# SynScan

> App to control motorized telescope mounts from Sky-Watcher

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.skywatcher.synscanapp](https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.skywatcher.synscanapp)

## Overview

- **ID:** `com.skywatcher.synscanapp`
- **Platform:** Android
- **Type:** Android app
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** Skywatcher Apps Team
- **Category:** TOOLS
- **Downloads:** 58,152
- **Rating:** 1.82 / 5 (354 ratings)
- **Version:** 2.6.10
- **Last updated:** 2025-11-08
- **First published:** 2017-06-05
- **Publisher country:** CA
- **Size:** 49 MB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-13
- **Store listing:** [Google Play Store](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.skywatcher.synscanapp)
- **Website:** [http://skywatcher.com](http://skywatcher.com/)
- **Privacy policy:** [http://www.skywatcher.com/faq/](http://www.skywatcher.com/faq/)

## Description

SynScan is a user-friendly app designed to control Sky-Watcher motorized telescope mounts using Wi-Fi, USB, or Bluetooth LE connections. Perfect for novice users with alt-azimuth mounts, it enables slewing, aligning, GOTO commands, and celestial tracking including the Sun and planets without alignment using Point And Track.

The app supports gamepad navigation and provides access to extensive catalogs of stars, comets, and deep-sky objects, plus the ability to save custom celestial objects. SynScan also offers compatibility with third-party astronomy applications such as ASCOM clients, SkySafari, and Stellarium for enhanced telescope control. Additional features include an emulator mount for practice, satellite tracking integration, and SynMatrix AutoAlign for automatic telescope alignment using your smartphone camera.

## Rankings

- #281,148 — Overall

## Permissions and access

### Permissions

- `android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION`
- `android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION`
- `android.permission.ACCESS_LOCATION`
- `android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE`
- `android.permission.BLUETOOTH`
- `android.permission.BLUETOOTH_ADMIN`
- `android.permission.BLUETOOTH_ADVERTISE`
- `android.permission.BLUETOOTH_CONNECT`
- `android.permission.BLUETOOTH_SCAN`
- `android.permission.CAMERA`
- `android.permission.CHANGE_NETWORK_STATE`
- `android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE`
- `android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE_CONNECTED_DEVICE`
- `android.permission.INTERNET`
- `android.permission.MODIFY_AUDIO_SETTINGS`
- `android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS`
- `android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE`
- `android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO`
- `android.permission.REQUEST_IGNORE_BATTERY_OPTIMIZATIONS`
- `android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW`
- `android.permission.VIBRATE`
- `android.permission.WAKE_LOCK`
- `android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE`

## Review summary

Users appreciate SynScan's accurate tracking and easier alignment compared to handheld controllers, as well as helpful astrophotography features and night mode. However, many encounter frequent crashes on Android 11 and 12, an unintuitive interface, persistent location sensor and Wi-Fi connection issues, and unreliable or unclear alignment processes. Stability problems and lack of feature completeness frustrate users, but some find it effective when stable versions are used.

### Pros

- Syncs well with Skywatcher mounts, offering accurate tracking and GOTO performance
- Provides easier and faster alignment compared to traditional handheld controllers
- Offers night mode for usage in dark environments
- Has useful features for astrophotography enthusiasts, with stable signal during sessions

### Cons

- App often crashes or fails to open on newer Android versions (Android 11 and 12)
- User interface is unintuitive and lacks useful functionalities such as saving favorite objects or clear alignment feedback
- Location sensor issues prevent connection to the mount on multiple devices
- Alignment process is buggy, sometimes unsuccessful, and lacks clear confirmation of success
- Settings such as Dual Encoding do not persist between sessions, causing inconvenience

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.skywatcher.synscanapp)