Garmin Explore iOS - Recent Threads

RE: Certain activities not synced to Garmin Explore

Albe — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 05:31:54 GMT

Hi moolash,

A little bit of context to complete the picture.

I have a GPSMAP H1, not a fēnix 8. Although they have many features in common, the fēnix 8 and the H1 are two different beasts, I'd say, and the former is designed more for communicating with Connect, the latter with Explore. Connect's primary object is the activity. Explore's primary object is the course, and activity management seems like a secondary addition that still needs to be refined.

In fact, even in my setup, although rarely, it can happen that an activity doesn't sync to Explore. But if I convert the activity to a course on the H1 and resync, the course will definitely end up in Explore. I'm not interested in the "sports" aspects of an activity, so a course is fine for me.

In fact, to be honest, all I need is a GPX track to archive and use elsewhere, perhaps after a bit of cleaning. On the H1, I can set a dual saving strategy for activities (FIT and GPX). When I save the activity, the GPX track goes to the /GARMIN/GPXActivities folder, from which I can retrieve it via USB.

I can't look more closely now, but I seem to understand that the fēnix 8 doesn't give you the option to convert an activity into a course or directly output it as a GPX. But if, like for me, a course or track is more than enough for you, you can easily import your Norwegian walks into Explore (or elsewhere). Perhaps the fastest way is to convert the activity into a GPX track with Connect web and then import it into Explore, which has a dedicated function (the track is imported as a course).

🤞

Certain activities not synced to Garmin Explore

moolash — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:32:48 GMT

I don't use Garmin Explore all the time but when I do I have a lot of issues. The whole thing is a little confusing.

However, now I have activities synced from my Fenix 8 watch to a collection but a period from mid May until beginning of July is missing.
We had a trip to Norway with some hikes and walks and those are not synced. They are otherwise available in Garmin Connect of course.

Any idea why?

RE: Certain activities not synced to Garmin Explore

Albe — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 22:32:40 GMT

Hi, moolash,

From what I see, it's a recurring problem.

The synchronization between devices, Explore, and Connect (apps and websites) is an opaque mystery. I don't think Garmin has ever published a schema of it.

For example, it could be that an activity is synced with Connect, marked as already transferred, and therefore not picked up by Explore. A bug. God only knows.

Honestly, I'm not interested in getting to the bottom of this. To avoid trouble, while waiting for better times I stick to these two rules:

I don't pair both Explore and Connect to my device, but only one of them—Explore: Connect is too much of a social and fitness thing for an old codger like me :)

I don't use Explore as an archive for storing tracks, routes, and so on (for that, I use other apps). I use Explore, when necessary, only to transfer files to and from my device before and after a trip to the mountains or something like that, and after syncing, I always check to see if it was successful (which usually is).

P.S.

As for software updates, I try to prevent Explore from installing them, which is terribly slow, by intercepting them in advance with Garmin Express (via USB). But that's a separate issue.

RE: Feature request: prompt before firmware download/install in Explore

Albe — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 06:20:48 GMT

Done. Thank you.

Feature request: prompt before firmware download/install in Explore

Albe — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 23:24:02 GMT

I would greatly appreciate it if Garmin could add a simple feature to the Explore app. Specifically, I would like the app to prompt me before downloading and installing a software update on my GPSMAP device. If I choose to cancel the operation, the app should do so.

Updating the software via Bluetooth with Explore honestly takes too long. I prefer to do it via USB with Garmin Express on my computer before syncing activities, collection and other data between Explore and the device. However, I might want to sync even when I don’t have a computer at hand, such as during a hike. If a new firmware version is released in the meantime (perhaps half an hour earlier), Explore will start downloading and transferring it to the device without prompting.

At the moment, the only way to interrupt the transfer (the most time-consuming phase of the entire operation) is to abruptly close Explore or disable Bluetooth. This would arguably be the third-best solution (after a preliminary prompt, as suggested above, and a Cancel button to safely abort an ongoing transfer) if I were confident that the system handles this incomplete state correctly. For instance, if I return home and switch to Express to update, will Express detect and delete the incompletely transferred file, and start the operation anew? Or will I encounter misleading error messages and strange behavior that prevent me from completing the update and force me to perform a master reset?

RE: Feature request: prompt before firmware download/install in Explore

Garmin - SP — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 18:07:27 GMT

We love having feedback provided by our users to improve their experiences. In order to get your suggestions and feature requests heard and to the right place, please submit them at https://www.garmin.com/en-US/forms/ideas/

RE: Feature request: prompt before firmware download/install in Explore

SergZak — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 06:02:23 GMT

Just so it's known, I am WallyGator over at GPSrChive so my replies both here and over there may coincide with each other..

[quote userid="2448001" url="~/apps-software/mobile-apps-web/f/garmin-explore-ios/441327/feature-request-prompt-before-firmware-download-install-in-explore/2053353"]What would be needed, instead, would be to be able to perform the normal syncing while safely rejecting or aborting a firmware download/transfer via BLE.”[/quote]

Hence, my suggestion of the three options in my post above:

1. Push the update no matter what (this is currently how it works)

2. Prompt before pushing the update

3. Do NOT push the update at all

All other syncing of data would remain the same

Either way, I have always found the syncing of the firmware update from Garmin Explore to the the device itself a huge waste of time. Like you, I have always updated via GarminExpress and prefer that means of updating.

RE: Feature request: prompt before firmware download/install in Explore

Albe — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 04:29:38 GMT

Yes, “Sync with Explore App” is not a solution. If I may quote myself :), just yesterday I wrote a post on GPSrChive (Garmin GPS Receivers > Garmin GPSMAP > GPSMAP H1 > GPSMAP H1/H1i Plus Firmware 12.06) that ends like this:

“Version 12.06 hasn't been offered to me yet, so I can't test the feature. However, I don't think it solves the issue…

It's true that by blocking sync [with “Sync with Explore App”], I can open Explore near the device (a GPSMAP H1) without fear of experiencing a download-and-transfer process that takes ages, but this way, I can't even perform the normal syncing of activities, collections, and so on. What would be needed, instead, would be to be able to perform the normal syncing while safely rejecting or aborting a firmware download/transfer via BLE.”

RE: Feature request: prompt before firmware download/install in Explore

SergZak — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 02:52:29 GMT

Agreed. But I believe there should be three options available to the user:

1. Push the update no matter what (this is currently how it works)

2. Prompt before pushing the update

3. Do NOT push the update at all

Transfer is slow as a slug and if it happens when you're trying to sync data between the devices, it just makes it even slower.

The new feature in GPSMAP H1 & eTrex Touch (Gen 2) firmware v12.06 called "Sync with Explore App" (On or Off) has maybe partially remedied this. If disabling "Sync with Explore App" will also kill the firmware update transfer, this whole thing is only half fixed since if you turn "Sync with Explore App" back on to sync data, it will also sync the firmware update if one is there, waiting to be pushed to the device..

I believe the three options I've suggested above will be best way to solve this issue.

RE: Fenix 7X Pro + Garmin Explore - Constant updates and beep every 3-4 min during activities

Albe — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:00:28 GMT

With **Prefer device location** turned on, Explore uses the location data that come from the watch; with **Prefer device location** turned off, Explore uses the phone's GPS.

I can't check on my H1 now. Does anything (good) happen if you disable the option? Try with **Sync Current Activity** both on and off.

Fenix 7X Pro + Garmin Explore - Constant updates and beep every 3-4 min during activities

MarinaMar — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:41:39 GMT

Hi all,

I'm getting continuous updates and an annoying beep every 3-4 minutes while using *Garmin Explore* with my *Fenix 7X Pro*.
It happens during *Hiking* and *Biking* activities.

The issue occurs both when I’m following a course/route and when I’m just walking or biking with no course loaded.
I haven’t changed any settings recently, but the watch still keeps updating and beeping even with no route.

Question:
How can I disable these constant updates/beeps?
Is there a setting in Garmin Explore sync, Activity Alerts, or Map settings that causes this?

Device: Fenix 7X Pro Solar Sapphire 26.09
App: Garmin Explore 4.14.1
Activities: Hiking, Biking

Thanks in advance for any help!

RE: Fenix 7X Pro + Garmin Explore - Constant updates and beep every 3-4 min during activities

MarinaMar — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 10:37:50 GMT

it’s ON

RE: Fenix 7X Pro + Garmin Explore - Constant updates and beep every 3-4 min during activities

Albe — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 08:35:15 GMT

Marina,

in Explore, tab Map, tap the button with three layers, then the button with the ellipsis and finally select Map Settings. If you scroll to the bottom of the page, you will see an option **Prefer Device Location**. What is its current setting? Is it on or off?

RE: Fenix 7X Pro + Garmin Explore - Constant updates and beep every 3-4 min during activities

Albe — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 11:58:26 GMT

Ok, I tried now the same sequence with my GPSMAP H1 and Explore 4.14.1, and wasn’t able to reproduce the issue(s).

If I disable Sync Current Activity I nonetheless see my position on the map (the blue triangle) in Explore.

If I enable Sync Current Activity, I don’t get the beeps and the “Completed” messages (I let the thing run almost ten minutes).

Explore seems to behave well in my setting, so the culprit could likely be the Fēnix software.

Someone could easily suggest to perform a master reset on the watch (a Delete All, on my H1), and/or to reinstall Explore.

This might work but, before that, you could post a message to the Fēnix 7 forum (Outdoor Recreation > Wearables > fēnix 7 Series), and see whether something relevant pops up at gpsrchive.com.

Cross fingers again :)

RE: Fenix 7X Pro + Garmin Explore - Constant updates and beep every 3-4 min during activities

MarinaMar — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 09:09:01 GMT

Tried it again now to give you a proper reply.

I start the watch.

I open Explore to see my track on the map.

Then I start the activity.

If I choose "Sync", every 1 minute and 50 seconds it beeps and says "Completed".

Of course, if I don't select Sync my watch does not beep.

But in that case, how can I see my position on the map/route on the screen of the cellphone?

The map on the watch is too small to my sight 😞

RE: Fenix 7X Pro + Garmin Explore - Constant updates and beep every 3-4 min during activities

Albe — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 07:54:24 GMT

I’m not sure I understand. You

start an activity on your watch,
launch Explore on your phone, and
if you disable Sync Current Activity, you don’t see your position on the map in Explore (the blue triangle). Alternatively,
if you enable Sync Current Activity, you see your position but get those annoying updates.

Correct?

RE: Fenix 7X Pro + Garmin Explore - Constant updates and beep every 3-4 min during activities

MarinaMar — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 05:13:16 GMT

Thanks. I need to keep Garmin Explore running to follow the route with my phone mounted on my bike handlebars. I can’t really do it just on the watch.
If I disable the updates, I lose my position on the map.
I‘m pretty sure it didn’t happen in 2025.

RE: Fenix 7X Pro + Garmin Explore - Constant updates and beep every 3-4 min during activities

Albe — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 21:07:49 GMT

Ciao,

I'm just guessing, because I don't have a Fēnix 7 and I don't know what settings you have on your Fēnix and in Explore.

But I have a question:

Why do you need to keep Explore on during activities? If you don't really need it, keep it shut down (shut down, not just in the background).

If you really need Explore on, try this: go to the Devices tab (or Dispositivi, or whatever it is in Italian) and disable Sync Current Activity (or whatever).

🤞

RE: Garmin Explore freezes on iphone when navigating using Instinct 3 Solar

ScooterP — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 06:52:18 GMT

Hi guys. I believe I have resolved the issue by deleting the app and all data and then reinstalling the app. It retrieved my routes and now the navigate function doesn’t freeze. Have been for 4 rides and all works so far. Fingers crossed

Garmin Explore freezes on iphone when navigating using Instinct 3 Solar

ScooterP — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:24:00 GMT

The Explore app freezes on my iphone within a minute after I start riding. I have to close the app and re-open and then it synchs to current watch position but will freeze again shortly after. If I don't sych to watch and start riding the app will track correctly but obviously no course information. I have tried turning off the Lock function on my phone and powering my phone with a power bank while riding but neither of these makes any difference. Garmin have also replaced the watch with no change.

These are the steps as below

1. Activate the App on iPhone

2. Respond to request on Watch

3. State the activity on the watch

If I don’t do step 3 the app seems ok.

Is anyone else having this issue

Recording activities directly on iphone app

NMCooper — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 19:02:10 GMT

Can I record an activity directly from the Garmin Explore iPhone app or do I need to use my GPS or watch then have it sync later?

RE: Recording activities directly on iphone app

JungleJim — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 19:53:57 GMT

Nope, you need a compatible Garmin device to record an activity. Recorded activities will be synced to Explore so that you can view them in the app.

RE: Garmin Explore freezes on iphone when navigating using Instinct 3 Solar

Garmin - JH — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 19:16:23 GMT

JungleJim I've reached out to you by email. Please respond to me there so I can get more details from you and further assist.

RE: Garmin Explore freezes on iphone when navigating using Instinct 3 Solar

JungleJim — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 19:55:43 GMT

Encountering the exact same issue with the Explore app and my GPSMAP H1. When the H1 is recording an activity, and I open the Explore app, the app simply freezes on the map screen. No interaction is possible at all.

RE: Garmin Explore freezes on iphone when navigating using Instinct 3 Solar

Garmin - SP — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 19:17:44 GMT

Thank you. It does look like you were in touch with our Australia support team via email and they did get you added to an investigation ticket for this concern. Please keep an eye out on this thread, but also via your email thread with them for any meaningful updates on this.