Garmin Explore Android - Recent Threads

RE: explore keeps crashing android

9754655 — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 17:29:39 GMT

BTW: I have here still some samsung with android 9, they have no problems with explore

explore keeps crashing android

skyeye — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 20:30:26 GMT

I am trying to install the latest explore app from play store, but it keeps crashing few secs after start. It just shows something about 'cloude storage' then it crashes. The version is 4.16

Any similar experience?

RE: explore keeps crashing android

skyeye — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 17:13:35 GMT

OK, I just uploaded a file

The phone in question is Samsung xcover4, android 11 ?

RE: explore keeps crashing android

Garmin - SP — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 15:54:26 GMT

Can you upload a video of this happening at the following link: Garmin Secure File Upload

What phone and OS are you on as well?

RE: Updated explore app rendering problems in "offline maps only" mode?

6125703 — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 21:16:12 GMT

Unfortunately, Garmin Support said that the new verison 4.16 addresses a problem with offline maps being blank, but this update made no difference for me. Same problem persists.

Updated explore app rendering problems in "offline maps only" mode?

6125703 — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 23:20:55 GMT

I haven't looked at Explore in a while on my phone. It was prompting about its new features and warning I had to download offline maps again.

I deleted my prior offline maps and created an offline map area with a test area of trails and streets in California, selecting Topo and USGS layers. It showed downloading and as far as I can tell indicates that the map is now current and downloaded.

In "offline maps only" mode it doesn't show any text labels at any zoom level all the way to the most zoomed in for Topo layer. If I switch to USGS layer, it seems completely blank. As soon as I untoggle the "offline maps only" then it shows the USGS layer and labels appear on both layers.

Do others see the same behavior? It doesn't fill me with confidence to take this into the wilderness...

Version 4.15 (1602405)

Map Database Version --

Map Version 7.3.1

Edit: I decided to force stop and clear app cache. I also toggled the "auto download" on and off a bit. Now it seems to show some labels even in "offline maps only" view on my test map area, but the USGS quad layer still doesn't render. And the app info still shows that "--" for map database version.

Sync issues when starting sync via watch

Stephan — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 10:29:54 GMT

When starting sync via watch (fenix 8, long-press uppper-left, select sync from the shortcut menu) the sync simply hangs unless i make sure to start explore on my android phone.

Seem explore does not run in the background like garmin connect does?!? Is there anything i can do about this?!?

That alone might be acceptable but if it hangs too long, then explore refuses to sync any more claiming "device it busy"..

I have worked out that i can get it to work again by deleting a bunch of files from the watch. So far i only tried this a few times and the last time i "only" deleted the DEBUG, FbtBackup, FbtPtbBackup and http directores AND the file EDM/transaction_id.bin .. i suspect transaction_id.bin might be the only file i need to delete but i'm not sure yet..

Any idea what to do about this?!?

RE: Sync issues when starting sync via watch

Garmin - SP — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 16:10:34 GMT

Stephan Attila I have emailed both of you to get some additional information regarding this. It looks like we do have a few other reports about it and it's being investigated. **

RE: Sync issues when starting sync via watch

Stephan — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 09:24:55 GMT

I'm also still running into sync problems.. every few days the sync simply hangs/refuses to start with the message like "device is busy". It only works again when i delete the file GARMIN/EDM/transaction_id.bin .. recently happend while on vacation and because i had no laptop with me i was unable to sync explore and my watch for over a week..

Hmm i can't mention @GARMIN - JH .. seems he does respond to some messages in this forum..

RE: Updated explore app rendering problems in "offline maps only" mode?

Garmin - JH — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 20:38:00 GMT

6125703 , I sent you an email to collect more details from you, including logs and phone information, so we can have our experts further review.**

RE: Updated explore app rendering problems in "offline maps only" mode?

6125703 — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 17:02:03 GMT

Here is USGS layer in airplane mode with "offline only" map mode disabled. It seems like I had to scale down 4:1 in order for this post to be accepted... (image too large otherwise?)

RE: Updated explore app rendering problems in "offline maps only" mode?

6125703 — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 16:59:12 GMT

Here are are Topo and USGS layers in airplane mode with "offline only" map mode enabled

RE: Updated explore app rendering problems in "offline maps only" mode?

Garmin - DC — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 21:23:10 GMT

Hi there, Can you please provide a screenshot of the offline map using the USGS layer and another using the TOPO while airplane mode is enabled on the device?

RE: Sync issues when starting sync via watch

9668417 — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 22:06:45 GMT

Deleting EDM/transaction_id.bin fixed this for me. It was the only file deleted.

My watch has been disconnecting almost straight away after the failure to sync messages you see in the settings menu.

I tried all combinations of forcing the app to not sleep to no avail.

RE: Is there a bug creating a route on Garmin explore?

JungleJim — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 13:42:25 GMT

No, you can simply pair your watch again with the Explore app after you've reinstalled the app.

Verify that you have enabled cloud data storage in Explore setting, otherwise you will lose the data in the app. See Data Is Not Syncing Between the Garmin Explore App and the Garmin Explore Website | Garmin Customer Support

Is there a bug creating a route on Garmin explore?

Sundrojan — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 14:15:56 GMT

I was still able to create my own hiking route on Garmin explore until monday. Today, I want to make another path. I click a first time to create the startpoint, a second time to mark the next turn, but instead it creates the endpoint and the way in between doesn't follow the road it randomly goes somewhere even not following an existing track. You can see on the picture.

I noticed it does that only when I'm around my house. If I create a way far from it, it works perfectly.

I didn't change anything in the settings.

Explorer App does not download the map layers

9869592 — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 09:49:57 GMT

Hello,

I have installed the explore app on three devices. But only on one of them I can download offline maps. On both other devices the process hangs when it tries to download che map layers. So I am not even able to selecht the map that I would like ro get. I have installed and reinstalled the app but it doesn't help

Is this a limit from the software that prevents offline maps on multiple devices? Or is it a matter of app permissions or a bug?

Best regards

Martin

RE: Explorer App does not download the map layers

8817552 — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 01:29:06 GMT

Many thanks. The DDG App tracking prevention was indeed blocking map downloads. Allow listing that app allowed it to work again. I've reported it to DDG

RE: Is there a bug creating a route on Garmin explore?

Dalfy — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 07:45:13 GMT

I have the same problem, but if I uninstall the app do I risk losing the pairing with the watch and the inReach?

RE: GPSMAP H1i PLUS, Live Track, direction to save route at end of hike, provide name for route

Phillips.Jim — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 23:44:51 GMT

Thank you for the reply JungleJim. I did read most of those before leaving for Yosemite. One of the major changes I made was switching from Livestream to Mapshare.

I use my Garmin watch and like all the data I receive from that during walks/hikes/mountain bike rides. With Livestream you really do not get any saved data. With Mapshare you get a lot more. If you are going to use the GPSMAP H1i Plus for hiking the backcountry, use Mapshare. I love the map options on the H1i and not draining my watch battery while remote. Most of the hike there was zero cell phone service.

Thank you.

GPSMAP H1i PLUS, Live Track, direction to save route at end of hike, provide name for route

Phillips.Jim — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 14:37:46 GMT

New to GPSMAP H1i

We plan on hiking Yosemite the rest of this month. I cannot find how to save the day route and provide a specific name to route using Live Track. Or is there a better

way to record route and save name?

Real time position is lagging

3974453 — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 17:03:04 GMT

Hi everyone,

For several months now I have trouble when using Garmin Explore to navigate while cycling.

On the watch, the position is perfect and I can follow my track, however, on Garmin Explore on the phone, the icon moves every few minutes (making it useless)

Any idea how to fixe that ?

Of course I tried reinstalling the app, location authorisation is fully granted, battery not in economy mode.

Phone : S23 Ultra and S26 Ultra

Watch : Fenix 7 solar

Thanks !

RE: Real time position is lagging

3974453 — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 16:44:30 GMT

It's in the app.
You go on the map, then the layers. There, you'll find the parameters and at the very bottom, you need to desable "prefere the device position"
(not sure how it is in english since I use the french version)

hope it will help, even though I hope they will correct this for real.

RE: Real time position is lagging

5947278 — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 15:36:56 GMT

3974453 how did yiu change that setting and where please... Is it in the Garmin Explorer settings or the watch either way the more help on how to change this the better.

Thanks in advance

RE: Real time position is lagging

3974453 — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 15:32:01 GMT

I would say lagging because the app is still working perfectly.
I did not have that trouble at first (few years ago I would say).

I "solved" it by using the phone position instead of the watch position in the app.
It is a bit annoying because they are not in sync but at least I see the "blue arrow" moving.