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Contacts and Sending Messages with the Garmin Explore App

The Garmin Explore™ app can be paired and used with a compatible inReach® device to send messages to SMS numbers, email addresses, and inReach addresses.

You can manually enter these numbers or addresses when composing a message, but to save time you can also:

  • Use your smartphone's contacts

  • Create contacts on the Garmin Explore app

  • Create contacts on your paired inReach device and sync them to the Garmin Explore app

You can also sync your smartphone's contacts to your paired inReach device. This is helpful for trips when you will not be bringing your phone with you, or in case the phone's battery becomes depleted.

This article provides steps for all of these, along with how to send a message using the Garmin Explore app.

IMPORTANT: Ensure your phone or tablet and inReach device are connected before attempting to send a message. You can confirm this on the Garmin Explore app by selecting the devices page at the bottom of the app. For steps on how to pair your inReach handheld with a phone or tablet, see Related.

Contacts and Sending Messages with the Garmin Explore App


Create Contacts on the Garmin Explore App

  1. Open the Garmin Explore app.

  2. Select the profile icon in the top left.

  3. Select Explore Contacts.

  4. Select Plus Symbol.

  5. Select Create New Contact.

  6. Select any of the required fields (in red) to enter information.

  7. Select Save when done.

The contact should now be saved in the Explore Contacts, and also appear when you select the To: field while creating a new message.


Create Contacts on the inReach Device and Sync Them to the Garmin Explore App


Alpha® 200i and 300i Dog Tracking Handheld

  1. From the home page, touch Setup.

  2. Touch inReach Icon.

  3. Touch Contacts.

  4. Touch New Contact.

  5. Touch an item to edit.

  6. Enter the new information and touch Green Check Icon when finished.

  7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 to enter additional contact details.

  8. Touch Save when finished.


GPSMAP® 66i, 67i, 86i, and 86sci Outdoor Handhelds

  1. Press MENU twice to access the main menu.

  2. Select Setup.

  3. Select Contacts.

  4. Select New Contact.

  5. Select an item to edit.

  6. Enter the new information and select Done when finished.

  7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 to enter additional contact details.

  8. Select Save when finished.


inReach Mini 2 Handheld

  1. From the home page, press OK to open the main menu.

  2. Select Contacts.

  3. Select Add Contact.

  4. Select an item to edit.

  5. Enter the new information.

  6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 to enter additional contact details.

  7. Select Done when finished.


Montana® 700i and 750i Outdoor Handhelds

  1. Touch Home to access the main menu.

  2. Touch inReach Icon.

  3. Touch Contacts.

  4. Touch New Contact.

  5. Touch an item to edit.

  6. Enter the new information and touch Green Check Icon when finished.

  7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 to enter additional contact details.

  8. Touch Save when finished.


When finished adding contacts, you need to sync the device with the Garmin Explore app so they transfer to the app. For steps, see - Syncing the Garmin Explore App.


Adding Phone Contacts to an inReach Device Through the Garmin Explore App

  1. Open the Garmin Explore app.

  2. Select the profile icon in the top left.

  3. Select Explore Contacts.

  4. Select Plus Symbol.

  5. Select Import System Contact.

    • You may need to grant permission for the Garmin Explore app to access your phone's contacts.

  6. Select a contact.

    • Edit contact details, if desired.

    • If you have duplicate contacts in your phone, you need to select between multiple phone numbers and/or email addresses.

      • If this happens, select the desired phone number and/or email address then select Next.

  7. Select Save or Done.

  8. Select Back Arrow to return to the previous screen.

  9. Perform steps 4-12 for any additional contacts.

After the contact is created, syncing from the Watch and Handheld Icon Devices page will transfer the contacts to the inReach device.

For how to then send a message from the inReach device, see:


Sending a Message to Manually Entered Recipients in the Garmin Explore App

  1. Open the Garmin Explore app.

  2. Select Conversation Bubbles Messages.

  3. Select Pencil New Message Icon.

  4. Touch the field next to To:

  5. Enter the recipient's SMS number, email address, or inReach address.

    • Ensure SMS numbers are in the following format (minus the brackets): +[Country Code][SMS number].

    • Add any additional recipients.

  6. Select a type of message at the bottom of the screen.

    • Touch the inReach Message field to manually type out a message.

      -or-

    • Touch Lightning Bolt to select a Quick Text.

  7. Select Send to send the message.

The message should send to the entered recipients, provided the paired inReach device has a clear view of the sky.


Sending a Message to Smartphone Contacts in the Garmin Explore App

  1. Open the Garmin Explore app.

  2. Touch Conversation Bubbles Messages.

  3. Touch Pencil New Message Icon.

  4. Touch Plus Symbol in a Circle (iOS) or Plus Symbol With Head and Shoulders (Android).

  5. Select Open System Contacts at the bottom of the screen.

  6. Select a contact.

    • The selected contact will populate in the To: field.

    • Add any additional contacts.

  7. Select a type of message at the bottom of the screen.

    • Touch the inReach Message field to manually type out a message.

      -or-

    • Touch Lightning Bolt to select a Quick Text.

  8. Select Send to send the message.

The message should send to the selected recipients, provided the paired inReach device has a clear view of the sky.


Sending a Check-In/Preset Message in the Garmin Explore App

NOTE: Check-in messages have replaced preset messages as of September 27th, 2022. inReach® accounts set up prior to this date will still have preset messages available, but any new accounts created after this date will use check-in messages.

Check-in/Preset messages are a convenient way of sending messages to a predefined group of family and friends Check-In/Preset messages cannot be changed on the Garmin Explore app or the inReach device.

For more information and how to edit these, see - Editing inReach Check-In Messages or Editing inReach Preset Messages.

  1. Open the Garmin Explore app.

  2. Touch Conversation Bubbles Messages.

  3. Touch Star and Square.

  4. Select one of the three messages listed.

The message should send to the predefined recipients, provided the paired inReach device has a clear view of the sky.


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