Select your product to confirm this information applies to you
Troubleshooting an Issue with Smartphone Link
Your automotive device uses Bluetooth technology to connect to Smartphone Link on your mobile phone.
An Issue With the Bluetooth Connection Between the Two Can Cause Any of the Following Issues:
Smartphone Link will not connect to the Garmin device.
Smartphone Link crashes on the phone.
In-App purchases (Traffic, PhotoLive, or Advanced Weather) are inaccessible on the phone or automotive device.
Issues with LiveTrack or Dispatch and Track (on automotive devices with those features).
- Weather, Phone, and Traffic Map tool icons not displaying.
Note: It is not possible to troubleshoot a Bluetooth issue while on an active phone call, as it may interfere with certain features.
Most Issues Can Be Resolved by Performing the Following:
- Check device compatibility with Smartphone Link
- Restart phone and device
- Close other Apps on the phone
- Force-close Smartphone Link and cycle Bluetooth
- Delete pairing history
- Alternate where pairing is initiated
- Ensure Smartphone Link has the appropriate permissions
Check Device Compatibility with Smartphone Link:
The Garmin device must be compatible with Smartphone Link on your phone, whether it uses Android or iOS.
To check compatibility, see the FAQ Smartphone Link Compatibility and Availability.
Restart Phone and Garmin Device:
Restarting both your smartphone and the Garmin device can refresh the Bluetooth connection between them. See the owners' manual for instructions to restart your Garmin device. Refer to the owners' manual or your phone's manufacturer for steps to restart your phone.
Close Other Apps on the Phone:
Other Apps running on your smartphone could interfere with the connection between Smartphone Link and your automotive device. It may be necessary to close them to establish a connection. Refer to your phone's owners' manual or manufacturer for steps to close Apps on your phone.
Force-Close Smartphone Link and Cycle Bluetooth:
You may need to force-quit the App, turn Bluetooth off and back on, and reopen the App to re-establish a connection between the App and your automotive device.
Refer to the owners' manual or your phone's manufacturer for instructions.
Delete Pairing History:
It may be necessary to delete the Bluetooth pairing history from both your phone and the automotive device. You can repair them to establish a new connection and make the automotive device detects Smartphone Link.
See the owners' manual of your device for steps to clear the Bluetooth pairing history. Refer to the owners' manual or your phone's manufacturer for steps to clear the pairing history on your phone.
Alternate Where Pairing is Initiated:
Certain phone models may prefer to be either passive or the active device when pairing to your automotive device. You may need to switch which device 'finds' the other.
- If you initiated pairing using your automotive device, delete the pairing history on your phone, then use your phone to 'find' the automotive device instead. Refer to the owners' manual or your phone's manufacturer for steps to pair the phone with another Bluetooth-enabled device such as your automotive device.
- If you initiated pairing using the phone, delete the pairing history on the device and use the automotive device to 'find' the phone. See the owners' manual of your device for instructions.
Ensure Smartphone Link has the Appropriate Permissions:
The Garmin Smartphone Link App requires certain phone permissions for some features to work on the device. See Phone Permissions Required to Use the Smartphone Link App for more information.