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Testing inReach Service to Verify Active Subscription

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

A test can be run from either the website or on most inReach handhelds. Original inReach Explorer® and inReach SE® handheld models can only run the test from the Garmin Explore™ website. Each test requires you take your inReach handheld outside in a clear view of the sky and 5 free test messages are included each month.

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. 


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.

  4. Follow the steps as they are written.

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


Testing inReach Service From the Garmin Explore app or Garmin Messenger App


Garmin Explore App

  1. Open the Garmin Explore app.

  2. Touch Message Bubbles Messages.

  3. Touch Pencil New Message.

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

  5. Compose the message.

    TIP: Message field can simply contain "test". 

  6. Touch Send.

    Garmin Explore App Send Message


Garmin Messenger App

  1. Open the Garmin Messenger app.

  2. Select Messages Word Bubble Icon.

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

  4. Touch the field next to To:.

  5. Enter testinreach@garmin.com.

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

    TIP: Message field can simply contain "test". 

  7. Touch Send.

    Garmin Messenger Message Send Icon


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

  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

  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

  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

  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 Montana® 700i, 710i, 750i, or 760i Outdoor Handheld

  1. Power on the inReach capable 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 Alpha® 300i Dog Tracking Handheld

  1. Power on the inReach

  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, and 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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