How photo check-in works
This page explains, in plain language, how Locatour confirms a check-in. No maths, no secrets you don’t need — just an honest picture of what happens when you tap check in.
What your phone checks
Section titled “What your phone checks”When you check in, two things come together:
- Your location. Locatour asks your phone for its current GPS position and checks that you’re at the place — not nearby-ish, but actually there. Your phone also tells us how confident it is in that position, and we take that into account so a slightly fuzzy reading on a cloudy day doesn’t punish an honest visit.
- A live photo. You take the photo right then, inside the app. It isn’t pulled from your camera roll — it’s shot on the spot, as part of being present.
If both line up — you’re at the place, and you’ve taken a fresh photo there — your check-in succeeds.
Why we do it on the spot
Section titled “Why we do it on the spot”Locatour only works if check-ins reflect real visits. Doing the location and photo check live, at the place, is what keeps the game fair for everyone who plays it honestly. It means your levels, streaks, and achievements actually stand for something.
Built to be fair, honestly explained
Section titled “Built to be fair, honestly explained”We’re upfront about the limits. No phone-based check can prove presence with total certainty — GPS can wander, and a determined person can try to trick any app. So Locatour is designed in layers: friendly checks on your phone give you instant feedback and stop casual mistakes, and additional checks happen behind the scenes to keep things fair at scale.
We deliberately don’t publish the exact thresholds and rules. That’s not to be secretive with honest players — it’s so the fairness checks keep working. If you actually went to the place, you have nothing to think about.
When something goes wrong
Section titled “When something goes wrong”Most failed check-ins are simple and fixable:
- Not close enough? Move nearer to the exact spot and retry.
- Weak GPS? Step into the open, away from tall buildings or thick tree cover, and try again — your phone needs a clear view of the sky.
- Location off? Enable location services and Locatour’s location permission.
- Offline? Locatour can save the check-in and finish verifying it when you’re back online.
What this means for your privacy
Section titled “What this means for your privacy”Wondering what happens to your location and photos after a check-in? That’s covered honestly in Your data & security and the Privacy Policy.