Finds Recording Apps Every UK Detectorist Should Use

Whether you have been swinging a detector across a ploughed field in Lincolnshire for twenty years or you recently dug your first hammered coin in a Suffolk meadow, recording your finds properly is not optional — it is a responsibility that sits at the heart of responsible metal detecting in the United Kingdom. The Portable Antiquities Scheme, the Treasure Act 1996, and the commitments you make when securing landowner permission all depend on accurate, timely record-keeping. Fortunately, a range of apps and digital tools now make that process far easier than the old notebook-and-pencil method ever did.

This guide walks you through the best finds recording apps available to UK detectorists, explains how to use them effectively in the field, and covers what information you are legally and ethically expected to capture when you pull something significant from the ground.

Why Proper Finds Recording Matters in the UK

Before looking at individual apps, it is worth understanding why recording is so important in the British context specifically. The United Kingdom has one of the most structured and well-respected voluntary reporting systems in the world, built around the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), which is administered by the British Museum in England and Wales, and equivalent bodies in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Under the Treasure Act 1996 (amended by the Treasure (Designation) Order 2002), certain categories of find are legally defined as Treasure and must be reported to the local coroner within fourteen days of discovery, or within fourteen days of realising the object may be Treasure. These categories include coins in groups of two or more that are at least 300 years old, objects that are at least 10% precious metal and over 300 years old, prehistoric base metal assemblages, and associated finds found alongside Treasure items. Failing to report Treasure is a criminal offence that can result in an unlimited fine or up to three months in prison.

Beyond the legal requirements, voluntary recording of non-Treasure finds through the PAS database helps archaeologists, historians, and local authorities build an accurate picture of Britain’s past. Every Roman brooch, every medieval jetton, every post-medieval token you record adds to that picture. A good recording app makes the whole process faster, more accurate, and less likely to be forgotten once you are back home with muddy boots and a cup of tea.

The Portable Antiquities Scheme Recording Platform

What the PAS Database Offers

The primary system for recording finds in England and Wales is the PAS online database, accessible at finds.org.uk. While this is primarily a web-based platform rather than a dedicated mobile app, it remains the most important digital tool in any UK detectorist’s kit. You can create a free account, submit finds directly, upload photographs, add grid references, and provide descriptions that are reviewed and published by Finds Liaison Officers (FLOs) based across the country.

Each record on the PAS database is assigned a unique identifier, which you can reference in your own records and share with the landowner. This is increasingly important when detectorists are applying for or renewing permissions, as many farmers and land managers now ask for evidence that you are recording responsibly.

Using the PAS Mobile-Friendly Site in the Field

The PAS website is mobile-responsive, meaning you can access and begin a draft record from your smartphone while still in the field. This is useful for capturing the grid reference at the moment of discovery rather than trying to reconstruct it later from memory or a hand-drawn map. Log in to your account, start a new record, and at minimum save the grid reference and a brief description before you move on. You can add photographs and fuller details at home.

Your local FLO is your best point of contact for guidance on how to record specific find types, and their contact details are listed on the PAS website by region. Building a relationship with your FLO is genuinely valuable — they can help identify difficult finds, advise on Treasure reporting, and sometimes assist with outreach to local archaeological societies.

OASIS and the Heritage Gateway

If you detect on sites where an archaeological watching brief or evaluation has taken place, or if you work alongside an archaeological unit, you may encounter OASIS (Online Access to the Index of Archaeological Investigations). While OASIS is primarily used by professional archaeologists to index fieldwork reports, detectorists involved in community projects or who detect on scheduled sites under a specific licence should be aware of it. Some detecting clubs now produce annual reports that are submitted through OASIS, which gives their activity a formal archaeological record.

What3Words: Pinpoint Accuracy for Find Spots

One of the most practical additions to any detectorist’s phone is What3Words, a location app that divides the entire globe into three-metre squares and assigns each one a unique combination of three words. In a muddy field with no obvious landmarks, being able to record that your find came from “///farmer.copper.bridge” is far more useful than trying to estimate a grid reference by eye.

What3Words works offline once the map data is downloaded, which matters enormously in rural areas across Wales, northern England, and Scotland where mobile signal is unreliable. You can convert a What3Words address to an Ordnance Survey grid reference back at home using free online tools, and that grid reference is what the PAS system requires. Using What3Words as your primary in-field location capture tool and then converting it afterwards gives you a reliable, repeatable workflow.

When sharing find locations with your landowner or an FLO, a What3Words address is often clearer than a six-figure grid reference, particularly for people who are not used to reading OS maps. Always record the full What3Words address, the date, the time, and a brief description of the object at the moment of find.

OS Maps: The Essential Navigation and Context Tool

The Ordnance Survey Maps app, available for iOS and Android, gives you access to the full suite of 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 OS maps across Great Britain. A subscription costs around £29.99 per year but is genuinely worth it for any serious detectorist. The ability to record waypoints, drop pins at find spots, and view historical map overlays makes it an invaluable research and recording tool.

Using OS Maps for Pre-Survey Research

Before you detect a new field, use the OS Maps app to look at the historic map layers. Older editions of OS maps, some dating back to the Victorian era, often show features such as field boundaries, ponds, tracks, and buildings that have since disappeared. These features concentrate finds — a filled-in pond or a removed hedgerow often marks where human activity was focused, and these spots are frequently productive. Cross-referencing these historical features with your planned search area before you arrive saves time and makes your recording more contextually accurate.

Recording Waypoints Accurately

The OS Maps app allows you to drop a waypoint directly from your GPS position. Do this the moment you lift a significant find from the ground, before you move or dig further. Label the waypoint with a sequential number that matches your finds bag or notebook entry. At the end of a session you will have a map layer showing every find spot, which you can export or screenshot for your own records and for submission to the PAS.

NoteFlight and Voice Memo Apps for Quick Field Notes

Sometimes the fastest way to record a find is to speak rather than type, particularly if you are wearing gloves or working in poor light. The built-in Voice Memos app on iPhones, or equivalent tools on Android, allow you to record a spoken description of a find in seconds. Say the date, the time, a sequential find number, a brief physical description, and the What3Words or grid reference. Transcribe these notes at home the same evening — do not leave it until the weekend or you will lose critical details.

A structured spoken note might sound like this: “Sunday the fifteenth, find number seven, approximately eleven-thirty, What3Words address noted separately, small copper alloy disc, approximately eighteen millimetres diameter, possible post-medieval token, worn obverse, green patina, recovered from topsoil at around twenty centimetres depth.” That level of detail, spoken in under thirty seconds, gives you everything you need to complete a PAS record later.

DigVentures Finds App and Community Platforms

DigVentures, the UK-based crowd-funded archaeology organisation, has developed digital tools and community platforms aimed at bridging the gap between detectorists and professional archaeology. Their projects, which have included large-scale community digs in East Anglia and the north of England, use structured recording systems that detectorists can participate in directly.

Following DigVentures on their platform and participating in their organised events gives detectorists access to professional-grade recording workflows and direct mentoring from archaeologists. The structured spreadsheets and context sheets they use at their community events are worth downloading and adapting for your own personal records, even if you are not attending one of their projects.

Finds Identification Apps: Knowing What You Have Found

Google Lens and Visual Identification

Google Lens, available within the Google app on both iOS and Android, allows you to photograph an object and run a visual search against Google’s image database. For finds identification, this is a useful starting point — a photograph of a brooch type or a coin obverse will often return matching results from museum databases, academic papers, or PAS records. It is not a substitute for expert identification, but it can point you in the right direction quickly.

UKDFD: The UK Detector Finds Database

The UK Detector Finds Database (UKDFD) is a community-run platform where detectorists can submit finds records and view a growing archive of identified objects. While it is separate from the official PAS system and does not fulfil your legal obligation for Treasure reporting, it is an excellent resource for identification. Searching the UKDFD for a find type similar to yours will often produce good parallels, complete with period attribution and descriptions provided by experienced members. The site is accessible via mobile browser and is worth bookmarking alongside the PAS site.

Moving Forward

Once you have the fundamentals in place, the possibilities open up considerably. The UK offers fantastic opportunities for anyone interested in this hobby, and with the right foundation you will be well placed to make the most of them.