Summary of business and significant accounting policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of presentation	Basis of presentation The consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Telenav, Inc. and our wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain prior year balances have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. Our consolidated financial statements also include the financial results of Shanghai Jitu Software Development Ltd., or Jitu, located in China. Based on our contractual arrangements with the shareholders of Jitu, we have determined that Jitu is a variable interest entity, or VIE, for which we are the primary beneficiary and are required to consolidate in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, subtopic 810-10, or ASC 810-10, Consolidation: Overall. The results of Jitu did not have a material impact on our overall operating results for fiscal 2018, fiscal 2017 or fiscal 2016.
Use of estimates	Use of estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant estimates and assumptions made by us include the determination of revenue recognition and deferred revenue, the recoverability of accounts receivable, the determination of acquired intangibles and assessment of goodwill for impairment, the fair value of stock awards issued, the determination of income taxes and the recoverability of deferred tax assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Revenue recognition	Revenue recognition We generate revenue primarily from software licenses, service subscriptions and customized engineering fees. We also generate revenue from the delivery of advertising impressions. We recognize revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery of the product or service has occurred, the fee is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured. We evaluate whether it is appropriate to recognize revenue based on the gross amount billed to our customers or the net amount earned as revenue. When we are primarily obligated in a transaction, have latitude in establishing prices, are responsible for fulfillment of the transaction, have credit risk, or have several but not all of these indicators, we record revenue on a gross basis. While none of the factors individually are considered presumptive or determinative, in reaching conclusions on gross versus net revenue recognition, we place the most weight on the analysis of whether or not we are the primary obligor in the arrangement. We report our automotive and advertising revenue on a gross basis. We derive product revenue from the delivery of customized software and royalties earned from the distribution of this customized software in certain automotive navigation applications, map updates to the software and customized software development. We generally recognize customized software revenue using the completed contract method of contract accounting under which revenue is recognized upon delivery to, and acceptance by, the automobile manufacturer of our on-board navigation solutions. We generally recognize royalty revenue for our automotive on-board navigation solutions as the software is reproduced for installation in vehicles or as the software is installed in vehicles, assuming all other conditions for revenue recognition have been met. For on-board navigation solutions provided with ongoing contractual obligations such as map updates, we generally recognize royalty revenue ratably over the contractual period. We derive services revenue from our brought-in automotive navigation solutions and other automotive services. Billings for these services are recorded as deferred revenue and amortized to revenue over the estimated service periods. We derive services revenue from the delivery of advertising impressions. We recognize revenue when the related advertising services are delivered based on the specific terms of the advertising contract, which are commonly based on the number of ad impressions delivered, or clicks, drives or actions by users on mobile advertisements. We also derive services revenue from subscriptions to access our mobile navigation services, which are generally provided through our wireless carrier customers that offer our services to their subscribers. Our wireless carrier customers typically pay us based on a revenue sharing arrangement or a monthly subscription fee per end user. We recognize monthly fees related to our mobile navigation services in the month we provide the services. We defer amounts received or billed in advance of the service being provided and recognize the deferred amounts when the monthly service has been provided. Our agreements do not contain general rights of refund once the service has been provided. We also establish allowances for estimated credits subsequently issued to end users by our wireless carrier customers. We recognize as services revenue the amount our wireless carrier customers report to us as we provide our services, which are net of any revenue sharing or other fees earned and deducted by our wireless carrier customers. We are not the principal provider when selling access to our mobile navigation services through our wireless carrier customers as the subscribers directly contract with our wireless carrier customers. Our wireless carrier customers have the sole ability to set the price charged to their subscribers for our service and have direct responsibility for billing and collecting those fees from their subscribers. In certain instances, due to the nature and timing of monthly revenue and reporting from our customers, we may be required to make estimates of the amount of revenue to recognize from a customer for the current period. Estimates for revenue include our consideration of certain factors and information, including subscriber data, historical subscription and revenue reporting trends, end user subscription data from our internal systems, and data from comparable distribution channels of our other customers. We record any differences between estimated revenue and actual revenue in the reporting period when we determine the actual amounts. To date, actual amounts have not differed materially from our estimates.
Cost of revenue and deferred costs	Cost of revenue and deferred costs Our cost of revenue consists primarily of the cost of third party royalty based content, such as map, points of interest, or POI, traffic, gas price and weather data, and voice recognition technology that we use in providing our personalized navigation services. Our cost of revenue also includes the cost of third party exchange ad inventory as well as expenses associated with third party hosting services, data center operations, customer support, the amortization of capitalized software, recognition of deferred development costs on specific projects, stock-based compensation and amortization of acquired developed technology. We capitalize and defer recognition of certain third party royalty based content costs associated with deferred automotive product and services revenue, and we recognize these deferred costs as cost of revenue with the associated revenue generally over the period the licensor is obligated to provide the content related services. Deferred costs are classified as short-term or long-term consistent with the periods over which the third party content related services are rendered. Deferred costs also include the cost of software we develop for customers requiring significant modification or customization, as discussed below in Research and software development costs. We recognize these deferred software development costs as cost of revenue with the associated customized software development revenue. We evaluate contract cost deferrals for impairment on a quarterly basis or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that a project may require recognition of a contract loss. We did not record any impairment losses during the three years ended June 30, 2018. In connection with our usage of licensed third party content, our contracts with certain licensors include minimum guaranteed royalty payments, which are payable regardless of the ultimate volume of revenue derived from the number of paying end users. These contracts contain obligations for the licensor to provide ongoing services and, accordingly, we record any minimum guaranteed royalty payments as an asset when paid and amortize the amount to cost of revenue over the applicable period. Any additional royalties due based on actual usage are expensed monthly as incurred.
Foreign currency	Foreign currency We translate the financial statements of certain of our foreign subsidiaries whose functional currency is their local currency. Adjustments resulting from translating foreign functional currency financial statements into U.S. dollars are recorded as part of a separate component of comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in our net income for each year. All assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate on the balance sheet date. Revenue and expenses are translated at the average monthly exchange rates during the year. Equity transactions are translated using historical exchange rates.
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	The amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, was determined using the specific identification method and the amount was included in other income, net, for fiscal 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Cash equivalents and short-term investments	Cash equivalents and short-term investments Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid fixed-income investments with original maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase, including money market funds. Short-term investments consist of readily marketable securities with a remaining maturity of more than three months from time of purchase. Short-term investments are classified as current assets, even though maturities may extend beyond one year, because they represent investments of cash available for operations. We classify all of our cash equivalents and short-term investments as “available-for-sale,” as these investments are free of trading restrictions. We may or may not hold securities with stated maturities greater than 12 months until maturity. After consideration of our risk versus reward objectives, as well as our liquidity requirements, we may sell these securities prior to their stated maturities. As we view these securities as available to support current operations, we classify securities with maturities beyond 12 months as current assets under the caption short-term investments in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. These marketable securities are carried at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, reported as accumulated other comprehensive income and included as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Gains and losses are recognized when realized. When we have determined that an other-than-temporary decline in fair value has occurred, the amount of the decline that is related to a credit loss is recognized in earnings. Gains and losses are determined using the specific identification method.
Concentrations of risk and significant customers	Concentrations of risk and significant customers Financial instruments that subject us to significant concentrations of credit risk primarily consist of cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and accounts receivable. We maintain our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments with well-capitalized financial institutions. Cash equivalents consist primarily of money-market accounts and commercial paper with original maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase. Our primary customers are automobile manufacturers and tier ones, and advertisers and advertising agencies, and we do not require collateral for accounts receivable. To manage the credit risk associated with accounts receivable, we evaluate the creditworthiness of our customers. We evaluate our accounts receivable on an ongoing basis to determine those amounts not collectible. To date, we are not aware of circumstances that may impair a specific customer’s ability to meet its financial obligations to us, other than those customers for which an allowance for doubtful accounts has been established.
Fair value of financial instruments	Fair value of financial instruments The estimated fair market value of financial instruments, including cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable, approximates the carrying values of those instruments due to their relatively short maturities. We measure certain other financial instruments at fair value on a recurring basis. We have established a hierarchy, which consists of three levels, for disclosure of the inputs used to determine the fair value of our financial instruments. Level 1 valuations are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 valuations are based on inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly, other than quoted prices included within Level 1. Such inputs used in determining fair value for Level 2 valuations include quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 valuations are based on information that is unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.
Property and equipment	Property and equipment Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Computers, software and equipment have useful lives of three years and automobiles, furniture and fixtures have useful lives of five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the term of the related lease.
Long-term investments	Long-term investments Our long-term investments consist of privately-held investments, and are included in other assets in our consolidated balance sheets. As of June 30, 2018, the carrying value of our total privately-held investments was $708,000. These investments are accounted for as cost-basis investments, as we own less than 20% of the voting securities and do not have the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies of the entities. Our investments are in entities that are not publicly traded and, therefore, no established market for the securities exists. Our cost-method investments are carried at historical cost in our consolidated balance sheets and measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis when indicators of impairment exist. If we believe that the carrying value of the cost basis investments is in excess of estimated fair value, our policy is to record an impairment charge to adjust the carrying value to estimated fair value, when the impairment is deemed other-than-temporary. We regularly evaluate the carrying value of these cost-method investments for impairment. We record realized gains or losses on the sale or impairment of cost method investments in other income, net.
Long-lived assets	Long-lived assets We evaluate our long-lived assets, including intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of these assets is measured by a comparison of the carrying amounts to the future undiscounted cash flows the assets are expected to generate. If long-lived assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized equals the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its fair value.
Goodwill	Goodwill Goodwill represents the excess of the aggregate purchase price paid over the fair value of the net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized and is tested for impairment at least annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. These tests are based on our operating segment and reporting unit structure. We first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. We are not required to calculate the fair value of our reporting units unless we determine, based on a qualitative assessment, that it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value is less than our carrying amount. If we determine it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, we perform a two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. The first step of the impairment test involves comparing the fair value of the reporting unit to its net book value, including goodwill. If the net book value exceeds its fair value, then we would perform the second step of the goodwill impairment test to determine the amount of the impairment loss, if any. In assessing the fair value of our reporting units, we make assumptions regarding our estimated future cash flows, long-term growth rates, timing over which the cash flows will occur and, amongst other factors, the weighted average cost of capital. If our estimates or related assumptions change in the future, or if our net book value were to exceed our market capitalization, we may be required to record an impairment loss related to our goodwill.
Leases	Leases We lease our office facilities under operating lease agreements. Office facilities subject to an operating lease and the related lease payments are not recorded on our consolidated balance sheets. The terms of certain lease agreements provide for rental payments on a graduated basis; however, we recognize rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease period. Any lease incentives or contracted sublease income are recognized as reductions of rental expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. The lease term begins on the date we become legally obligated for the rent payments or when we take possession of the office space, whichever is earlier.
Stock-based compensation	Stock-based compensation We account for stock-based employee compensation arrangements under the fair value recognition method, which requires us to measure the stock-based compensation costs of share-based compensation arrangements based on the grant-date fair value, and recognize the costs in the financial statements over the employees’ requisite service period. We recognize compensation expense for the fair value of these awards with time-based vesting on a straight-line basis over the employee’s requisite service period of each of these awards, net of estimated forfeitures. Equity instruments issued to nonemployees are recorded at their fair value on the measurement date and are subject to periodic adjustment as the underlying equity instruments vest.
Income taxes	Income taxes We utilize the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes, whereby deferred tax asset or liability account balances are calculated at the balance sheet date using current tax laws and rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are provided when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that will more likely than not be realized.
Research and software development costs	Research and software development costs We expense research and development costs as incurred. For costs incurred under ASC 985-20, Costs of Software to be Sold, Leased, or Marketed, we typically do not achieve technological feasibility prior to incurring such costs and, as a result, all such costs are expensed as incurred. We account for the costs of computer software we develop for internal use by capitalizing qualifying costs, which are incurred during the application development stage, and amortizing those costs over the application’s estimated useful life, which generally ranges from three to five years depending on the type of application. We also account for the costs of software we develop for customers requiring significant modification or customization by deferring qualifying costs under the completed contract method. We begin deferring development costs upon receipt of a signed contract or purchase order. All such development costs incurred are deferred until the related revenue is recognized.
Advertising expense	Advertising expense Advertising costs are expensed as incurred.
Recent accounting pronouncements	Recent accounting pronouncements In November 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued new guidance to clarify how entities should present restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. The new guidance requires that restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning and ending total amounts shown in the statement of cash flows. The new standard is effective for us in our first quarter of fiscal 2019 and requires a retrospective method of adoption. Early adoption is permitted. We are evaluating the effect that this new standard will have on our consolidated financial statements. In October 2016, the FASB issued new guidance which is intended to eliminate diversity in practice and provide a more accurate depiction of the tax consequences on intercompany asset transfers (excluding inventory). The new guidance removes the current prohibition against immediate recognition of the current and deferred income tax effects of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. The new standard is effective for us in our first quarter of fiscal 2019 and requires a modified retrospective method of adoption. We adopted early this standard under the modified retrospective method on July 1, 2017, and the adoption resulted in the elimination of prepaid taxes of $287,000 with a corresponding increase in accumulated deficit. In August 2016, the FASB issued new guidance which clarifies how companies present and classify certain cash receipts and cash payments in the statement of cash flows. The new standard is effective for us in our first quarter of fiscal 2019 and early adoption is permitted. We are evaluating the effect that this new standard will have on our consolidated financial statements. In June 2016, the FASB issued new guidance that changes the accounting for recognizing impairments of financial assets. Under the new guidance, credit losses for certain types of financial instruments will be estimated based on expected losses. The new guidance also modifies the impairment models for available-for-sale debt securities and for purchased financial assets with credit deterioration since their origination. The new standard is effective for us in our first quarter of fiscal 2021. Early adoption is permitted as of the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We are evaluating the effect that this new standard will have on our consolidated financial statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued new guidance to revise aspects of stock-based compensation guidance which include income tax consequences, classification of awards as equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The new standard was effective for us in our first quarter of fiscal 2018. We adopted this standard on July 1, 2017. As required by the standard, excess tax benefits recognized on stock-based compensation expense are reflected in our condensed consolidated statements of operations as a component of the provision for income taxes rather than paid-in capital on a prospective basis. We also elected to prospectively apply the change in presentation of excess tax benefits wherein excess tax benefits recognized on stock-based compensation expense are classified as operating activities in our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. Since we do not recognize tax benefits on our net operating losses as well as excess tax benefits due to our full valuation allowance, the adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated statements of operations or statements of cash flows. The cumulative effect to retained earnings from previously unrecognized excess tax benefits, after offset by the related valuation allowance, was not material to our condensed consolidated balance sheets. Presentation requirements for cash flows related to employee taxes paid for withheld shares had no impact to all periods presented as such cash flows have historically been presented as financing activities. Further, we did not elect an accounting policy change to record forfeitures as they occur and thus we continue to estimate forfeitures at each period. In March 2016, the FASB issued new guidance to clarify the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations for reporting revenue gross versus net. The guidance includes indicators to assist an entity in determining whether it controls a specified good or service before it is transferred to the customer. The new standard will be effective for us in the first quarter of fiscal 2019. We are evaluating the effect that this new standard will have on our consolidated financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance which amends the existing accounting standards for leases. Under the new guidance, a lessee will be required to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for certain leases classified as operating leases. The new standard is effective for us in our first quarter of fiscal 2020. Early adoption is permitted. We are evaluating the effect that this new standard will have on our consolidated financial statements. In January 2016, the FASB issued new guidance that amends the accounting and disclosures of financial instruments, including a provision that requires equity investments (except for investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in current earnings. The new standard is effective for us in our first quarter of fiscal 2019. We are evaluating the effect that this new standard will have on our consolidated financial statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance related to revenue from contracts with customers, which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605, Revenue Recognition. Under this new guidance, ASC 606, revenue is recognized when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that is expected to be received for those goods or services. In conjunction with this new revenue guidance, a new subtopic, ASC 340-40, Other Assets and Deferred Costs - Contracts with Customers, was also issued. The new guidance also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments, and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. The updated standard will replace most existing revenue recognition and certain cost guidance under GAAP when it becomes effective and permits the use of either the full retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. In August 2015, the FASB deferred the effective date of this guidance by one year. The updated standard is effective for us in the first quarter of fiscal 2019; accordingly, we will adopt ASC 606 effective July 1, 2018. We will use the full retrospective transition method, and although our assessment of the impact of this standard is not complete, we anticipate this standard will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. We do not expect any significant impact on our advertising and mobile navigation business segments. However, we believe there will be a significant impact on the recognition of revenue and associated third party content costs for certain of our on-board and brought-in automotive navigation solutions. With respect to on-board automotive solutions, historically we recognized revenue and associated content costs over the life of our contractual obligations when map updates were included, and we deferred substantially all revenue and associated content costs pending the delivery of future specified upgrades. Instead, as of July 1, 2018, we expect to recognize revenue related to royalties for distinct software and content that has been accepted as reproduction of the software takes place during the manufacturing process, with an allocation of the selling price based on the relative standalone selling price of map updates, specified upgrades, and other services as applicable, which we expect to recognize with the associated content costs at a point in time or over time as we transfer control of the related performance obligation. Regarding brought-in automotive solutions, historically we recognized revenue for each royalty over the expected remaining term of the service obligation. Effective July 1, 2018, since these contracts contain variable consideration we will estimate the total transaction price each reporting period using a probability assessment, and then expect to recognize revenue ratably over the period the services obligation is expected to be fulfilled. We have not concluded our analysis of the impact on our financial statements of the application of ASC 340-40 with respect to the timing of capitalization and recognition of development costs that are incurred to fulfill obligations under certain actual or anticipated contracts for on-board automotive solutions. In the event we conclude that we are required to capitalize these costs that we expect to recover, we will recognize them as we transfer control of the related performance obligation. Development costs subject to ASC 340-40 incurred to fulfill future obligations under certain actual or anticipated contracts for brought-in automotive solutions are expected to be capitalized and then amortized over the period the services obligation is expected to be fulfilled.