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Verifying Active inReach Subscription and Testing Service

If you have an inReach® satellite communication subscription, it is recommended to verify that your subscription is active and test your service before taking your inReach compatible device out for use.

Verifying the Subscription Status

When signed into your account at Garmin.com, you can view your subscription(s) by selecting Account Profile Icon in the top right corner of the page, then Account. From there select SUBSCRIPTIONS & SERVICE PLANS on the left of the page. If the subscription is listed under ACTIVE and shows a monthly price associated with it, the subscription is active and you can proceed with testing your inReach service.

Active inReach Subscription Example

If the subscription is listed under ACTIVE, but shows 0.00 monthly price associated with it, the subscription is suspended and will need to be reactivated. For steps, see - Reactivating a Suspended inReach Device.

If the subscription is listed under INACTIVE, a new subscription will need to be activated by paying an activation fee. For steps, see - How to Activate an inReach Subscription.

Depending on which device you have, you can also check the status of your subscription in the paired Garmin Messenger™ app by selecting Device in the lower right of the app, or in the paired Earthmate® app by selecting Three horizontal lines (Android™) or More (iPhone®/iPad®), then My inReach.


Testing inReach Service

A test can be run from the Garmin Explore™ website, a paired Garmin app, or the inReach handheld. 5 free test messages are included each month and each test requires that you take your inReach handheld outside with a clear view of the sky.


Testing inReach Service from a fēnix 8 Pro - AMOLED or fēnix 8 Pro - MicroLED

  1. Enable airplane mode on the paired smartphone.

  2. On the watch, press Watch with circle on top right corner START/STOP.

  3. Select Messenger.

  4. Select Pen in white square.

  5. Select Type Contact.

  6. Enter testinreach@garmin.com.

  7. Select Green check mark.

  8. Select Next.

  9. Select a Check-in message or type out a message using the Keyboard.

  10. Select Green check mark to send your message. 

    NOTE: Make sure you are outside with a clear view of the sky.

A reply message will be received by the device and app if inReach service is active.

For more information on testing inReach services on the fēnix 8 Pro, see Troubleshooting the LTE and Satellite Connection on a fēnix 8 Pro Watch.


Testing inReach Service from the Garmin Explore Website

  1. Log into Garmin Explore website.

  2. Select ACCOUNT at the top of the page.

  3. Select Test.

    • NOTE: If you have the Garmin Messenger app on a paired smartphone, make sure to power off your smartphone or enable airplane mode on the smartphone until the test is complete.

  4. Select Start, then take the inReach device outside, powered on, with a clear view of the sky.

A message will be received by the device and app if inReach service is active.


Testing inReach Service From the Garmin Explore app

  1. Take the paired smartphone and the inReach device outside, powered on, with a clear view of the sky.

  2. Open the Garmin Explore app.

  3. Touch Message Bubbles Messages.

  4. Touch Pencil New Message.

  5. Tap the To: field and manually enter testinreach@garmin.com.

  6. Compose the message.

    TIP: The message field can simply contain "test". 

  7. Touch Send.

    Garmin Explore App Send Message

Wait while the message sends. When you receive a confirmation message back, your inReach device is ready to use.


Testing inReach Service From the Garmin Messenger App

  1. Enable airplane mode on the paired smartphone.

  2. Take the smartphone and the inReach device outside, powered on, with a clear view of the sky.

  3. Open the Garmin Messenger app.

  4. Select Messages Word Bubble Icon.

  5. Select Pencil Icon Android (Android) or Pencil Icon iPhone (iPhone).

  6. Touch the field next to To:.

  7. Enter testinreach@garmin.com.

  8. Touch the Start a new message field, then type out the message.

    TIP: The message field can simply contain "test". 

  9. Touch Send.

    Garmin Messenger Message Send Icon

Wait while the message sends. When you receive a confirmation message back, your inReach device is ready to use.


Testing inReach Service From the Earthmate app

  1. Take the paired smartphone and the inReach device outside, powered on, with a clear view of the sky.

  2. Open the Earthmate app.

    • Android: From the Map page, touch Message Bubble Icon. You can also access this under Three Lines Menu Icon > Messages.

    • iPhone/iPad: Select Messages, then touch Pencil Icon.

  3. Tap the To: field and type in testinreach@garmin.com.

  4. Touch the Type Message field (shown below), and enter a message.

  5. TIP: The message field can simply contain "test".

    iOS Type Message Field

  6. Touch Send.

Wait while the message sends. When you receive a confirmation message back, your inReach device is ready to use.


Testing inReach Service from an inReach Explorer® or inReach SE® Handheld

  1. Select Messages.

  2. Select New Message.

  3. Select To: and type in testinreach@garmin.com, then select OK to return to the previous page.

  4. Select Message: and type out your message, then select OK to return to the previous page.

    TIP: The message field can simply contain "test".

  5. Select Send.

Wait while the device sends a test message. When you receive a confirmation message on the device, your device is ready to use.


Testing inReach Service from an inReach Explorer+ or inReach SE+ Handheld

  1. Power on the inReach handheld.

  2. Select Test.

  3. Select Test.

Wait while the device sends a test message. When you receive a confirmation message on the device, your device is ready to use.


Testing inReach Service from an inReach Messenger Device

IMPORTANT: If you have the Garmin Messenger app on a paired smartphone, make sure to power off your smartphone or enable airplane mode on the smartphone until the test is complete.

  1. Power on the inReach device.

  2. Press Left Arrow Button or Right Arrow Button to scroll through the main menu and select SERVICE PLAN iR.

  3. Select Test Service.

  4. Select OK to Test after reading the warning message.

  5. Select Begin Test with OK.

Wait while the device sends a test message. When you receive a confirmation message on the device, your device is ready to use.


Testing inReach Service from an inReach Messenger Plus Device

IMPORTANT: If you have the Garmin Messenger app on a paired smartphone, make sure to power off your smartphone or enable airplane mode on the smartphone until the test is complete.

  1. Power on the inReach device.

  2. Press Left Arrow Button or Right Arrow Button to scroll through the main menu and select TEST SERVICE Satellite Icon.

  3. Press OK after reading the warning message.

  4. Select Begin Test.

Wait while the device sends a test message. When you receive a confirmation message on the device, your device is ready to use.


Testing inReach Service from an inReach Mini Handheld

  1. Power on the inReach handheld.

  2. Press OK.

  3. Select Utilities.

  4. Select Test Service.

  5. Press OK.

Wait while the device sends a test message. When you receive a confirmation message on the device, your device is ready to use.


Testing inReach Service from an inReach Mini 2 Handheld

IMPORTANT: If you have the Garmin Messenger app on a paired smartphone, make sure to power off your smartphone or enable airplane mode on the smartphone until the test is complete.

  1. Power on the inReach.

  2. Press OK.

  3. Select Service Plan.

  4. Select Test Service.

  5. Press OK.

  6. Press OK again to begin the test.

Wait while the device sends a test message. When you receive a confirmation message on the device, your device is ready to use.


Testing inReach Service from a GPSMAP® 66i, 67i, 86i, or 86sci Outdoor Handheld

IMPORTANT: If you have the Garmin Messenger app on a paired smartphone, make sure to power off your smartphone or enable airplane mode on the smartphone until the test is complete.

  1. Power on the inReach capable handheld.

  2. Press Menu twice to reach the main menu.

  3. Select inReach Utilities.

  4. Press right arrow once to reach the Communications Test page.

  5. Press Enter to select Test.

Wait while the device sends a test message. When you receive a confirmation message on the device, your device is ready to use.


Testing inReach Service from a GPSMAP H1i Plus Outdoor Handheld

IMPORTANT: If you have the Garmin Messenger app on a paired smartphone, make sure to power off your smartphone or enable airplane mode on the smartphone until the test is complete.

  1. Press MENU twice, then select 9 Squares to access the apps list.

  2. Select Messenger.

  3. Select New Message.

  4. Select the To field and type in testinreach@garmin.com, then select Keyboard Icon to return to the previous page.

  5. Select the Start a message field and type out your message, then select Keyboard Icon to return to the previous page.

    TIP: The message field can simply contain "test".

  6. Select Send.

Wait while the device sends a test message. When you receive a confirmation message on the device, your device is ready to use.


Testing inReach Service from a Montana® 700i, 710i, 750i, or 760i Outdoor Handheld

IMPORTANT: If you have the Garmin Messenger app on a paired smartphone, make sure to power off your smartphone or enable airplane mode on the smartphone until the test is complete.

  1. Power on the handheld.

  2. Touch Home to reach the main menu.

  3. Select inReach Icon.

  4. Select inReach Utilities.

  5. Select Satellite Icon at the top of the screen.

  6. Select Test.

Wait while the device sends a test message. When you receive a confirmation message on the device, your device is ready to use.


Testing inReach Service from an Alpha® 200i or 300i Dog Tracking Handheld

IMPORTANT: If you have the Garmin Messenger app on a paired smartphone, make sure to power off your smartphone or enable airplane mode on the smartphone until the test is complete.

  1. Power on the inReach device.

  2. Select inReach.

  3. Select inReach Utilities.

  4. Select Satellite Icon at the top of the screen.

  5. Select Test.

Wait while the device sends a test message. When you receive a confirmation message on the device, your device is ready to use.


Testing inReach Service from a Tread® - Overland Edition, Tread® XL - Overland Edition, or Tread® XL - SxS Edition GPS Navigator

  1. Touch inReach.

  2. Touch Compose.

  3. Touch the menu icon in the top left.

  4. Touch Type Recipients.

  5. Enter testinreach@garmin.com and touch Done.

  6. Touch Done.

  7. Enter a message and touch Send.

Wait while the device sends a test message. When you receive a confirmation message on the device, your device is ready to use.


NOTE: You have 5 free test messages a month with any of our active subscriptions. Test messages can still be sent after the 5 free are used up, but each additional message costs $0.50 USD. For details on what your plan includes, see Related.

View our Video

To test the text messaging feature of your device, see -  Testing Text Messaging on an inReach Handheld


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