---
title: 'User Guide'
url: 'http://www.mlat.uk/guide'
markdown: 'http://www.mlat.uk/guide.md'
date: '2026-10-22'
description: ".mlat-guide { --u: clamp(16px, 15.2px + 0.2vw, 16.8px); --g-accent: #0A74C4; --g-accent-dark: #0A5FA0; --g-bg: #ffffff; --g-bg-alt: #F5F7FA; --g-text: #14181D; --g-soft: #5B6772; --g-border: #D6DEE6; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'SF Pro Text'…"
---

mlat.uk

# User Guide

Everything the live map can do, from the basics to every setting. Start with the quick reference below, then dive into any topic.

[Open the live map](https://map.mlat.uk/)

## Quick reference

![The live map with its main controls numbered](http://www.mlat.uk/user/pages/08.guide/quick-reference.jpg)The live map on a computer, with an aircraft selected. On a phone the details open as a sheet from the bottom instead.

1. **Menu** - share, map options, layers, follow, replay, settings
2. **Search** - anything on the map; long-press or right-click the map for what's nearby
3. **Details panel** - everything about the selected object; share and close at the top
4. **Object list** - open the table of everything in view, with filters and columns
5. **Zoom** - or use the mouse wheel, a pinch or a double-tap
6. **Altitude key** - aircraft colours from the ground to 40,000 ft and above
7. **Bottom bar** - Home, Aircraft, Maritime, Space, Military, Emergency
8. **Scale** - distance on the map at this zoom
9. **Credits** - our data and map providers

### Five things to try

- Tap or click any icon to see what it is, where it is going and a photo.
- Type an airport code such as `LHR` in search, then choose **Show all on the map**.
- Long-press (or right-click) the map to see **what's nearby**.
- Turn on **Wind** or **Precipitation** under **Map layers**.
- Use **Share this view** to send someone exactly what you can see.

## Topics

[**The map**Moving around, the bottom bar, what the icons and colours mean.](http://www.mlat.uk/guide/map)[**Search**Find anything on the map, combine terms, pick several results, and search around a point.](http://www.mlat.uk/guide/search)[**Objects & the object list**The details panel, following an object, and the object list with its filters and columns.](http://www.mlat.uk/guide/objects)[**Menu & map options**Everything in the main menu, and what each map option switches on or off.](http://www.mlat.uk/guide/menu)[**Map layers**Wind, rain, day and night, nautical charts, base maps and airspace overlays.](http://www.mlat.uk/guide/layers)[**Settings**Every setting explained: appearance, selection & info, labels & altitude, location & sharing.](http://www.mlat.uk/guide/settings)[**Sharing, replay & the app**Share links that open exactly what you see, replay past traffic, and install mlat.uk as an app.](http://www.mlat.uk/guide/sharing)[**Keyboard shortcuts**Every key on one page, for working quickly on a computer.](http://www.mlat.uk/guide/shortcuts)

---

## Navigation

- Previous: [About](http://www.mlat.uk/about.md)
- Next: [Changelog](http://www.mlat.uk/changelog.md)
- Children:
  - [The map](http://www.mlat.uk/guide/map.md)
  - [Search](http://www.mlat.uk/guide/search.md)
  - [Objects & the object list](http://www.mlat.uk/guide/objects.md)
  - [Menu & map options](http://www.mlat.uk/guide/menu.md)
  - [Map layers](http://www.mlat.uk/guide/layers.md)
  - [Settings](http://www.mlat.uk/guide/settings.md)
  - [Sharing, replay & the app](http://www.mlat.uk/guide/sharing.md)
  - [Keyboard shortcuts](http://www.mlat.uk/guide/shortcuts.md)