How to Use the Explorer Gadget in Pokémon GO
Activate the built-in Explorer Gadget from the map or Item Bag to attempt catches and PokéStop spins while you explore with Pokémon GO inactive.
Prerequisites and limits
Your Trainer must be level 20 or higher.
The feature is in a phased rollout, so it may not yet be available in your region or account.
No accessory device can be actively connected while you use the Explorer Gadget. If you have a Pokémon GO Plus + or another accessory paired, disconnect it; you do not need to unpair it.
Keep space available in Pokémon Storage and your Item Bag. The Gadget uses Poké Balls only, not Great or Ultra Balls.
You must carry your device and keep exploring at a casual pace. The feature is intended to work while Pokémon GO is closed or not actively in use, including with the screen locked.
The official descriptions present the Gadget as a built-in feature and do not specify a purchase, subscription, or paid tier. It has daily catch and PokéStop-spin limits that depend on Trainer level, but the supplied sources do not give the exact thresholds.
Activate the Explorer Gadget
From the map
Open Pokémon GO and go to the Map View.
Tap the Explorer Gadget icon at the top right, if it appears.
In the Gadget window, tap Use.
Confirm that it is active, then lock your screen or leave the app inactive while you walk.
If you have an accessory paired, the map icon may not appear. Use the Item Bag route instead, after disconnecting the accessory.
From the Item Bag
Open your Item Bag and find the Key Items section.
Select the Explorer Gadget.
Tap Use in its window.
Carry your device as you explore. The Gadget will attempt to catch nearby eligible Pokémon and spin nearby PokéStops.
The precise screen layout may vary by app version. The supplied official instructions identify the Map View and Item Bag’s Key Items section; they do not provide different operating-system-specific menu paths. For availability and the official overview, see The Explorer Gadget announcement.
Pause it and check what happened
Tap the Explorer Gadget icon again to pause or resume it. When you return to Pokémon GO, select the Gadget from the Map View or Item Bag to review its summary. It shows Pokémon caught, the catch count, and PokéStops spun. The catch list contains Pokémon caught with the Gadget, ordered from newest to oldest.
For example, after a walk you can open the summary to see which catches were made and how many PokéStops were spun. The official sources do not promise a specific number of catches or spins for a given walk; results depend on nearby encounters and stops, daily limits, and available storage.
Know what it will and won’t do
It throws regular Poké Balls only. If you have no Poké Balls when activating it, the Help Center says it automatically provides some to get started. If you use them all before reaching the daily catch limit, an alert appears on the map.
It will not attempt to catch certain Pokémon, including Pokémon not yet registered in your Pokédex and Mighty Pokémon. It can attempt different forms of a species once you have caught at least one form.
Catching and spinning have separate practical storage needs: full Pokémon Storage stops catches; a full Item Bag stops PokéStop spins. An alert may appear in the Map View.
Reaching the daily catch or spin limit stops that activity for the day. The limits depend on Trainer level; exact numbers are not listed in the supplied official information.
Troubleshooting
The Gadget icon or feature is missing
Check that your Trainer is level 20 or higher and consider that rollout is phased. If an accessory is connected, disconnect it and look for the Gadget under Item Bag → Key Items. The official Help Center also says an accessory must not be actively connected to use the feature.
It stops catching or spinning
Check the Map View for an alert. Make room in Pokémon Storage to allow catches, or make room in the Item Bag to allow spins. Check whether you have run out of Poké Balls or reached a daily limit. The Gadget may also skip encounters it is not designed to attempt, such as unregistered Pokémon or Mighty Pokémon.
You want to switch to an accessory
You can use an accessory or the Explorer Gadget, but not both at once. The announcement warns that switching to an accessory while the Gadget is active stops the Gadget, and you cannot use it again until the next day. If you need model-specific help, consult the official Explorer Gadget Help Center article.
Verify completion
After your walk, reopen Pokémon GO and check the Explorer Gadget summary. Confirm that the catch list and counts, plus the PokéStop-spin count, reflect its activity. If a count is zero, check for alerts, available storage and Poké Balls, accessory connection, and daily limits before assuming the feature failed.
