BBC Weather Apps FAQs
- Published
The BBC Weather app is available on Android, Amazon and iOS devices.
You can download:
the Android version from Google Play, external
the iOS version from the App Store, external, and
the Amazon version from the amazon.co.uk website, external.
The BBC Weather app is only available to download in the UK.
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Why can't the app detect my location? Why does the app think I'm somewhere I'm not?
The accuracy of location detection is heavily dependent on your device, its settings and the way in which it is connected to the internet.
Your device may use mobile (cellular) network towers, your Wi-Fi connection, and/or GPS (Global Positioning System) to determine your location. If you have any of these disabled, the accuracy of your location may be affected.
The BBC Weather app uses the location provided by your device to determine the closest forecast information available. If the location displayed in the app is incorrect, check other apps on your device, e.g. iOS Maps or Google Maps, to identify where your device thinks you are located.
If the location chosen by your device is incorrect, please refer to the Android and iOS guides below:-
How do I add, remove or re-order my locations?
The BBC Weather app allows you to save up to 10 locations in your BBC account. This ensures that you can easily access relevant locations across all of your devices. Your locations will also be available if you sign in to your BBC account via the BBC Weather website.
To manage your locations...
Add a new location: Tap the search icon at the top of the screen and enter the name of the location you would like to add. From here, tap on the plus (+) icon beside the location's name.
Re-order locations: Tap and hold the 'handle' beside the location and drag up or down to the desired position within your locations list. On iOS, this handle only appears after you've tapped 'Edit' at the top of the 'My locations' section of the menu.
Remove a location: Tap on the tick icon to the right of the location's name. Alternatively, you can swipe left (on iOS) or right (Android) on the location from the menu.
For more detailed information about the BBC's "My Locations" feature, see My Locations in BBC Weather.
How do I change the frequency that weather information is updated?
The app checks for the latest forecast information as soon as you launch it. The time (and date, if applicable) of the last update is displayed, so that you can determine how recent the forecast information is.
The app also allows you to add a BBC Weather 'widget' to your home screen. On Android, the widget will periodically check for the latest forecast information based on the frequency you set within the app: 'Settings' > 'Widget Refresh Frequency'. On iOS, the operating system decides how often to refresh the data based on your daily usage pattern.
Can I store the BBC Weather app on my Android device's SD card?
While you can store the BBC Weather app on your Android device's SD card, widgets will not be available if you choose to do so. This is a limitation of the Android operating system. If you cannot see any widgets in your list of available widgets, access the Android's 'Settings' Menu > Manage Applications > BBC Weather. From here, you can move the BBC Weather app from your SD card to the phone/tablet's memory. You should then restart your device to enable the BBC Weather widgets.
I have an Android or iOS phone but my device indicates that the BBC Weather app is incompatible. Why?
The Android version of the BBC Weather app is compatible with devices running Android 7 or above.
The iOS version of the BBC Weather app is compatible with devices running iOS 14 or above.
How do I join your beta testers group, and receive early access to the latest app updates?
If you'd like to join our beta testers group and receive early access to new features and improvements to the BBC Weather apps, please see our Guide to the BBC Weather apps beta programme.
Privacy
How does the BBC use my current location information?
The BBC Weather app allows you to display weather information based on your current location.
If you choose to enable this option, your precise location is identified by your device and matched with the closest populated location for which weather information is available. Your precise location is not accessed nor stored by the BBC.
What other data is collected by the app, and how can I turn anonymous analytics on/off?
The BBC Weather app collects anonymous data to help us understand how the app is used, to identify areas of improvement, and to provide enhanced functionality. Information collected includes app usage information, e.g. frequency of visit, time and date, and engagement levels with various features within the app.
If you prefer not to share anonymous usage statistics, you can disable this from within the app's 'Settings' > 'Analytics' menu.
Who do I contact if I have a privacy issue?
If you have any further questions regarding privacy or would like to delete any of your collected data, please contact us, external.
Contact Us
How do I suggest new features for the app?
If you have ideas on how we can improve the app, please send us a suggestion, external.
Unfortunately, we can't personally respond to every email or app store review, but we do read all of the feedback and suggestions you send to help us prioritise new features and improvements. We know we won't get it right for everyone and welcome constructive criticism, so please feel free to provide any specific examples or details of what is important to you.
How do I report a technical problem with the app?
We try to make sure there are as few technical problems with the apps as possible. We test on a wide range of devices to help us provide the best possible experience.
However, if you have identified an issue that is not covered by our FAQs above, please let us know, external.
A lot of technical issues are quite specific. We therefore ask that you provide as much detail as possible about the problem, such as:-
Type of device
Operating system and version number, i.e. Android / iOS
BBC Weather app version
Forecast location (where relevant)
Screenshots (where possible)
- Published25 July 2023
- Published6 February 2018
