Garmin Explore iOS - Recent Threads

RE: Garmin explore asks a device update for Venu 4

2080361 — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:26:44 GMT

Just got into Garmin as well with the Venu 4, any work around for getting explore to work? Coming from Samsung this is really disappointing

Garmin explore asks a device update for Venu 4

Gusman — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 11:13:11 GMT

Hi Garmin enthousiasts,

I have recently aquired a Venu 4 and discovered a device software update as soon as I have connected my Venu 4 to the Garmin explorer app. I have connected my Venu 4 to the Garmin express app to find out if there was an update available, but there is no update available. Nevertheless the Garmin explore app indicated I should install the following device update: "DB, BrightGeek Text Prediction Model, Brazilian Portugese version 1.01". I live in the Netherlands and I have not selected the Brazilian Portugese language.

Is this a "bug" in de Garmin explore app for the Venu 4 or is there something else for me to verify?

Thanks in advance for any tips/suggestions......

Gusman

Basecamp, main collection and a mirror collection

marcossaad_ — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 20:42:59 GMT

Hi Guys,

I went to a fish trip with a collection of waypoints belonging to a given collection named "Panorama" and to the main collection.

When I got back home I plugged my F7xPro to Basecamp to edit names and icons of the new acquired waypoints on the trip, saved them to a new list at basecamp and deleted them from the watch using Basecamp in order to let it clean to the next trip. So far so good.

After synch, as expected, all waypoints were not present in the Main Collection but turns out that they were present in the "Panorama" collection too. ...

I erased them from the main collection by deleting them from the watch using Basecamp but this should not affect others collections ....

Any ideas?

Tks,

RE: Basecamp, main collection and a mirror collection

marcossaad_ — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 13:05:55 GMT

Tks.

I think this to be a glitch on GEM.

Deleting features directly on the watch using an external software will cause the Explore to delete those from all collections when after the watch syncs with the GEM.

Regards

RE: Basecamp, main collection and a mirror collection

JungleJim — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 14:34:16 GMT

Just trying to help 🤷‍♂️

As I said I my guess is that Basecamp and the collections feature of Explore simply don’t work well together...

Maybe someone else can offer additional insights.

RE: Basecamp, main collection and a mirror collection

marcossaad_ — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 14:24:03 GMT

I guess you haven't understood.

I had the same waipoints in the Main and in the "XYZ" collection in the GEM iOS.

Therefore all waypoints belonging to the Main collection were synched to my watch.

I did a trip.

So far so good.

After my trips I always connect my watch to basecamp in order to save all new acquired waypoints for that location and then I delete all waypoints from the watch using BASACAMP.

After synchronizing my watch to GEM again to reflect the changes I made in the Main collection (deleting all waypoints), I realized that all waypoints from the XYZ had been delete also.

That should have only deleted the waypoints from the Main collection!

Regards,

RE: Basecamp, main collection and a mirror collection

JungleJim — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:29:33 GMT

I don't think Basecamp supports the collections feature of Explore. So any changes you will make to waypoints in Basecamp will probably end up being duplicated in the main collection because that's the default location where items are stored.

RE: Offline Maps - do I need them?

Garmin - SP — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 19:37:26 GMT

If everything is up to date and working fine, then you do not need the offline maps.

Offline Maps - do I need them?

2028941 — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 02:32:41 GMT

nothing i do with maps works - eg downloaded maps just show a fuzzy grey area in an orange tile border. Imported all trails routes show blue in the collections but dont exist or are faint purple or grey line in maps. But when i put my phone in airline mode, and switch to offline maps only, and i go to the maps tab and the area I want to walk in, it shows all the details I need anyway. Does that mean I don't need to download any offline maps because somehow the explore app has the data anyway??

RE: Offline Maps - do I need them?

2028941 — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 02:12:42 GMT

my Explore app is 4,12 and my map engine is 4.0.0 (from App features in the app) iOS. but this doesnt actually answer my question?

RE: Offline Maps - do I need them?

Garmin - SP — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 18:37:47 GMT

Please make sure your Explore app is on version 4.10 and your maps should be 2.7.3 on Android or 2.7 on iOS.

RE: Lack of details on "Topo" map in iOS Explore vs. Explore Website

Psyches — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:10:12 GMT

Yes it is extremely irritating and I know of no solution, certainly not one that avoid spending lots of money to replace the old version of Explore that "just worked". Add to this, their new fancy routing engine is broken for many trails that also used to "just work", and can no longer intelligently route on many common hiking trails here in California. Garmin did us a major disservice by breaking these things, and they've been broken for years now.

Lack of details on "Topo" map in iOS Explore vs. Explore Website

8259601 — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 18:39:37 GMT

Here's an example of the map detail I see in explore.garmin.com/Map - this location is Cuyamaca Peak in San Diego County:

Compared to the detail I see inside the Explore iOS app

There is just a ton more detail in the Web map vs. the iOS map.

Is this something that I can fix? Is this lack of detail something that https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/893561/ improves?

RE: Lack of details on "Topo" map in iOS Explore vs. Explore Website

8259601 — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 01:01:44 GMT

Thank you for that example. There's more detail in what you are showing, but I still like the Web version best of all (one detail: it clearly shows that the trail to the peak is actually a paved road, vs. just a trail).

It's confusing with all these map options which differ between mobile and web versions.

RE: Lack of details on "Topo" map in iOS Explore vs. Explore Website

JungleJim — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 17:18:39 GMT

Outdoor Maps+ will give you additional map layers on top of the default TopoActive maps in Explore app (and on a compatible Garmin device). Note that Explore web uses different mapping and is not compatible with Outdoor Maps+.

As for an example of what the map in Explore app looks like with Outdoor Maps+ layers turned on, see this screenshot:

This is with additional layers for buildings, tree species, contour lines and contour shading.

RE: Cannot sync course with course points to GPSMAP H1

JungleJim — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 19:59:22 GMT

Hi Garmin - SP , thanks for your reply.

I did a new test after removing the Explore app and reinstalling it. I created a course and changed the name and icon of two course points while creating the course, and this course synced correctly. I also created a second course and changed the name and icon of two course points after saving the course in Explore app, and this also synced correctly.

So unsure now what caused the original issue. I've encountered it a couple of times in the past, but not sure what exact sequence of actions triggers the issue. Not really looking forward to uninstall and reinstalling every time I encounter issues like this, does not seem really confidence inspiring.

Cannot sync course with course points to GPSMAP H1

JungleJim — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 20:50:25 GMT

Interesting issue with Garmin Explore iOS (version 4.11) and my GPSMAP H1 (with firmware 7.07).

When I create a course in Garmin Explore app, add named course points to that course and then sync, the created course does not show up on the H1 in the Saved Data app.

If I instead try to navigate the course (by selecting the course and pressing the Navigate button with by H1 paired), a message appears that the course is synced to the device. But after a couple of seconds an error message appears in Explore that synchronization has failed.

When I create a course without named course points, the course shows up on the H1 after a sync of my library.

Anyone else seeing this as well?

RE: Cannot sync course with course points to GPSMAP H1

Garmin - SP — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 19:37:45 GMT

Have you removed the Explore app and reinstalled it to see if that changes anything?

RE: Cannot sync course with course points to GPSMAP H1

JungleJim — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 19:23:49 GMT

I could only get the course to sync after changing its name. Just changing the name or icons of course points didn't work.

RE: Cannot sync course with course points to GPSMAP H1

empe — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 17:23:19 GMT

That happens to me too. But when you change the icon and the name of the course point, the course syncs without a problem. It also syncs without a problem, when there are already other course points in the course, which are made from waypoints or poi from the map.

Komoot routes with course points

empe — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:49:48 GMT

By chance I recognized that routes made in Komoot are now transferred tp Garmin Explore with embedded highlights as course points. This seems to be new. And even better, now the routes can be edited and will not be truncated as before. It is possible to add course points in GE mobil without that the other course points vanish.

That all sounds good, but I made some not so good experience. As it may depending from the device, I posted it in the forum of the GPSMAP H1. Maybe on other devices Komoot routes are working better. Here is a link to my post: https://forums.garmin.com/outdoor-recreation/inreach/f/gpsmap-h1i-plus/431798/komoot-routes-with-course-points

Garmin explore y CarPlay

6484197 — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:58:48 GMT

seria interesante que la aplicación explore fuese compatible con el sistema CarPlay, igual que lo son los software de otra marca.

se esta valorando esta actualización?

RE: Garmin explore asks a device update for Venu 4

paulinyokohama — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 20:41:50 GMT

Does anyone from Garmin read these things? Three months later, on firmware 15.33, same nonsense is happening, Explore says an update is required. Update to what? And how? Garmin people, read this and please address it. Otherwise, really, Apple Watch does the job.

RE: Search nearby saved no more shows saved activities and tracks

Garmin - DK — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 20:52:39 GMT

Are you able to scroll through and/or select the View List option to see if more than just waypoints show?

Using the screenshot on the right as an example, try swiping the "All Saints Anglican Church" tile to the left to see additional entries.

Search nearby saved no more shows saved activities and tracks

empe — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 11:46:34 GMT

Since update to version 4.9, in the map section the function "search nearby saved" no more shows activities and tracks. It now shows only the saved waypoints. I like how the waypoints are now highlighted, but I miss the list of nearby activities and tracks.