How to Import Ground Markers in OSRS (Old School RuneScape)
Ground markers are one of the most practical visual tools available in Old School RuneScape. Whether you're memorizing tile positions for raids, practicing movement patterns, or sharing setups with your clan, knowing how to import ground markers saves time and prevents errors. This guide walks through exactly how the import process works and what affects your experience doing it.
What Are Ground Markers in OSRS?
Ground markers are colored tile highlights placed on the game world to mark specific positions. Players use them to remember prayer flick timings, safe spots, AFK fishing tiles, or precise movement paths for high-level PvM content like Chambers of Xeric or Theatre of Blood.
Ground markers are not a native OSRS feature. They exist through RuneLite, the most widely used third-party client for Old School RuneScape, via the built-in Ground Markers plugin.
If you're not using RuneLite, this functionality isn't available through the vanilla client or most other alternatives.
How the Ground Markers Plugin Works
The Ground Markers plugin stores tile data as a JSON string — a text-based format that encodes each marker's world coordinates, color, and label. This makes markers fully portable: you can copy someone's marker setup, paste it into your client, and instantly see the same tiles highlighted.
Each marker entry typically includes:
- Region ID — identifies the map area
- Region X and Y coordinates — the tile's exact position within that region
- Z (plane) — the floor level (ground floor, first floor, etc.)
- Color — stored as a hex or RGB value
- Label — an optional text tag visible in-game
Because markers are tied to region coordinates rather than absolute world coordinates, they transfer reliably between players using the same client version.
Step-by-Step: How to Import Ground Markers 🗺️
1. Open the RuneLite Configuration Panel
Launch RuneLite and log in. Click the wrench icon in the sidebar to open the Plugin Hub or configuration menu.
2. Locate the Ground Markers Plugin
Search for "Ground Markers" in the plugin search bar. Make sure the plugin is enabled (toggle is on).
3. Access the Plugin Settings
Click the gear/settings icon next to the Ground Markers plugin. This opens the plugin's configuration panel.
4. Find the Import Option
Inside the settings panel, look for the "Import" button. This is where you paste a JSON string containing another player's marker data.
5. Paste the Marker Data
Copy the JSON string (shared by a guide, your clan, or a content creator), click Import, and paste it into the text field. Confirm the import.
6. Verify In-Game
Travel to the relevant area in-game. The tiles should now appear highlighted with the imported colors and labels. If you're already in the area, you may need to move away and return, or reload the plugin, for markers to render correctly.
Common Variables That Affect the Import Process
Not every import works identically. Several factors influence how smoothly this goes:
| Variable | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| RuneLite version | Older or outdated clients may handle JSON formatting differently |
| Plugin enabled state | Markers won't render if the plugin is toggled off |
| Region accuracy | Markers created in a different game revision may reference outdated region data |
| JSON formatting | Malformed or truncated strings will fail to import |
| Plane/floor mismatch | Markers set on floor level 0 won't show on floor level 1, even at the same X/Y |
Exporting Your Own Markers to Share
The process runs in both directions. If you've placed markers manually and want to share them:
- Go to the Ground Markers plugin settings
- Click "Export"
- Copy the generated JSON string
- Share it directly — via Discord, a forum post, a guide, or wherever your audience finds it
The exported string captures everything: colors, labels, and precise tile positions.
Why Markers Sometimes Don't Appear After Import ⚙️
A few consistent causes explain most import failures:
- Wrong map region — You're not in the area where the markers are placed. Ground markers only render in the region they were created for.
- JSON string is incomplete — If it was copied from a web page or Discord message, trailing characters or line breaks may have corrupted it.
- Plugin was recently updated — Occasional RuneLite updates change how data is stored. Markers exported on an older version may need re-importing after an update.
- Multiple profiles — RuneLite supports multiple profiles. If you imported markers under one profile and switched to another, they won't carry over automatically.
The Difference Between Manual Tile Marking and Importing
Manually marking tiles is done by holding Shift and right-clicking a tile in-game while the Ground Markers plugin is active, then selecting "Mark tile." This is intuitive for personal use but impractical when you need dozens of precise tiles across a complex boss room.
Importing JSON is the method used by most raid guides and community resources precisely because it replicates complex setups instantly without room for human placement error.
The two methods coexist — you can manually adjust any tile after importing a shared layout.
What Shapes Your Experience with This Feature
The import process is technically simple, but how useful it becomes depends on your situation. A player learning Verzik on a fresh account has different needs than a seasoned raider fine-tuning a personal Inferno layout. The regions you're working in, how often you switch between computers or RuneLite profiles, and whether you're sharing markers with a group all change how much you'll rely on import versus manual placement — and how carefully you need to manage the JSON strings you're working with.