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Troubleshooting Smartphone Link Live Traffic on Automotive Devices
NOTE: Your device is compatible with Smartphone Link Live Traffic. Not all devices are compatible with Android and iPhone. To verify Smartphone Link compatibility and availability, see Smartphone Link Compatibility and Availability.
See the troubleshooting below if you are not receiving traffic information. For additional troubleshooting not covered in this FAQ, see Smartphone Link Lifetime Subscriptions Display an Expiration Date and/or Restoring In-App Purchases in the Smartphone Link App.
Garmin Suggests Troubleshooting in the Following Order:
- Set up Live Traffic
- Update Smartphone Link
- Restart the phone and Garmin device
- Close all other Apps on the phone
- Force close Smartphone Link
- Toggle Bluetooth on the phone
- Confirm coverage
- Enable traffic service
Set up Live Traffic
See below for a detailed video tutorial on properly setting up Smartphone Link traffic.
- Smartphone Link Traffic with an iPhone.
- Smartphone Link Traffic with an Android.
Update Smartphone Link
Ensure that the latest version of Smartphone Link is running on your phone. All updates are downloaded via the App Store or Google Play Store.
Restart the Phone and Garmin Device
Restarting both your smartphone and Garmin device can establish a fresh connection between the two.
See your phone's documentation for information on fully restarting. For information on restarting your Garmin device, see its owner's manual.
Close All Other Apps on the Phone
Other Apps running on the phone may interfere with the connection
Steps for closing Apps on the phone can vary by make/model. If you are unsure how to close Apps, you may need to consult your phone's manual or manufacturer.
To Close Apps on most iPhones:
Double-tap the Home button to show your most recently used Apps
Swipe right or left to find the App that you want to close
Swipe up on the App's preview to close the App
To Close Apps on an iPhone X:
From the Home screen, swipe up and pause
Firmly touch and hold the App, then tap the minus symbol. You can also swipe up to close the App as soon as you see the minus symbol.
To Close Apps on an Android phone:
Launch the recent applications menu (this can be done on most phones by holding the button at the bottom of the screen)
Find the applications you want to close on the list by scrolling up from the bottom
Tap and hold on the application and swipe it to the right
Force Close Smartphone Link
The steps to force close an application can vary by phone model.
- On Android, the easiest way is to reboot the phone
- Instructions for iPhone can be found here: https://support.apple.com/HT201330
Toggle Bluetooth on the Phone
To Turn Bluetooth Off and On Again on the Phone:
Open your phone's Settings menu
Open the Bluetooth menu
Touch the on/off button to disable Bluetooth
Touch this button again after a moment to turn Bluetooth back on
Confirm Coverage
Confirm you're using your phone and automotive device in a Smartphone Link Live Traffic Coverage.
You will need to be traveling within a coverage area and have a data connection on your phone in order to receive traffic information. The easiest way to test if your phone has data reception is to pull up a website, such as www.garmin.com, on your phone. If your phone cannot load the website, then you do not have a data connection.
Enable Traffic Service
It is possible that the traffic service was disabled on your Garmin device.
To Confirm Whether the Service is Enabled:
Connect the device to power using the appropriate vehicle power cable
Touch Settings
Touch Traffic
If traffic is disabled, you may enable it here.