Smart Notifications will display notifications from your Android or iPhone device on your Garmin automotive device so they can be read or heard safely without having to reach for your phone. The 25 most recent notifications from your phone will be stored on your Garmin device.

The phone must have the Smartphone Link App installed to connect to the Garmin device and use this feature.

To use this feature with Apple iOS:

NOTE: See I Am Having Issues with My Automotive Device After Updating to iOS 13 on My iPhone if you recently updated to iOS 13 and are encountering issues.

Close Smartphone Link on your phone (if already open) and set your phone to Find Me/Discoverable mode
Touch Settings from the Garmin device
Touch Bluetooth or Wireless Networks
- Check the box next to Bluetooth if no checkmark is present
Touch Search for Devices
Touch OK on the message prompting you to set your phone to Find Me or Discoverable mode
Touch the name of the desired phone from the list of compatible Bluetooth devices in the area
Touch OK
Enter the passkey displayed or touch Okay if prompted
Open Smartphone Link on your phone (this must be done within 30 seconds of pairing)
Wait a few seconds for the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) passcode pop-up on the Garmin device. This will also cause your phone to prompt for the passcode.
Enter the BLE passcode on your phone to complete the pairing.

No configuration is needed for Smart Notifications in Smartphone Link on Apple iOS. The smart notifications sent to the Garmin device are configured in your iPhone’s settings > Notifications.

iphone8 notifications

Any notification enabled on your phone will be sent to the Garmin device.

To use this feature with Android:

Pairing your Phone

Open Smartphone Link on your phone and set your phone to Find Me/Discoverable mode
- Refer to the owner's manual of the phone if you are not sure how to set it to Find Me/Discoverable mode
Touch Settings from the Garmin device
Touch Bluetooth or Wireless Networks
- Check the box next to Bluetooth if no checkmark is present
Touch Search for Devices
Touch OK on the message prompting you to set your phone to Find Me or Discoverable mode
Touch the name of the desired phone from the list of compatible Bluetooth devices in the area
Touch OK
Enter the passkey displayed or press Okay if prompted

Enabling Smart Notifications within the Smartphone Link app

Open Smartphone Link on your phone
Touch the gear icon to open Settings
Check the box for Notifications > Smart Notifications
- Android will prompt you to grant notification access to Smartphone Link. Check the box for Smartphone Link and touch OK on the subsequent confirmation prompt (if any).
Touch Notifications > Settings, and configure the apps you’d like to be notified of on the Garmin device

You will now be able to view or listen to notifications from your phone on your Garmin device.

NOTE: The following message will display if the device is traveling over 5mph and the device is not on the map screen.

See Disabling Specific Types of Smart Notifications on an Automotive Device for more info.