Met Office app FAQs

We’re refreshing our app to make our forecasts clearer and more usable. We're also upgrading the technology behind the scenes to make future updates more efficient. We released a beta (test) version of the app in summer 2025, and we’ve continued to make improvements based on the needs of our users. The new-look app will replace our current app in December 2025.

2. What approach have you taken to develop the new-look app and why?

We tested an early version of the app with small group of users to check core features and gather early feedback. During this private beta phase, we refined the app through several iterations, improving functionality, performance and clarity based on user feedback.

Then we moved into public beta, so we could learn from real-world use at scale, and further shape the app based on what matters most to our users.

The feedback and insights we gathered from more than 18,000 users has directly informed design decisions and guided improvements.

This approach is a more efficient way to build digital products, because it reduces time spent on features that don’t deliver value and leads to a better product for users.

The refreshed app is being made available to users gradually so we can understand how people use it, gather meaningful feedback, respond to user needs and make improvements where required.

3. What does the refreshed app offer now and what’s coming next?

The refreshed app provides:

The latest forecast in your location for the next hour and up to 7 days ahead
Instant notification of severe weather warnings like rain, wind, ice and heat
Interactive maps for rain, cloud, temperature and weather warnings
Detailed weather information, including feels-like temperature, wind, humidity, visibility, UV level
Our latest presented video forecast.

We’ll introduce more features to the app over the coming months based on your needs. These will include:

Widgets: we’re building widgets at the moment, so you’ll soon be able to see the weather forecast from your phone’s homescreen
Regional forecasts: We’ll be adding regional text forecasts, so you can easily get a forecast for your area
Mountain and beach forecasts: We’ll be adding our specialist mountain and beach forecasts to help keep you safe wherever you go.

4. Why are you building a new app?

We regularly hear from our users that the look and feel of the current app is outdated, lacking colour, clarity and personality, and feeling increasingly cluttered. We recognised the need to improve the design and user experience, and took the opportunity to refresh the overall user interface.
The current live app was originally built in 2016. In technology terms, nine years is a long time, and the underlying code has become increasingly complex. This makes it harder and more costly to maintain, update and enhance. In this case it is now quicker and more efficient to build a new app than to continue adapting the existing one.
The current app is supported by two completely separate codebases — one for iOS and one for Android. By rebuilding using new software, we can maintain a single codebase and publish to both platforms. This approach reduces duplication, lowers development effort and enables us to release improvements more quickly.
Our updated web and app vision sets a clear direction for modernising our digital products. It highlights the need for a refreshed, high-quality user experience that reflects our world-class science and innovation.

5. What is in the new app so far?

Background

We have been working at pace to establish the foundations of the new app.
This has included building an entirely new codebase, introducing a modern design system and reshaping key user journeys to make important information easier to access.
The focus has been on removing unnecessary complexity, improving performance and ensuring the app is built on a more flexible platform for future development.
These foundations have made it possible to deliver new features and enhancements more efficiently while keeping the experience clear, consistent and intuitive, and increasing the value to users.
The data in the refreshed app is the same trusted forecast data used in the existing app; what has changed is the way we present it so it is easier to understand at a glance.

Features

You can quickly check the weather for the next 7 days, in hourly intervals for the next 5 days
You can see wind speed, wind direction and maximum gusts presented in a clear compass-style view.
You can save your favourite location so you can get to their forecasts faster.
You will get alerts if there are any severe weather warnings for your area.
You can explore easy-to-use maps that show cloud, rain and temperature.
Weather warnings are clearer, with improved visuals to help you understand any risks.
You can see more detailed forecast information, including feels-like temperature, wind, humidity, visibility and UV levels.
You can view multiple map layers and recent rainfall observations to understand what’s happening in real time.
You can watch our latest presented video forecast.

6. Why aren’t all features from the existing live app available?

We have not yet implemented every feature from the current app, as the refreshed app is still in public beta and continuing to be developed.
All of the most used features are already in place, and we have focused on making key forecast information easier to understand at a glance.
In several areas we have not just matched the current app, but improved on it.
Weather warnings are now clearer and more useful, with visuals that make important information easier to interpret quickly.
We have also introduced a new wind card that shows wind speed, direction and maximum gusts in a simple compass-style view, based on user feedback that wind information needed to be clearer.
Some features from the current app are still to come, and these will continue to be added as development progresses.
We also know from our analytics that some features are rarely used in the current app, so we do not want to replicate elements that do not offer value.
Instead, we are prioritising features based on what users find genuinely useful, listening to our users feedback and usage data to guide what we build next.
Our aim is to build beyond the current app by improving clarity, reducing complexity and introducing new features where they add real value for users.

7. What will be in the new app in future?

Maps
- Some specialist layers from the current app, such as surface pressure and detailed cloud cover, are not yet available in the refreshed app.
- We know not every map layer is widely used, so we are not planning to copy every existing feature across by default.
- We will prioritise adding map layers that users tell us are genuinely useful for planning their day and making weather-related decisions.
- If users tell us that layers like surface pressure or cloud cover offer clear value, we will consider adding them in future updates.
Widgets, so you can see key forecast information straight from your home screen.
Regional written text forecasts that interpret the weather for your local area.
Weather information beyond 7 days to help with longer-term planning.
Mountain forecasts for those heading outdoors or to higher ground.
Beach forecasts to help you plan coastal trips more safely and confidently.
We will continue listening and responding to user feedback and exploring new technology and scientific advances to bring useful, innovative features into the app over time.

8. Why does the new app show less information on one screen?

The refreshed app has been redesigned to make key information clearer and easier to read. The old layout could feel cluttered, especially on smaller screens, so some elements now sit in dedicated sections rather than all appearing at once.

However, we’ve already made improvements in this area based on user feedback. The layout is now more compact, showing more days and more hours at a glance, and the snapshot area has been reduced so you can see more information without scrolling. We’ve also added key details such as wind speed and direction into the snapshot to make important information faster to access.

The new design places clarity and accessibility at the forefront, which means some information is spaced out more than before. This makes the app easier to read for more people, including those with accessibility needs. We’re actively reviewing how information is organised and will keep exploring ways to reduce unnecessary scrolling without compromising readability.

9. Why does the refreshed app look different from the old one?

The current app was built in 2016 and had reached the limits of its design and technology. The refreshed app uses a modern design system with clearer visuals. It’s designed to give a cleaner, more consistent experience across iOS and Android. We’ll continue adjusting the design based on what users tell us works best.

10. Is the app being “dumbed down”?

No. The underlying science and forecast data have not changed. The refreshed app presents the same trusted information in a clearer, easier-to-read format. We’re also continuing to add detailed data and specialist features based on feedback from users.

11. Why can’t I see as many elements at once as I used to?

The new layout uses clearer spacing and card-based views to make information easier to digest at a glance. This does mean some elements appear in dedicated sections rather than all on one screen. We’re reviewing layout improvements and personalisation options so users can more easily access the information that matters to them.

12. Where is the long-range text forecast?

Weather information beyond 7 days will be returning to the refreshed app. It’s already planned on our roadmap and will be introduced in an upcoming update.

13. Where can I find detailed information like UV, feels-like temperature or gust speeds?

These features are still in the refreshed app, although some of them appear in different locations than before. Wind speed, direction and gusts are now shown in multiple locations, including a clearer compass-style visual. UV levels, feels-like temperature and other detailed elements are below the hourly forecast, and will be continually improved as we refine the more detailed sections. We've added maximum wind gusts to the snapshot area of the app based on user feedback.

14. Why were some map layers from the old app not included?

The refreshed app already includes interactive maps for cloud and rain, temperature, weather warnings and recent rainfall observations. Some more specialist layers, such as surface pressure and detailed cloud cover, are not yet available. We prioritise map layers based on how useful users tell us they are, and we will consider adding more in future updates if people find them valuable.

15. Why does it feel harder to navigate on Android?

We’re aware that some Android users experience the refreshed app differently. The refreshed app is designed to be consistent across both platforms, and we’re continuing to refine the Android experience based on feedback and usage insights.

16. Why does the text look harder to read or less accessible?

The refreshed app follows modern accessibility standards, including clearer colour contrast, larger touch targets and improved spacing. We know readability varies between users, so we’re actively reviewing this feedback and will make adjustments to ensure the app remains easy to use for as many people as possible.

17. Why does it take more clicks to get to what I want?

Some information has been reorganised to improve clarity and avoid overwhelming users with too much detail at once. We’re continuing to refine the navigation and will look at reducing the steps needed to reach frequently used features.

18. What if I can’t find my location on the map or don’t know where I am?

We’ve improved how locations are shown on maps, but we know this is an area where users sometimes need clearer guidance. We’re reviewing ways to make the map easier to understand and will use user feedback to guide improvements.

19. Why does the radar show the last six hours? I want to see what’s coming.

The observational radar shows recent rainfall so users can understand how weather has been moving. Forecast layers show what is expected next. We recognise that some users want both views presented more clearly, and we’re looking at improvements that combine observational and forecast information more seamlessly.

20. When will the new app be released?

Some users already have the refreshed app, and we’re listening to their feedback closely in the lead-up to the new-look app going live soon. This will be when everyone else will be able to get the refreshed app.

21. Will the new app be released as an update to the current app, or will you expect users to migrate across to the new app?

If you have automatic updates switched on, you’ll receive the refreshed app as a normal update. If you don’t use automatic updates, you’ll be prompted to update the app manually. In time, the older version will no longer be supported. So we encourage everyone to ensure they have the latest version of the app to continue receiving new features, improvements and security updates.

22. Will I be able to help shape the new app?

Yes. Your feedback will continue to play an important role in shaping the new app. We’ll be asking users to share their thoughts on the experience, the clarity of the information and how useful the forecasts are in helping them take action. We also look at anonymous usage insights to understand how people are using the app day-to-day. All of this helps us decide what to improve next and which new features to prioritise. If you would like to provide feedback or report a bug on the refreshed app, please fill in the relevant survey shown within the app so it can be considered in our prioritisation.

23. How do I download the new app?

The refreshed app will be available to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store when it officially launches. Until then, it’s only available to a small number of users who have been randomly selected as part of our early phased rollout. As we continue to expand the rollout, more people will receive access automatically.

24. How do I provide feedback on the new app?

If you would like to provide feedback or report a bug on the refreshed app, please fill in the relevant survey shown within the app.

Links to app stores

This webpage was last updated on 9 December 2025.