Frequently Asked Questions

What is DuckTrails?

DuckTrails is a mobile app that brings the Jeep ducking tradition into the digital age. Using NFC technology, you can track rubber ducks as they travel from Jeep to Jeep, creating a digital journal of their adventures across the country.

What is Jeep ducking?

Jeep ducking is a tradition where Jeep owners leave small rubber ducks on other Jeeps as a random act of kindness. It started in 2020 and has become a beloved tradition in the Jeep community, spreading joy and connecting enthusiasts worldwide.

Is DuckTrails free?

Yes! DuckTrails is completely free to download and use. There are no in-app purchases or subscription fees. You only need to purchase NFC stickers separately, which typically cost $0.20-$1.00 each.

Do I need a Jeep to use DuckTrails?

While DuckTrails is designed for the Jeep community, anyone can download the app and participate in duck tracking. However, the tradition of ducking specifically involves Jeep vehicles.

What devices are supported?

DuckTrails is available for iOS (15.0+) and Android (8.0+) devices. Your phone must have NFC capability to scan and write to duck tags.

What is NFC?

NFC (Near Field Communication) is a short-range wireless technology that allows devices to communicate when they're close together (usually within a few centimeters). It's the same technology used for contactless payments and transit cards.

Does my phone have NFC?

Most modern smartphones have NFC. On iPhone, all models from iPhone 7 and newer support NFC. On Android, check your settings under "Connections" or "Wireless & Networks" to see if you have an NFC toggle.

Where can I buy NFC stickers?

NFC stickers are available on Amazon, eBay, AliExpress, and specialty electronics retailers. Look for NTAG213, NTAG215, or NTAG216 tags. They're typically sold in packs of 10-100 stickers.

What type of NFC tags should I buy?

We recommend NTAG213 or NTAG215 tags. They should be:

• Small enough to fit on your duck (13-30mm diameter)
• Adhesive-backed for easy attachment
• Waterproof or weather-resistant (optional but recommended)

Can I reuse NFC tags?

DuckTrails writes tags in a way that locks them to a specific duck ID to prevent tampering. Once written, the tag cannot be reprogrammed. This ensures the integrity of duck journeys.

How do I create a duck profile?

Tap the "+" button in the My Ducks tab, then fill in your duck's name, description, personality, and upload a photo. Once created, you can write the profile to an NFC tag.

How do I write to an NFC tag?

Open your duck's profile, tap "Write to NFC Tag," then hold your phone near the NFC sticker attached to your rubber duck. The app will confirm when writing is successful.

Where should I place the NFC sticker on my duck?

Place the sticker on a flat surface on the bottom or back of your duck. Make sure it's firmly attached and won't easily peel off. Avoid placing it where it might get damaged or scraped.

Can I create multiple duck profiles?

Yes! You can create as many duck profiles as you want. Each duck gets its own unique journey and achievement tracking.

What happens if my duck gets lost or destroyed?

The duck's profile and journey history remain in the app even if the physical duck is lost. If someone finds and scans it later, the journey continues. If the duck is truly gone, you can create a new duck to continue ducking!

How do I scan a duck?

Open the DuckTrails app, go to the Scan tab, and hold your phone near the NFC tag on the duck. The duck's profile will appear automatically, and you can add a comment or photo before completing the scan.

Why won't my phone scan the duck?

Common issues include:

• NFC is disabled in your phone settings
• Thick phone case blocking the signal
• Damaged or corrupted NFC tag
• Phone not positioned correctly over the tag

Try removing your case, enabling NFC, and holding your phone in different positions.

Can I scan my own ducks?

Yes! You can scan your own ducks to test that the NFC tag works properly. However, self-scans don't count toward achievements or leaderboards to prevent gaming the system.

Does scanning require internet?

The initial scan requires an internet connection to load the duck's profile and log the scan. If you're offline, the scan will be queued and uploaded when you reconnect.

How accurate is location tracking?

Location accuracy depends on your device's GPS and whether you're indoors or outdoors. For best results, scan ducks outside with a clear view of the sky. Accuracy is typically within 5-20 meters.

How do achievements work?

Achievements are automatically unlocked when your ducks reach certain milestones, such as distance traveled, number of scans, or geographic locations. Both users and individual ducks can earn achievements.

What achievements are available?

There are over 30 achievements across categories including:

• Distance (10, 50, 100, 500, 1000+ miles)
• Scans (5, 10, 25, 50, 100+ scans)
• Geographic (state lines, borders, coastlines)
• Time-based (1 week, 1 month, 1 year old)
• Special events and milestones

How do leaderboards work?

Leaderboards rank users based on total scans performed and total distance their ducks have traveled. Rankings update in real-time as new scans are logged.

Can I opt out of leaderboards?

Currently, all users are included in leaderboards by default. If you prefer privacy, you can set your profile to private in Settings, which will hide your detailed stats but still show you anonymously on leaderboards.

Is my location data private?

Duck scan locations are public by design - they're essential to tracking duck journeys. However, your home location is never shared. Only scan locations are recorded. You can review our Privacy Policy for details.

Can I delete my account?

Yes, you can delete your account at any time from Settings > Privacy > Delete Account. Your personal information will be removed, but duck profiles you created may remain with anonymized ownership to preserve community data.

Who can see my duck profiles?

All duck profiles are public by design. Anyone using DuckTrails can see duck profiles, photos, journeys, and scan history. This is essential to the community aspect of duck tracking.

Is my personal information sold?

No. We never sell your personal information to third parties. We only share data with service providers (like Firebase) who help operate the app, and they're contractually obligated to protect your data.

The app keeps crashing. What should I do?

Try these steps:

1. Make sure you have the latest app version
2. Restart the app
3. Restart your device
4. Clear the app cache
5. Reinstall the app
6. Contact support if issues persist

Photos aren't uploading. Why?

Check that you have:

• A stable internet connection
• Photo library permissions enabled
• Sufficient storage space on your device
• A photo file that's not too large (under 10MB recommended)

I'm not receiving notifications. How do I fix this?

Make sure notifications are enabled both in the DuckTrails app (Settings > Notifications) and in your device's system settings. Also check that Do Not Disturb mode is not enabled.

The map isn't showing duck locations correctly.

This could be due to GPS inaccuracy during scanning. Location accuracy varies based on signal strength, weather, and whether you're indoors. We display the best available location data from each scan.

What are the rules for ducking?

Follow these guidelines:

• Only place ducks on Jeeps in public areas
• Don't trespass on private property
• Don't block vehicle features or visibility
• Respect "No Ducking" requests
• Be safe and follow traffic laws
• Keep ducks family-friendly

What should I do if I find a duck?

Scan it with DuckTrails to log the encounter! You can add a comment or photo about where you found it. Then you have options:

• Leave it for the next person to find
• Take it with you and re-duck it on another Jeep
• Keep it as a souvenir (though this ends its journey)

Can I report inappropriate content?

Yes. If you see duck profiles, photos, or comments that violate our content guidelines, please report them by contacting support@ducktrails.com. We'll review and take appropriate action.

How do I get featured as Duck of the Week?

Duck of the Week is selected by our team based on interesting journeys, creative duck designs, heartwarming stories, or impressive achievements. Just keep ducking and let your ducks tell their stories!

How do I contact support?

We're here to help! You can reach us at:

• Email: support@ducktrails.com
• Contact Form: Get in Touch
• Help Center: Detailed guides and tutorials

We typically respond within 24-48 hours.