usually named oruxmaps Online Map Sources.xml.

This file isn't just a settings menu. It’s a declarative programming language for maps. It’s the skeleton key that lets Oruxmaps access virtually any tile-based map on the internet, from Cold War Soviet military topo sheets to real-time weather radar and obscure mountain biking trails in rural Patagonia.

Let’s pop the hood.

XML Syntax Example

Here is a simple entry for the standard OpenStreetMap:

<onlinemapsource uid="1" >
    <name>OpenStreetMap Standard</name>
    <url><![CDATA[https://tile.openstreetmap.org/zoom/x/y.png]]></url>
    <copyright><![CDATA[© OpenStreetMap contributors]]></copyright>
    <onlinemapsource>

And a more advanced one with explicit zoom constraints: Oruxmaps Online Map Sources.xml

<onlinemapsource uid="42" >
    <name>Google Satellite (High Res)</name>
    <url><![CDATA[https://mt1.google.com/vt/lyrs=s&x=x&y=y&z=zoom]]></url>
    <zoom_min>0</zoom_min>
    <zoom_max>22</zoom_max>
    <type>PNG</type>
    <copyright>Map data ©2024 Google</copyright>
</onlinemapsource>

Every custom source you add will follow this pattern. The uid must be unique; otherwise, Oruxmaps will show duplicate or overlapping entries.

Best Practices

Set a User-Agent if possible (Oruxmaps does not currently support custom headers, so avoid servers that enforce strict UA).
Prefer offline maps for repeated use on the same trail.
Never share an XML file containing your personal API keys.

Handling API Keys and Headers

Some modern tile servers require an API key (MapBox, Thunderforest, Stamen). You can append the key directly to the URL: The Secret Backdoor to a Million Maps: Deconstructing

<url><![CDATA[https://tiles.stadiamaps.com/tiles/alidade_smooth/zoom/x/y.png?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY]]></url>

For servers requiring custom HTTP headers (e.g., Referer), Oruxmaps does not support header injection via XML alone. You would need to use a proxy or switch to a different map source.

Part 1: What Exactly is the "Online Map Sources.xml" File?

3. Map Loads but Attribution Overlaps

Cause: Missing or incorrect copyright tag.
Fix: Add a <copyright> element containing the required text. Oruxmaps displays this in the map info panel. And a more advanced one with explicit zoom