What is cooldown?

Short Answer: Cooldown is the waiting period required between location-based actions to avoid detection.


Cooldown is the mandatory waiting period between taking actions in different locations to avoid triggering Niantic’s anti-cheat detection.

Why Cooldown Exists:

  • Simulates realistic travel time between locations
  • Prevents impossible movement detection
  • Maintains account safety while spoofing

How Cooldown Works:

  1. Take an action (catch, spin, etc.) at Location A
  2. Timer starts based on distance to Location B
  3. Wait required time before acting at Location B
  4. Safe to act once cooldown expires

Key Rules:

  • Distance = Time: Further locations need longer waits
  • Actions trigger it: Only location-marking actions start cooldown
  • Must be respected: Ignoring cooldown leads to softbans

Safe Practices:

  • Use cooldown calculators
  • Plan your route in advance
  • Don’t rush between locations
  • When in doubt, wait longer

Warning: Cooldown is your primary defense against detection - never skip it!