Blitzortung Lightning Monitor

F-Droid Open Source | Science & Education

13 Downloads 60 Views v2.5 4.49 MB 4.1+

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(4.49 MB)

Editor's Overview

Blitzortung Lightning Monitor is a science & education application developed by F-Droid Open Source, packaged as a single Android APK of version 2.5 weighing in at 4.49 MB. The package targets Android 4.1+ and above. Below you'll find the publisher's own description, a quick spec sheet, and a short buyer-beware checklist so you know exactly what you're installing before tapping download.

Install Checklist

Only download through the button on this page — never from third-party mirrors or shortened links, which are the most common way malware spreads.
File size is a light 4.49 MB, so it installs quickly even on modest connections.
This build is signed by "F-Droid Open Source" — always verify the developer name matches what's listed on the app's official store page before installing an update.
After install, Android may prompt you to allow "Install from unknown sources" — approve only this one install, then revoke the permission in Settings > Apps > Special access.
We link directly to the APK file or the publisher's repository; we do not modify the binary. Always run a virus scan after any sideloaded install.

About this app

Simple to use map based application, visualizing real time full area lightning data provided by the blitzortung.org lightning location network project. The current thunderstorm situation at your fingertips.

Features:

* realtime display of lightning data
* display of historical lightning data of the last 24 hours
* for regions Europe, North & South America, Asia, Africa and Australia/New Zealand
* lightning strike time color coded
* reduced data volume and fast response
* current lightning strike time and lightning count
* optional user location marker
* alert function shows distance/direction of storms
* background service for alerts
* support for notifications, sound and vibration alarm
* single stroke display for blitzortung.org participants

Please visit https://www.blitzortung.org for more information regarding the community based lightning location project.

The raster display ensures a fast performance of the application even if there is a very high thunderstorm activity. Blitzortung.org participants can visualize all stroke locations individually.

If you would like to contribute to a translation of the software in your language, please do not hesitate to contact the author of the software.

User privacy

This app can use device location in order to show the users location on the map and for generating warning view and alerts for lightning activity nearby.

The lightning warning feature **can also be used without device location permissions** as the location can also be set manually (via preferences but also via long pressing the desired position on the map). You will still be able to use the warning feature without allowing location permissions.

In order to have a more efficient data transfer with high resolution lightning data the app only fetches the last 10 minutes of activity in an area of 5° x 5° rounded to five degrees.

Although this data is derived from the devices location or the map area currently visible it can not be used to track users.
Here is why:

Granularity: A 5x5 degree area is extremely large.

Latitude: 5 degrees covers approximately 555 km (345 miles).

Longitude: At the equator, 5 degrees is also ~555 km. At 50° latitude (e.g., Central Europe/Canada), it is still ~355 km wide.

This resolution is sufficient to identify a broad region (e.g., "Central Europe" or "US West Coast") but is completely insufficient to pinpoint a city, let alone a specific person or address.

Anonymization

Conclusion: The coordinates generated by `LocalData.update()` are too coarse for individual tracking. They serve only to download lightning data for the correct general region of the world.

Details

Version	v2.5
Size	4.49 MB
Developer	F-Droid Open Source
Category	Science & Education
Package	org.blitzortung.android.app
Android	4.1+
Last Updated	Oct 29, 2026
Downloads	13

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Blitzortung Lightning Monitor free to download?
Yes. The APK file linked from this page is free. The developer may offer in-app purchases once installed, but obtaining the installer itself costs nothing.

What Android version does Blitzortung Lightning Monitor require?
Android 4.1+ or newer. Installing on older devices may cause crashes or refuse to install.

Is Blitzortung Lightning Monitor safe to install?
We link to the exact APK published by F-Droid Open Source. We do not modify the file. Still, as with any sideloaded app, scan it with a reputable antivirus before opening it, and only grant permissions the app genuinely needs.

How do I update Blitzortung Lightning Monitor?
Install the newer version on top of the old one — Android will keep your data. If the signature differs, uninstall first (you may lose local progress).

Why is the app not installing?
Common causes: not enough storage, an older Android version than 4.1+, or a conflicting build already installed. Free up space, check your OS version, and uninstall any previous copy before retrying.

How to Download & Install Blitzortung Lightning Monitor

Tap the Download APK button above and save the file to your device.
Open your device Settings → Security (or Apps → Special access → Install unknown apps) and allow your file manager or browser to install unknown apps for this one file only.
Open the downloaded org.blitzortung.android.app.apk file from your Downloads folder.
Tap Install and wait for Android to finish.
Open «Blitzortung Lightning Monitor» by F-Droid Open Source and grant only the permissions it actually needs.
Revoke the "unknown sources" permission once you are done installing.

Note: this page hosts or links to the installer only. The application name, icon and description are provided for identification. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.