Texting With Your Garmin inReach Mini

In this video I give a short tutorial using your garmin inReach mini to text. You can easily connect your smartphone with your garmin inreach mini and then easily send and receive text messages via your phone, even when you don't have cell service. Keep in mind, your inreach plan may charge you extra for using this feature, so check your plan before you go sending a million custom text messages!
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[@TheParadisecove]

Everyone here is saying it...but it bears repeating...clear and concise explanation...you done good girl..!! :)

[@AdventurePlusMe]

Thank you so much for saying that!

[@cstacey7126]

Thanks again for another VERY helpful video. The folks at Garmin should be paying you!!

[@AdventurePlusMe]

😂 thanks c Stacey!

[@jamesmarshall7551]

Thank you! Your expanation was concise and to the point which is very much appreciated.

[@amandatowner8720]

I am buying a Garmin Inreach Mini 2 soon. Heading our for a month long road trip to the midwest and then up to the New England states. My family always worries that something will happen to me so I figured this was the best way to reassure them other than cancelling my plans! Thanks for this video! Great information!

[@AdventurePlusMe]

Awesome! Hopefully having that will help ease their anxieties! Have a great trip!

[@abyields7831]

You’re so thorough, thank you for taking the time to share with us!

[@heatherszilagyi1487]

Thank you!!! There are so many Garmin apps out there, I had no idea which one to use. I'm relieved this one works in Canada.

[@cgsansone]

Thank you for simplifying and clarifying what is otherwise a fairly non-user-friendly experience.

[@Earlywinters09]

This is the best explanation I've seen. Thanks!

[@AdventurePlusMe]

I’m so glad this was helpful!

[@BlackdogADV]

Thanks, I just subscribed! Got my Inreach mini 2 a few weeks ago. The husky pup thought it was a chew toy and destroyed it. Garmin took care of me so I’m operational again.

[@Bryan-wc3et]

Just set mine up today. Great video, was looking for this exact info thanks

[@richardsantos6304]

This is an excellent tutorial. Thank-you.

[@AdventurePlusMe]

Thanks!

[@scottboyan]

Definitely helped me! Thank you.

[@garywheeler2055]

Great explanation. Thank you 🙏

[@smithbilly10]

Very clear and helpful

[@jdhayes]

Thanks - I was wondering how to do this, and this was perfect. Thanks

[@jameskeough4620]

Good job. Thanks for the info.

[@brandonwilson5032]

Nice video as always!

[@eliasmora715]

great ,planing on getting one for desert riding.... just in case

[@CLH126]

Good job, Put Put. Thanks for the instructions. I'm an Apple Guy, but if I was headed out on a thru-hike, the Inreach Mini-2 is the way to go. I think it has 4-day+ battery life, too. (I may be wrong about that.) ;)

[@garywheeler2055]

Helped me a lot!!!

[@AdventurePlusMe]

Awesome!

[@edgoodwin9939]

Great video, thanks. I have a question, Say I’m in an area with no cell signal and the Inreach is turned off and someone sends me a text. Obviously I won’t get the text until I get back to a good signal area. Question is, can I power up the inreach and then recieve texts I missed ?

[@veroniquediallo6055]

Who knew! This was a great tutorial. About the water situation for the AZT, are you considering taking a little more water than planned? I know water is heavy....Thanks again.

[@AdventurePlusMe]

Thanks Veronique! I plan on having carrying capacity to technically carry up to 5 Liters. However, I’m hoping that I never have to carry more than 4 Liters.

[@veroniquediallo6055]

@@AdventurePlusMe Okay! Cool beans.

[@victorfelix5269]

Can you see the hiking trail that your on .on your phone when you connect the mini 2

[@beararms6945]

So can you not type on the inreach like you can with the spot x ?

[@stephenclapp7200]

Thank you. The menu items in the video for the inreach did not match mine. Same for the earthmate app. Not much help.

[@kokardoi2203]

Hi!! Excellent video. Can you add contacts to the inReach itself?

[@AdventurePlusMe]

I believe you can type in a phone number in the “To” section, so you don’t need to necessarily grab the contact info from using your phone contacts

[@jeremybige6624]

Thanks for the video :) Does the reception of a message count as a send one ? For exemple if I suscribe for a recreation plan I have 40 messages included. If I send a message and I get an answer, does it count like 2 messages ? Thanks !

[@AdventurePlusMe]

Correct, both the sent message and the received message count as a message, so 2 messages.

[@Aftrons]

@@AdventurePlusMe If you have cell reception by the time someone responds, does it still count as a message or charge you?

[@bobgaines2399]

Thank you for this great video. I just got my In Reach Mini 2 up and running. I was wondering what number my family would text to if they needed to get in touch with me (not in response to a text I sent). I will be out of cell phone service where Ill be backpacking. Still trying to learn all the "ins and outs" of this device

[@kluemaster]

They can ONLY respond to a message you send. It's to prevent you from being charged for spam recieved.. send a preset getting started message to all those you want to be able to communicate with you and as long as they respond to that message, it will go to you

[@AdventurePlusMe]

Thanks Alan Paris for answering Bob Gaines’s question! I’ve been out on the AZT and haven’t been able to respond to comments as often as I’d like. Cheers!

[@AdventurePlusMe]

Alan Paris’s reply is correct. Sorry for the delay. I’ve been on the AZT and haven’t been able to respond to comments as often as I’d like. Enjoy your new inReach! Cheers!

[@TonyHobbs]

Is this on Explore App now How do people message you that it reaches you via mini not lost in space as no data lol

Can you send emojis via phone app?

[@outdoorwilderness5299]

Can we recieve message without sending message ?

[@michaelobrien2190]

Thanks for the video! Can you help with a few questions? 1) You get 3 pre-set messages that you can send for free with the InReach. Are these delivered as texts, emails, or is it your choice? 2) If someone responds to one of the pre-set (e.g. 'Glad you arrived safely!') - I assume this could go to you and count as a text? 3) For the pre-set messages, can you have them set up to go to a group? IOW, if on a scouting trip, can it be set up that all the parents get notifications?

[@AdventurePlusMe]

1) you can have them delivered as texts or emails, ahead of time (online in your inReach account) you set up the email or phone numbers you want the preset messages to go to. 2) if someone responds to a preset message, it comes back to you on your inReach as a text (that costs extra) or within the Garmin inReach app on your phone if you have them synced up via Bluetooth. 3) Ahead of time, online in your Garmin inReach account you set up what emails and phone numbers you want the preset messages to go to. In this way it’s kind of like setting it up as a group. But you can’t designate different groups (not that I’m aware of anyway). Hope this is helpful!

[@michaelobrien2190]

@@AdventurePlusMe This is SO helpful! Thanks so much!

[@ddover49]

Is it true the InReach mini will not work with iphone, but only android cell phones? Also, if your InReach is turned off when someone messages you, I think on the video you showed we can turn the inReach on and check for messages left earlier, correct? And is there really no way to initiate a text message, but only reply to a text message someone has sent? I'm wondering if one way to get around not being able to initiate a text message, could the other party text us, and then at a later time of our choosing return the text? If that was the case the other party could always send an additional "text in waiting," that we can respond to when we want?

[@AdventurePlusMe]

The inReach definitely works with an iPhone. It did for my AZT thru hike and I was using an iPhone 13 mini. You can check for messages left earlier by turning the inReach back on, yes. You, the person using the inReach, has to initiate a message for someone to message you back…not the other way around. Hopefully that was helpful! Cheers!

[@ehauck33]

Can you send custom texts (not pre-scripted) without connecting to a phone? Is there a virtual keyboard? Thanks!

[@AdventurePlusMe]

You can. You can select one letter at a time and “text” out a message

[@robinarmstrong9996]

When you text someone from the inreach mini, what phone number will the recipient see from the text?

[@AdventurePlusMe]

It’ll be a random number that you and the recipient won’t know until the recipient receives that first message. At that point the recipient will then have the number. If you want to know ahead of time, send yourself a message w it at home before the trip.

[@XPrincess30]

How much does it cost to send a text?

[@RavenRockGamersLodge]

Sooo once the app is downloaded can two people without service in different locations communicate with eachother? Is it sending via satellite?

[@RavenRockGamersLodge]

Both having a Garmin iReach as well obviously.

[@AdventurePlusMe]

Correct, if both parties have an inReach they can communicate with each other because it is using satellite.

[@RavenRockGamersLodge]

@@AdventurePlusMe that's awesome. Very handy. Good compliment to a ham.

[@RavenRockGamersLodge]

@@AdventurePlusMe Thank you for your reply btw 👍

[@Bl_Radio]

Go ahead and

[@markanderson5290]

GO AHEAD and press that BUH EN At least you don’t use “like” in every sentence. Thanks for the good info. buT, had to go ahead and hit stop, early. Message delivery is as important as message content.

[@nxmrjake]

😂😂😂

[@thepatternforms859]

Does it cost money each month to have messaging ability? Or is this free?

[@AdventurePlusMe]

It depends on which plan you choose. The most basic plan includes 10 free messages, the 50 cents for each additional.

[@luisdonaldocolossio]

I think is free

[@thepatternforms859]

@@luisdonaldocolossio nope subscription based

[@billruttan117]

Ask your correspondents to NOT send emojis, as the Mini cannot display them.

[@AdventurePlusMe]

Oh my gosh, yes, this is true on the inReach. However, they will display within the Earthmate app if you pair them and then sync your messages. But, the emoji’s do cause the character count to be higher, so if you’re not on an unlimited plan it can become a problem if folks send too many of those darn emoji’s!

[@ynotjf]

And of course you realize it cost $0.50 every time you send or receive a message via the InReach? But prearranged “check-in” messages are very limited but free.

[@AdventurePlusMe]

you do get 10 free custom messages per month. Yes, after that it’s 0.50 for each custom message. Though, for some, including myself, having the preset messages (free) and the ability to hit SOS and actually communicate with first responders with real messaging is a great feature. I use custom messages only occasionally, but it’s a great feature if you’re needing to communicate with someone and you don’t have cell service. But yeah, I limit how often I use custom messaging

[@fitpacking8790]

No slight on you, but there is no possible world in which the inReach Mini is worth the 4 ounces you save over the regular sized inReach. Even with your tutorial, I find the mini to be extraordinarily difficult, cumbersome and frustrating.

[@oklahomahank2378]

It is not necessary to say “go ahead” before each command.

[@AdventurePlusMe]

🤣

[@joysoul4089]

yes! got to where I could hardly listen. Otherwise excellent.

[@anuvadave]

By the end of the vid i had gone so far ahead I had no idea where i was.

[@jacquitaylor7683]

😂 Dave White 😂

[@gregjones8882]

Thank You

[@robinarmstrong9996]

Robin

[@dustyroads834]

I know the inreach is the gold standard for satellite communications but in my opinion without a dedicated phone # it’s valueless. 99.9 % of us are going to have a cell phone with us anyway. So. Use a Zoleo so your friends and family can contact you in an emergency. Can you imagine if there was an emergency at home and there is no way for your family to contact you??

[@AdventurePlusMe]

But they can contact you if you’ve already given them your inReach info. Every time you turn the inReach on it checks for incoming messages. I’m not saying the inReach is the only, or the best, option…but it does let family contact you, and vice versa, so I wouldn’t say it’s valueless. I had family contact me numerous times via my inReach while I was thru hiking the AZT

[@AG-pc7ro]

Good lord, just buy a burner phone if you want to make a tutorial. I stopped watching after deciding the giant black box was just going to keep obscuring the view. This might as well have been an audio only tutorial. The answer I was looking for appears to be "yes, the device will pair with a phone to facilitate texting"

[@peterpiper487]

People are very curious animals... and sometimes really stupid. Getting away from it all means getting away from electronics as well. Your soul needs the solitude.

[@richyoung4051]

okay fine dont get one. i pray you dont get turned around and hopelessly lost without one with no reception or any way to grt help. because you will look back to this rude comment you made here and feel reaaaly regretful. be safe out there on your trips and think before you speak

[@SuperSpikedog1]

Garmin is rubbish. Ours, after 4 months, lasts for less than 18 on standby. Rubbish consumer item that belong in the trash and not for anything serious. Maybe for kids in the backyard.

[@paid9mm]

I had to go-ahead and stop watching