A complete mobile trip planning solution for compatible Garmin devices
Pros & Cons
Strong Garmin ecosystem integration for seamless pairing and data sharing
Robust offline and streaming map capabilities for planning and in-field navigation
Unlimited cloud storage and comprehensive trip planning features (waypoints, tracks, courses, activities)
Live tracking enables real-time location sharing with loved ones
Extensive permissions required (location, SMS, accounts, etc.) and background GPS may impact battery life
Cloud storage relies on Garmin account setup; users should review permissions and account requirements
Some advanced features require paired Garmin devices and compatible services, which may limit use for non-Garmin users
About Garmin Explore™
Garmin Explore™ is a maps & navigation app developed by Garmin.
Download Statistics
Garmin Explore™ has been downloaded 2.2 million times. In the last 30 days, the app was downloaded 28 thousand times. It is ranked in the top 100 maps & navigation apps.
User Ratings
Garmin Explore™ is rated 3.76 out of 5 stars. The rating is based on 5.2 thousand ratings.
App Information
Garmin Explore™ is FREE to download. The APK download size is 135.64 MB. The latest version available is 4.14.1. The last update was on May 22, 2026.
Technical Requirements
Garmin Explore™ requires Android 9.0+ or higher. The app has a content rating of Everyone. The app has been available on Google Play October 2018.
Description
PAIR, SYNC AND SHARE With Garmin Explore, you can pair your smartphone or tablet1 with your compatible Garmin device2 to sync and share data for off-grid adventures. Use downloadable maps for navigation anywhere. • Garmin Explore needs SMS permission to allow you to receive and send SMS text messages from your Garmin devices. We also need call log permission to display incoming calls on your devices. • Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.
OFF-GRID NAVIGATION When paired with your compatible Garmin device2, the Garmin Explore app lets you use your mobile device for outdoor navigation, trip planning, mapping, and more — with or without Wi-Fi® connectivity or cellular service.
SEARCH TOOL Easily locate geographic points — such as trailheads or mountain summits — associated with your adventure.
STREAMING MAPS For pre-trip planning, you can use the Garmin Explore app to stream maps when you’re within cellular or Wi-Fi range — saving valuable time as well as storage space on your mobile device. Download maps for offline use when venturing outside cellular range.
EASY TRIP PLANNING Plan your next trip by downloading maps and creating courses. Specify your start and finish points, and automatically create a course you can sync with your compatible Garmin device2.
ACTIVITY LIBRARY Under the Saved tab, review and edit your organized data, including your saved waypoints, tracks, courses, and activities. See map thumbnails to easily recognize your trips.
SAVED COLLECTIONS The collections list allows you to quickly find all data related to any trip — making it easy to sort and locate the course or location you’re looking for.
CLOUD STORAGE The waypoints, courses, and activities you’ve created will automatically sync to your Garmin Explore web account when you’re within cellular or Wi-Fi range, preserving your activity data with cloud storage. A Garmin account is required for storing your data in the cloud.
LIVETRACK™ With the use of the LiveTrack™ feature, loved ones can follow your location in real time3 and see data such as distance, time and elevation. What You Get with Garmin Explore • Unlimited map downloads; access topographic maps, USGS quad sheets, and more • Aerial imagery • Waypoints, tracking and route navigation • High-detail GPS trip logging and location sharing • Unlimited cloud storage of routes, waypoints, tracks, and activities • Online trip planning
1 See compatible devices at Garmin.com/BLE 2 See a full list of compatible devices at explore.garmin.com/appcompatibility 3 When used with your compatible smartphone, the Garmin Explore® app and when used with your compatible inReach-enabled Garmin device.
The Bluetooth word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Garmin is under license.
Recent changes: 🐛 Various bug fixes and improvements
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Fantastic Garmin app for plotting routes and POIs, and syncing them with my Garmin etrex SE. So easy and pain free. Love it
★★★★☆Pouria S· Jan 19, 2026
Nice to see trails have been added to this app but the way Garmin Trails look in Garmin Connect is much better than this app. They need to make them look the same. Also would be able to add other search filters like "snowshoe" also, rather than going into the Garmin trails section it would be better to use the search magnifier. Also with All trail now being so cheap and compatible with Rogers Satellite I think Garmin needs to rethink their pricing.
★★★★★jack49813275· Jan 9, 2026
Garmin products are highly reliable and of excellent quality. However, I respectfully request Garmin’s consideration to incorporate support for Malaysia’s official topographic coordinate reference systems, namely West Malayan RSO (Kertau 1948) and Borneo RSO (Timbalai 1948). The inclusion of these coordinate systems would significantly improve positional accuracy and usability for local topographic mapping and field navigation in Malaysia.
★★☆☆☆Gareth Evans· Feb 8, 2026
Couldn't find a cycle route option and the hiking route creator didn't snap to footpaths the default was to go by road. OS maps are better just takes an extra step to add the GPX to your watch. Also, no library of other user maps to share, unless I missed the feature because I had already given up on it.
★★☆☆☆adryan maldonado· Apr 19, 2026
Garmin, you have to do something about the map optimization in this app. It is so horrible to use. It's slow and janky
★☆☆☆☆Matteo Johnson· Jun 27, 2026
Moved previously free offline maps function behind a paywall. I already gave you quite a lot of money for a watch with said functions.
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