How to Follow a Route in Pokémon Go: The 2026 Guide

Are you tired of the slow grind of hatching eggs in Pokémon Go? Many dedicated players find their progress stalls because manual walking is so time-consuming. You might want to explore automated solutions, but the fear of account suspension makes the process feel incredibly risky. We understand that frustration. Searching for a safe tool often leads to confusing advice and a dead end.

This guide provides a clear, tested procedure for setting up automated routes safely. We will recommend specific, reliable tools we’ve tested and show you exactly how to configure them to mimic natural movement and avoid detection. Learning how to follow a route in Pokémon Go this way allows you to consistently gain distance for eggs and buddy candy without needing to physically travel for hours.

Choosing Your Method: GPS Tools vs. In-Game Routes

Before you begin, it’s important to understand the two primary methods for following a route in Pokémon Go: using the official in-game Routes feature and employing third-party GPS simulation tools. Each approach has different benefits and drawbacks. Making an informed decision here is key to achieving your goals, whether you need an efficient Pokémon Go egg hatching route or want to explore new areas virtually.

• In-Game Routes (Official Feature): This is Niantic’s intended method. You physically walk along pre-approved paths created by other players to earn in-game rewards like Zygarde Cells. It is 100% safe but offers no automation and requires you to be present.
• GPS Simulation Tools (Third-Party): These are external applications that let you create a custom Pokémon Go walking path on a map and simulate your character’s movement. This method provides complete Pokémon Go movement automation, making it highly efficient for hatching eggs or earning candy from home. The primary consideration is the safety risk if not used correctly.

To help you decide which approach fits your needs, consult the comparison table below. It confirms that for automation, GPS tools are the correct choice.

Feature	In-Game Routes	GPS Simulation Tools
Automation	None (Manual Walking)	Full (Automated Movement)
Efficiency	Low	High
Account Safety	100% Safe	Safe with Precautions
Physical Effort	High	None
Best For	Earning Zygarde Cells	Hatching Eggs, Earning Candy

Pokémon Go GPS Route Guide for iPhone (iOS)

For iPhone users, setting up a custom route requires a dedicated desktop application that connects to your iPhone with a USB cable. This method does not require jailbreaking your device, keeping it secure. The main function is to create a controlled, simulated movement between two or more points on the map.

We recommend a tool like Location Mover Pro for this process. We’ve chosen it based on our testing because it offers a stable connection, intuitive route planning, and most importantly, a variable speed function that is crucial for mimicking natural human behavior and staying safe.

Step-by-Step iPhone Setup with Location Mover Pro

• Download and Install: Download Location Mover Pro from its official website and install the software on your Mac or PC.
• Connect Your iPhone: Use a USB cable to connect your iPhone to your computer. When prompted on your phone, tap  “Trust This Computer ” and enter your device passcode.
• Select Route Mode: Open the desktop application. You will see several options like  “Teleport Mode ” and  “Joystick Mode. ” Choose the  “Multi-Point Mode, ” which is specifically designed for creating a walking route.
• Create Your Route: The screen will show a world map. Click on the map to set your starting point, then click again to add a second point, a third, and so on. An efficient route for hatching eggs is often a simple loop through a park or a long, straight line down a major street.
• Configure and Start: A sidebar will appear next to the map. Here, you can set the number of repeat trips and the movement speed. Adjust the speed slider to a realistic walking pace (e.g., 8 km/h or 5 mph). Click the  “Start Moving ” button to begin the simulation.

Your character inside Pokémon Go will now begin moving along the specified route on your iPhone, accumulating distance for your eggs and buddy.

How to Set Up a Pokémon Go Auto Walk Route on Android

Android users can set up a Pokémon Goauto walk route directly from their device using a mock location app from the Google Play Store. The process involves enabling a standard Android feature called Developer Options, which does not require rooting your phone or compromising its security.

For Android, we recommend an app called GPS Path Go. It’s a reliable choice because it has a straightforward interface and provides stable GPS simulation without the  “rubber-banding ” effect (where your location snaps back and forth) that plagues many free alternatives.

Step-by-Step Android Setup with GPS Path Go

• Enable Developer Options: Navigate to Settings > About phone. Find the Build number and tap on it seven times consecutively. You will see a small pop-up message confirming,  “You are now a developer! “
• Install GPS Path Go: Open the Google Play Store, search for  “GPS Path Go, ” and install the application.
• Assign the Mock Location App: Go back to the main Settings menu, then tap System > Developer options. Scroll down and find the Select mock location app option. Tap it and choose GPS Path Go from the list.
• Create Your Route: Open GPS Path Go. Use the search bar to find your starting area. Tap on the map to place your first point (A), then tap again to place your second point (B) and any subsequent points.
• Configure and Launch: Once your route is set, tap the play icon. A small menu will appear where you can select your speed. Choose a walking or jogging speed (under 10 km/h). Tap  “Start. ” Now, open Pokémon Go. Your character will be at the starting location and will automatically begin moving along the route you created.

Expert Tip: Preserve Your Session

Before starting a long route, close all other background apps on your phone. Some Android systems have aggressive memory management that can shut down the mock GPS app if it’s running in the background for a long time, which would halt your progress. Keeping other apps closed helps ensure your session runs without interruption.

Safe Pokémon Go Route Walking: How to Avoid Detection

Using GPS simulation tools always involves some risk, but you can minimize it significantly by making your simulated activity as human as possible. Niantic’s anti-cheat systems are designed to detect unnatural movement like instantaneous travel over long distances ( “teleporting “) or perfectly constant speeds over long periods.

The most critical insight for safety is this: following a route is safest when the movement is smooth, gradual, and imperceptible. Simulating a realistic walking speed along a planned route is the best way to avoid triggering warnings.

The 5 Rules of Safe Route Simulation

• Maintain Realistic Speeds: Keep your simulated speed between 5-10 km/h (3-6 mph). This range is ideal for hatching eggs and earning buddy candy, as it mimics a natural walking or jogging pace.
• Obey Cooldown Times: If you change your location to a different city or country, do not interact with the game (catch Pokémon, spin PokéStops, or join raids) for a set period. A common rule is to wait two hours for any long-distance jumps.
• Plan Realistic Routes: Create your routes along actual roads, sidewalks, and pedestrian areas. Avoid drawing straight lines that cut through buildings or across large bodies of water.
• Avoid Instant Teleporting: Do not jump your location from one continent to another and immediately start playing. This is the single most common reason accounts get flagged. [Internal Link Suggestion: Link the preceding phrase to ‘/pokemon-go-account-safety-tips’]
• Pause Your Activity: Just as a real person would, occasionally pause the automated movement for a few minutes every hour or so. This simple action adds another layer of realism to your activity and breaks up the pattern.

Planning an Efficient Route for Egg Hatching and Resources

Once you have mastered the technical setup with a reliable tool, the next step is strategic planning. An efficient route is one designed to meet a specific goal. Simply walking in a random direction is less effective than planning a route to maximize rewards for the time invested.

Strategies for Optimal Route Planning

• The Egg Hatcher’s Loop: For a dedicated pokemon go egg hatching route, the best design is a simple loop or a long, straight line of 2-5 kilometers. Large parks, university campuses, or quiet suburban neighborhoods are excellent choices. The goal is an uninterrupted walk where you can maintain a steady, optimal speed.
• The Resource Run: If you need to restock Poké Balls and other items, use an online map tool to identify areas with a high density of PokéStops and Gyms. Plan a Pokémon Gowalking path that connects as many of these points as possible in a continuous loop. Downtown districts and popular public parks are often perfect for this.
• Community-Sourced Routes: Before creating your own route, check community resources like Reddit or Discord. Players frequently share coordinates for high-density spawn points, nests, and pre-planned farming routes. You can import these coordinates into your GPS simulation tool for a proven, effective session.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What happens if my internet connection drops mid-route?

Most simulation tools will pause your movement. When you reconnect, your character in Pokémon Go should reappear at the last registered location. It is generally safe, but you may need to restart the route simulation in your tool.

Q2. Can I run this in the background while using other apps?

On iPhones, since the tool runs on a computer, your phone is free to use. On Android, it’s possible, but as mentioned in our expert tip, heavy multitasking can cause the operating system to close the GPS app to save memory. For long sessions, it’s best to let it run without other intensive apps open.

Q3. Are there any free tools you recommend?

We generally advise against free tools. Many are unreliable, filled with ads, or, in some cases, contain malware. More importantly, they often lack the sophisticated features like variable speed and smooth movement simulation that are critical for avoiding detection. Investing in a reputable, paid tool is an investment in your account’s safety.

Q4. What is the safest speed to simulate walking?

A speed between 5 km/h and 10 km/h (about 3-6 mph) is both safe and effective for hatching eggs and earning buddy candy. This range closely mimics a natural walking or jogging pace and is unlikely to trigger anti-cheat systems.

Q5. Does following a route hatch eggs faster?

Absolutely. A planned, automated route ensures you are constantly accumulating distance at an optimal speed without interruption. This is far more efficient and consistent than manual walking, which often involves stops, starts, and inconsistent speeds.

Conclusion: Take Control of Your Pokémon Go Progress

The frustration of slow egg hatching and the time required for manual walking doesn’t have to hold back your progress. By following the clear procedures in this guide, you can safely and effectively automate your movement, turning what was once a time-consuming chore into an efficient background activity. The key is to choose a reliable tool and prioritize safety by simulating realistic, human-like movement. You no longer have to worry about account suspension or the risk of downloading unsafe software. Take control of your gameplay and start hatching eggs more efficiently today.