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Sending, Cancelling, and Deleting a Location Request for inReach

IMPORTANT: Making multiple location requests will not speed up the process and may cause further requests to be unsuccessful. Before the inReach® device will respond to the location request with its current location, the inReach device needs to perform a mail check. See Related for more information.

Location Requests can be made through the Map page of the Garmin Explore™ website, or from the user's MapShare™ site.

When the inReach device returns a location request, a small blue circle with a star in it appears on the map where the inReach device is, or was, located.

Sending a Location Request


Location Request from the Garmin Explore Website

  1. Log in to the Garmin Explore website.

  2. Select Map.

  3. Click Message Icon next to the user name in the left pane.

  4. Click Locate.

  5. Select Request.

    NOTE: Selecting Cancel will cancel the request before it is submitted.


Location Request from MapShare Page

  1. Go to the inReach user's MapShare page.

  2. Select Locate in the left pane.

  3. Select Request.

    NOTE: Selecting Cancel will cancel the request before it is submitted.


What to Expect After a Location Request is Submitted

To return the location request, the inReach device needs to be powered on with a clear view of the sky. After a location request is made, the inReach device will attempt to be located for up to five days.

Allow up to 60 minutes for the inReach to report its location, then look for a blue triangle with user's name on the map. Location requests will remain on the map indefinitely. Rather than expiring, the blue triangle will simply move to a different area of the map when new location information is available and previously completed location requests will be indicated with Black Star in Blue Circle on the map.

Locate Request On Garmin Explore MapShare

If the inReach device's location is not seen on the map or does not appear to update, do not submit another location request. Making multiple location requests will not speed up the process and may cause further requests to be unsuccessful. Instead, try the following:

  • Refresh the browser window.

  • Select Plus Icon to zoom in on the map, then select Single Dot Within a Circle to center the map on the user's last known location.

    • Single Dot Within a Circle Centers the map over the most recent track created by the device to MapShare, the most recently imported track to the account, or the most recent message sent that included location.
  • To the left of the map, select Gray Visibility Eye Icon next to Library to hide tracks, waypoints, or other data that may be obscuring the the map view.

If the user's location is still not updating, the inReach may be powered off, may not be moving, or may not have a clear view of the sky.


Canceling Location Requests

Once a location request has been confirmed by selecting Request (see steps above), it cannot be canceled and will continue trying for five days.

However, prior to selecting Request, clicking Cancel will stop the request before it is made if you do not want to proceed with the location request.


Deleting Location Requests

It is not currently possible to delete location requests, but Map Filters can be used to hide or filter location requests on the Garmin Explore website Map or MapShare page. 


Hiding All Location Requests

  1. Select Map Filters from the left pane on the Map page or MapShare page.

  2. Select Message Types.

  3. Uncheck Locate.


Filtering Location Requests by Date and Time

  1. Select Map Filters from the left pane of the Map page or MapShare page.

  2. Select Date and Time Range.

  3. Select the desired option from the drop-down.

    NOTE: If Custom Date Range is selected, select Edit to enter the desired date range.


Related