SUPPORT
Help for the whole detecting record.
Account help, product guidance and privacy support for the Metal Detecting Log beta.
MDL is currently in beta. This Help Centre covers the main account, data, mapping, permission, event and reporting workflows. If something does not behave as expected, contact support with the app version, device model and a short description of what happened. Do not send passwords or recovery codes.
Email verification, sign-in, profile details, account roles, password help and account retention.
Recording finds, photos, GPS/EXIF location, provenance, editing, reporting status and user-initiated official reporting.
Main Map, historical datasets, satellite imagery, LiDAR, GPS/search controls and map-data limitations.
Farms, fields, permission relationships, field status, land-management access, parking and farm locations.
Starting/ending Detecting Sessions, session location, duration and linking finds to activity.
Joining events, organiser/participant roles, event fields, sessions, meeting points and multi-day event records.
Landowner/organiser access, Detecting Reports, Land Reports and Event Reports.
Optional background geofencing for eligible live events, permissions, alerts and how to disable monitoring.
Account & profile
If you cannot sign in, first confirm that you are using the email address attached to your MDL account and complete any required email verification. Never send your password or recovery credentials to support. Account roles control which operational tools are available; a land-management or organiser role does not automatically expose unrelated private user records.
Finds, photos and exact GPS
Find records can contain sensitive provenance and precise coordinates. Your own exact GPS remains available to you and may be visible within verified land/event operational scopes where required. Other participants and public-facing views should not receive another user's exact find GPS by default. When importing a photo, MDL may use available image metadata to support location entry where that feature is selected.
Maps, historical data, LiDAR & Protected Area Safety
These features are research and planning aids. They can help identify context, but they do not grant permission or provide a legal determination. If a protected-site status, land boundary or access condition matters to your decision, verify it against the current authoritative source.
Permissions, farms and fields
An MDL permission record helps organise a real-world permission; it does not create that permission. If a field status, mapped boundary or landowner instruction conflicts with the underlying agreement, confirm the position with the relevant landowner, estate or organiser before detecting.
Detecting Sessions
Sessions record operational context such as start/end time and location and can link finds to a farm, field or event. If a session cannot start, check the relevant permission/event state, field availability and device location permission.
Hosted Events & Rallies
Event organisers manage event information and field availability. Participants can only use the access provided for the event they joined. If an event map or field appears incorrect, contact the organiser as well as MDL support where a product issue is suspected.
Night Watch
Night Watch is optional and requires background location permission to work while MDL is closed. It uses registered event-field geofences and sends a triggered current point for verification; it is not intended to continuously record your route. You can disable Night Watch from MDL settings. Night Watch is not an emergency or police service.
MDL Reports vs official reporting
Detecting Reports, Land Reports and Event Reports summarise information stored in MDL. They do not submit a find to Treasure Trove or the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Official find reporting is a separate user-initiated workflow. Review any generated information before sending it to the relevant authority.
Account retention & deletion
After approximately 11 months of inactivity, MDL may send a warning. At 12 months the account may be deactivated and a final 90-day retention period begins. You can avoid inactivity deactivation by opening MDL while signed in before deactivation. Manual deletion remains available at any time from Account Details. For the web route and more detail, visit Delete your MDL account.
Privacy & data requests
For access, correction, deletion, restriction or other privacy questions, contact privacy@metaldetectinglog.co.uk. See the Privacy Policy for details about location data, Night Watch, service providers, retention and your rights.
Contact Support
Email support@metaldetectinglog.co.uk. Include your device model, iOS/Android version, MDL app version and steps to reproduce the issue where possible. Screenshots are useful, but remove unrelated personal information and avoid emailing precise find coordinates unless support specifically needs them to investigate your case.
Security reports
If you believe you have found a security or privacy vulnerability, contact support@metaldetectinglog.co.uk with enough information for us to reproduce the issue. Do not access, download or alter another user's data to demonstrate a vulnerability.