If you are reading this in the Hydroscape app
You already have it, and there is nothing to install. The rest of this page is for putting Hydroscape on another device, so open it there and follow the steps.
Short answer
Android users get Hydroscape from Google Play. iPhone, iPad, and desktop users install it as a Progressive Web App (PWA) — directly from the website, in two taps, no App Store needed. Once installed it works exactly like a native app, including offline mode.
Why isn't it in the Apple App Store yet?
It will be — that's on the roadmap. For now, iOS users install Hydroscape as a Progressive Web App from Safari. That means:
- Updates are instant — no "update available" prompts, no waiting for store review
- No tracking you didn't agree to — nothing leaks to ad networks via store metadata
- One codebase, every device — the app behaves identically on iOS, Android, and desktop
- Offline-first — once installed, the app caches itself and works without signal
If you're used to App Stores, it takes a second to trust. But it's the same code, delivered more directly.
On Android — Get it from Google Play
The fastest install. Open the Play Store link below, tap Install, and the app appears on your home screen and in your app drawer like any other Android app.
Direct link:
Get it on
Google Play
Prefer to install from the website instead? Open app.hydroscape-group.co.uk in Chrome, tap the three-dot menu (top right), then Install app. You'll get the same app either way.
On iPhone or iPad — Install via Safari
- Open app.hydroscape-group.co.uk in Safari (not Chrome — Apple only lets Safari install web apps on iOS)
- Tap the Share button (square with an up-arrow) at the bottom of the screen
- Scroll down the share sheet and tap Add to Home Screen
- Give it a name (or keep "Hydroscape") and tap Add
- The Hydroscape icon appears on your home screen. Tap it to open in full-screen app mode.
On desktop — Install from Chrome or Edge
- Open app.hydroscape-group.co.uk
- Look for an install icon in the address bar (a small desktop-with-arrow icon, on the right)
- Click it, confirm
- The app opens in its own window and pins to your taskbar or dock
Don't open in Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn
Their in-app browsers don't support installation. If someone shares the Hydroscape link on social media and you tap it, the install option won't appear. Copy the link and paste it into Safari (iPhone) or Chrome (Android) instead, then follow the steps above.
What it looks like
Reporting form with map, dashboard with national heatmap, full screen on any phone:
There's also HydroTasks
Hydroscape has a sister app:
- The Hydroscape App — the main one. Sightings, water quality, cormorants, HydroLibrary, biodiversity reports.
- HydroTasks — a separate outdoor task management app for fishery managers and teams. Different use case. Install it if you're using Hydroscape at club level, otherwise you don't need it.
Setup steps are in the HydroTasks help article.
After installing
- Open the app from the home screen icon, not the browser — you'll get the full-screen, no-address-bar experience
- The app works offline. If you submit a sighting without signal, it queues and uploads when you're back online
- If you see "update available" it'll refresh automatically the next time you open it
If install isn't offered
- Check you're using the right browser — Safari on iOS, Chrome on Android, Chrome or Edge on desktop
- Check the site is loaded over HTTPS (it should be — we don't serve over HTTP)
- If you opened the link in a social media app's in-app browser, copy and paste it into a real browser instead
- Clear your browser cache and try again
- Email info@hydroscape-group.co.uk if it's still not working
Ready when you are
Hydroscape is free, works offline, and goes live the moment you tap the icon on your home screen.
Get it on Google Play