Select your product to confirm this information applies to you

Getting Started With Tracking on an inReach Messenger

The inReach® Messenger device has the ability to track your location and send tracking points via satellite to your MapShare™ website for friends and family to view.

IMPORTANT: With the Safety plan, there is an additional cost per point (varies by currency) when using the tracking feature. As an example, if your Send Interval is set to 30 minutes and you had tracking on for 1 hour, you would be charged for 3 track points. For more details, see - inReach Subscription Plan Options.

What is Tracking?

Tracking on the inReach Messenger device records a set of coordinates connected together, or a breadcrumb trail, that can be uploaded in real-time to MapShare page with an active inReach subscription. This is for the benefit of others to follow along while the tracking is in progress.

Track Example With 2 Minute Send Interval

Garmin Explore Track


Starting and Stopping Tracking

Unless the Auto Track setting has been enabled, tracking must be started and stopped manually. When connected with a smartphone, you can start or stop tracking with the Garmin Messenger™ app by selecting Device Messenger App Device Icon > Tracking inReach Messenger Tracking Icon, or you can follow the steps below on the inReach Messenger device.

Starting Tracking

There are two ways to manually start tracking on the inReach Messenger.

From the Home Screen

  1. From the home screen, press OK.
  2. Press Left Arrow Button or Right Arrow Button to scroll through the available quick actions.
  3. Select Start Tracking.

From the Main Menu

  1. From the home screen, press Left Arrow Button or Right Arrow Button to scroll through the main menu options.
  2. Select TRACKING Tracking Symbol.
  3. Press OK to start tracking.

Stopping Tracking

  1. From the home screen or the tracking widget, press OK.
  2. Select Stop Tracking.

Tracking Settings

Keep in mind that the battery life is impacted by how frequently the inReach Messenger device sends tracking. For more battery information, refer to your owner's manual.

Send Interval

The Send Interval determines how often the inReach Messenger device will send track points with its current GPS position, elevation, speed, and heading to the MapShare page. The inReach Messenger device has a power-saving function that will change the Send Interval to 4 hours if the device is not moving, once movement is recognized it will revert back to the setting selected.


Changing the Send Interval

IMPORTANT: Sent points count as "Tracking Points" for an inReach Subscription. With the Safety plan, there is an additional cost per point (varies by currency). Subscription plan details can be viewed from the Home page of the Garmin Explore™ account.

When connected with a smartphone, you can adjust this settings with the Garmin Messenger app by selecting Device Messenger App Device Icon > Settings Gear Wheel > Tracking inReach Messenger Tracking Icon, or you can follow the steps below on the inReach Messenger device.

  1. From the home screen, press Left Arrow Button or Right Arrow Button to scroll through the main menu options.
  2. Select Settings Wrench.
  3. Select Tracking Tracking Symbol.
  4. Select Send Interval.
  5. Select the desired Send Interval setting.

The most frequent Send Interval is 10 minutes for Safety and Recreation plans, and 2 minutes for the Expedition plan.


Auto Track

By default, Auto Track will be disabled. With the Auto Track setting enabled, the inReach Messenger will automatically start tracking when it is powered on.


Enabling the Auto Track Setting

When connected with a smartphone, you can adjust this settings with the Garmin Messenger app by selecting Device Messenger App Device Icon > Settings Gear Wheel > Tracking inReach Messenger Tracking Icon, or you can follow the steps below on the inReach Messenger device.

  1. From the home screen, press Left Arrow Button or Right Arrow Button to scroll through the main menu options.
  2. Select Settings Wrench.
  3. Select Tracking Tracking Symbol.
  4. Select Auto Track to enable auto tracking.
    • If Auto Track is turned on, the setting will say On with the toggle to the right.
      Auto Track On
    • If Auto Track is turned off, the setting will say Off with the toggle to the left.
      Auto Track Off

Related