General Outdoor

You asked, we answered: Your inReach® device questions

April 3, 2025

We receive questions from inReach device1 users around the world through surveys, social media and our product support teams. Below we’ve answered the most common questions — and a few unique ones — about using inReach satellite communicators.

Q: Is the device supposed to warn me about having an active subscription every time I turn it on?

A: Yes. Each time you turn your device on, you will encounter the following notification:

“WARNING: MESSAGING, TRACKING, AND SOS REQUIRE AN ACTIVE SUBSCRIPTION. ALWAYS TEST YOUR DEVICE BEFORE YOU GO.”

This message is for your awareness, so you know your inReach device is fully operational before you may need it for communication or during an emergency. It does not indicate that the inReach device does not have service.

Learn more about this notification and testing your inReach device.

Q: Where does the weather forecast come from?

A: Land forecasts are powered by Meteoblue®, a leading provider of weather data around the globe. It provides a forecast from the nearest reporting weather station to the location requested. Using that weather station data, Meteoblue adjusts the forecast based on the requested location and elevation.

Marine forecasts are based on OCENS premium marine weather data, which provides wave and wind levels to 1/100 of a degree of latitude or longitude. Atlantic data sources include WW3 Multi-Global, WW3 Navy, NDFD, ECMWF and GFS Global Wave as well as HRRR and RAP for wind in some areas.

Learn more about weather for inReach devices.

Q: How do I send a Check-in message?

A: Check-in messages are a convenient way to send short, predefined messages to preselected recipients from your inReach device while you are out and about. 

There are three predetermined Check-in messages that cannot be edited. They are:

Before you leave for your adventure, you must determine your Check-in message recipients. This is done from the Garmin Explore™ website or in the Garmin Messenger™ app, under “Edit Check-in Contacts” (depending upon your device). Note: Check-in messages cannot be sent via the Earthmate™ app.

Directions on sending a Check-in message from your inReach vary depending on which device you own, but for the most part, instructions are:

  1. From the inReach device home screen, press OK to open the homepage actions.
  2. Select Check-In.
  3. Press < or > to scroll through the three check-in message options.
  4. Press OK to select a message.
  5. Press OK to send the message.

For directions and more device-specific information, visit the Garmin Support Center, enter your device name into the search bar and search for Check-in messages.

Q: What are Waypoints, and how do I use them?

A: Waypoints are location points you record and store in your inReach device. Waypoints can mark where you are, where you are going or where you have been. Creating a Waypoint within the Earthmate® app, Garmin Explore app or Garmin Explore website–depending on which device you use–can be shared if the Waypoint is saved within a Collection that is shown in MapShare.

Learn more about Waypoints here. For detailed information on how to set Waypoints on your specific inReach device, visit the Garmin Support Center, enter your device name in the search bar, and search for Waypoints.

Q: Which Garmin apps are compatible with my inReach device?

A: Each device connects to a Garmin app (Garmin Messenger™, Garmin Explore™, Earthmate®) that you can download from the App Store® or Google Play to your smartphone. Once an app is downloaded, paired and synced to your inReach device, you may enjoy expanded features for your off-grid adventures and outdoor pursuits.

See below for clarification of the apps, what they do and the devices they connect with:

Garmin Messenger™ App – Communication and Location Sharing: inReach® Messenger, inReach® Mini 2, GPSMAP® 66i/GPSMAP® 67i, GPSMAP® 86i/GPSMAP® 86sci, Montana® 700i/GPSMAP® 750i and Alpha® 200i/Alpha® 300i devices

Garmin Explore™ App – Mapping and Navigation: inReach Mini 2, GPSMAP 66i/GPSMAP 67i, GPSMAP 86i/GPSMAP 86sci, Montana 700i/Montana 750i and Alpha 200i/Alpha 300i devices

Earthmate® App – Communication, Mapping and Navigation: inReach® Mini, inReach Explorer®+, inReach SE®+ and DeLorme® inReach devices

Note: the Earthmate app is not compatible with inReach Mini 2.

Q: While overnight on an adventure, should I leave my inReach on or turn it off?

A: Because most inReach devices have enough battery life for most adventures, we recommend you leave the device powered on.

If you are on a long trip and need to save battery, know this: An SOS can be initiated even if the device is not powered on. Holding down the SOS button for around 5 seconds will force the unit to power on and initiate an SOS request if you have satellite connection.

Q: I am going out of the country on vacation and want to bring my inReach satellite communicator. How do I know if my device will be supported?

A: It is your responsibility to know and follow all applicable laws in the jurisdictions where the satellite communication device is intended to be used. inReach devices operate on the Iridium® satellite network, which provides 100% global coverage. However, some countries require prior permission or a government-issued registration code to activate or use satellite communication devices. Other countries completely prohibit the use or possession of satellite communicators. In addition, U.S. embargoes prohibit providing satellite communication products and services in some countries.

See a list of restricted countries here.

Q: How can a contact see my location while I’m using my inReach device?

A: Use the tracking feature on your inReach device to record track points and transmit them over the Iridium® satellite network at a specified send interval. You can choose from two features that allow your contacts to view your location during an activity and follow along: LiveTrack (new) and MapShare™.

LiveTrack for inReach provides a streamlined experience for loved ones to follow your location and see data such as distance, time and elevation. You can save and review your tracked sessions on your LiveTrack profile. Here is how to set up and share your LiveTrack profile through the Garmin app or website that you use. 

MapShare for inReach is an alternative location tracking feature that gives friends and family the means to follow along, ping your location and send you messages, plus additional mapping features through the Garmin Explore™ website. Visit the Garmin Support Center and search by device for set up and use instructions. 

If you are currently set up for MapShare but prefer to switch to LiveTrack, click here for instructions to switch. 

For a real-life example of how inReach location and tracking features work, read about how they came in handy during a routine hunting trip.

Q: How does my partner send a message to my inReach device while I am adventuring?

A: inReach satellite communicators do not have phone numbers assigned to them, so they can only send SMS (text), email or inReach messages. inReach users must do at least one of the following for others to reach them:

There are five ways to send a message to an inReach device:

  1. Email messaging
  2. SMS (text) messaging
  3. Garmin Messenger app
  4. MapShare messaging
  5. inReach to inReach messaging

For detailed instructions on each method, review this Garmin Support article.

Q: If I have two devices on one account, do I have to pay for service for each of them?

A: Each inReach device requires its own subscription. Personal inReach accounts are designed for one active device. If you have several inReach devices with heavy use, you may want to consider a Professional plan. Reach out to the inReach Professional Sales team to discuss options.

1Active satellite subscription required. Some jurisdictions regulate or prohibit the use of satellite communication devices. It is your responsibility to know and follow all applicable laws in the jurisdictions where the satellite communication device is intended to be used.

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