To export a pet GPS tracker's location history using Tractive's documented workflow, sign in to the web portal at my.tractive.com with an active Tractive Premium subscription, select your tracker and a date range of up to 60 days per download, and export the file in GPX or KML format. Always keep an exported history file separate from live location tracking: a downloaded GPX or KML file is a past record of reported points rather than a real-time position update, and other tracker brands require their own service-specific procedures.
1. Pre-export checklist: permissions, limits, and GPX vs. KML formats
Before starting an export, verify your subscription tier, timeframe, and target file format against Tractive's published help-center specifications:
| Export requirement or option | Published Tractive specification | What to check before downloading |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription tier access (Tractive Subscription FAQ) | Premium plan: Includes 365-day location history retention and GPX/KML file export. Basic plan: Includes 24-hour location history only, without the history export feature (and is restricted to selected countries/models). |
Confirm your active plan tier and tracker eligibility in your account settings before looking for the export button. |
| Official export interface (Tractive Export Guide) | Web browser portal at my.tractive.com (two documented menu paths are supported inside the web app). | Open the web portal on a browser rather than assuming every mobile app view displays the file download controls. |
| Single-download window vs. retention | Maximum of 60 days per single export, even though a Premium plan retains up to 365 days of history. | Write down the exact start and end dates you need; divide requests longer than 60 days into separate export files. |
| GPX format (GPS Exchange Format) | Standard XML-based GPS track format supported by Tractive's export tool. | Select GPX if you plan to open the track in fitness, hiking, or general GPS route software that expects `.gpx` files. |
| KML format (Keyhole Markup Language) | Geographic annotation format supported by Tractive's export tool. | Select KML if you plan to view the route in mapping tools such as Google Earth; never rename a `.gpx` file extension to `.kml` manually. |
| Point density in the exported file (Default vs. LIVE Tracking) | Default tracking: Updates vary with pet movement and pause inside a Power Saving Zone. LIVE tracking: Records higher-frequency location points. |
Treat the exported file as a sequence of reported timestamps rather than a continuous foot-by-foot recording of every turn. |
2. Step-by-step: export Tractive location history on the web app
According to Tractive's official export instructions, you can use either of two routes once signed in at my.tractive.com:
- Route A (Account settings menu): Open Trackers & Subscription Plans, select the specific pet tracker, click Export Location History in the left-hand menu, choose GPX or KML, select your timeframe (up to 60 days), and save the downloaded file to your computer.
- Route B (Tracker History bar): Select the target tracker, open the History view, pick your desired date range on the bottom bar, click Export, and choose GPX or KML.
3. Label your saved file and keep brands separate
Once your browser finishes downloading, rename the file clearly (while keeping the original `.gpx` or `.kml` extension intact) so it includes the pet/tracker name, the exact start and end dates of the exported window, and the download date. Exporting the same date range twice—once as GPX and once as KML—simply saves two format versions of the same underlying server history rather than two independent location logs.
If an export button does not appear or a timeframe shows gaps, note your tracker ID, active plan tier, browser, and the exact date range displayed on screen before checking Tractive's help center. To understand how cellular and satellite updates are collected before they enter your history log, read our GPS tracker explanation, or browse cellular GPS pet trackers to compare hardware and subscription requirements across devices.
