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Contacts and Sending Messages With the Garmin Messenger App

The Garmin Messenger™ app can be paired and used with a compatible inReach® satellite communicator to send messages to SMS numbers, email addresses, and inReach addresses.

You can manually enter these numbers or addresses when composing a message, but to save time you can also:

Use your smartphone's contacts
Create inReach contacts in the Garmin Messenger app (when paired with an inReach device)

You can also sync your smartphone's contacts to your paired inReach device. This is helpful for trips when you will not be bringing your phone with you, or in case the phone's battery becomes depleted.

This article provides steps for all of these, along with how to send a message using the Garmin Messenger app.

Important Notes

Ensure your phone and inReach device are connected before attempting to send a message. You can confirm this in the Garmin Messenger app by selecting the devices page at the bottom of the app. For steps on how to pair your inReach with a phone, see - Pairing Instructions for Garmin Messenger App Compatible inReach Devices.
Quick Text messages are not available to send through the Garmin Messenger app, they can only be sent directly from the inReach device. For steps on sending Quick Text messages, refer to your owner's manual.
Satellite messages sent or received will count against your monthly inReach message plan.
If a message isn’t opened in the Messenger App while connected to Wi-Fi or cellular, the app is fully closed, not allowed to run in the background, or not connected with your inReach device, received messages will be delivered to the inReach device via satellite.
When you go off-grid, the app will switch to satellites when necessary to continue sending messages as long as a compatible inReach device is powered on and connected with the app.

Contacts and Sending Messages with the Garmin Messenger App

Adding Phone Contacts to an inReach Through the Garmin Messenger App

Ensure your inReach device is powered on and paired with the Garmin Messenger app.
Select Device.
Select Contacts.
Select .
Select Import System Contact.
- You may need to grant permission for the Garmin Messenger app to access your phone's contacts.
Select a contact.
- Edit contact details, if desired.
- If you have duplicate contacts in your phone, you need to select between multiple phone numbers and/or email addresses.
  - If this happens, select the desired phone number and/or email address then select Next.
Select Save.
Repeat steps 4-7 for any additional contacts.
Select to return to the previous screen.

After the contacts have been created, they will automatically transfer to your paired inReach device.

For how to then send a message from the inReach device, refer to your owner's manual.

Sending a Message to Manually Entered Recipients in the Garmin Messenger App

Open the Garmin Messenger app.
Select Messages .
Select (Android) or (iPhone).
- NOTE: When composing a new message you have the option to send it as a New Message or a New Post.
  - New Message: Used when sending a message to a single contact, or when starting a group message with multiple cell phone numbers. For group messages, everyone in the message thread will see each others messages in one thread. Group messages cannot contain email, inReach, or social addresses.
  - New Post: Posts are delivered individually, and replies return as direct messages. This allows you to send the same message out to multiple recipients, but then continue the conversation with each recipient individually.
Touch the field next to To:
Enter the recipient's SMS number, email address, or inReach address.
- Ensure SMS numbers are in the following format (minus the brackets): +[Country Code][SMS number].
- Add any additional recipients.
Touch the Start a new message field, then type out and send the message.

The message should send to the entered recipients, provided the paired inReach device has a clear view of the sky or your phone has mobile data or Wi-Fi available.

Sending a Message to Saved Contacts in the Garmin Messenger App

Open the Garmin Messenger app.
Select Messages .
Select (Android) or (iPhone).
- NOTE: When composing a new message you have the option to send it as a New Message or a New Post.
  - New Message: Used when sending a message to a single contact, or when starting a group message with multiple cell phone numbers. For group messages, everyone in the message thread will see each others messages in one thread. Group messages cannot contain email, inReach, or social addresses.
  - New Post: Posts are delivered individually, and replies return as direct messages. This allows you to send the same message out to multiple recipients, but then continue the conversation with each recipient individually.
In the To field, tap .
Select System Contacts or inReach Contacts.
- For System Contacts you may need to grant permission for the Garmin Messenger app to access your phone's contacts.
Select a contact.
- The selected contact will populate in the To: field.
- Add any additional contacts.
Touch the Start a new message field, then type out and send the message.

The message should send to the selected recipients, provided the paired inReach device has a clear view of the sky or your phone has mobile data or Wi-Fi available.

Sending a Check-In Message in the Garmin Messenger App

Check-in messages are a convenient way to send messages to specific group of recipients. You can customize the recipient list of your check-in messages. Check-in messages will include your location if available.

Ensure your inReach device is powered on and paired with the Garmin Messenger app.
Select Device.
Select Check-In.
Select one of the three messages listed.
TIP: Select Edit Check-in Contacts to customize the recipient list of your check-in messages (when mobile data or Wi-Fi is available).

The message will send to the predefined recipients, provided the paired inReach device has a clear view of the sky or your phone has mobile data or Wi-Fi available.