Garmin has announced a free Google Maps app is now available in the Connect IQ Store, bringing dedicated turn-by-turn navigation to compatible smartwatches. This news could be huge for runners like me, who like getting notified with on-the-go direction when it’s time to make a turn along the route. However, this news is currently nothing for runners like me, who only have an iPhone and not an Android. If you are a dual Garmin/Android user, though, here’s how to take advantage of this free maps feature on your smartwatch.
What Garmin’s Google Maps app can do for you
Now that Garmin offers a free Google Maps option, the process is pretty straightforward. After entering a destination into Google Maps on your Android phone, the app delivers turn-by-turn directions directly to your paired smartwatch. Users receive notifications for each upcoming turn while walking, running, or cycling, creating a much more seamless navigation experience compared to constantly checking your phone.
Of course, this is Garmin we’re talking about, so the Google Maps app works alongside activity tracking. Users can simultaneously record their walks, runs, or bike rides while receiving navigation guidance, all while tracking metrics like distance and heart rate without interruption.
Even if you’re not using your Garmin to actively track a workout, this feature is great for pedestrians navigating busy urban environments. Instead of constantly checking your phone while crossing streets or moving through crowds, you can receive gentle vibrations on their Garmin smartwatch to signal upcoming turns. For additional context, a simple tap on the watch screen displays the next three turns in the route.
Once users complete their journey, they can sync their activity data from Garmin Connect to other Android health and fitness apps through Health Connect. This connectivity provides enhanced flexibility and broader integration with users’ existing fitness ecosystems.
How to download Garmin’s Google Maps app
The Google Maps app is available for free download from the Connect IQ Store. The app requires an Android smartphone running Google Maps and is compatible with select models from Garmin’s main Venu, Forerunner, Vivoactive, and Fenix product lines.
It’s important to note that the current version of this app is fairly limited. It only provides basic turn-by-turn directions, and you need to locate your destination specifically using the Google Maps mobile app on an Android, and that Android phone needs to stay kept in range. On the app’s listing on Garmin’s Connect IQ store, there’s no mention of support for iPhones or iOS.
If you don’t feel like downloading Garmin’s Google Maps app, some Reddit users have pointed out that this sort of navigation was already achievable through standard notification forwarding. All you’d need to do was plan a route on Google Maps, turn off your phone screen, and let Google Maps send notifications to your Garmin watch. Still, the new dedicated app should bring a more purpose-built experience compared to relying on general notification forwarding. It offers features like that three-turn preview, and it’s specifically designed to work with Garmin’s interface.
