Garmin Smartphone Link Reviews

by R.Dot1977

GarminSmartphoneLink is absolutely horrible. Fitst time i tried to connect this worked absolutely amazing. After iPhone update it completely drops connection all the time. I updated the gps software. Still the same problem. Bought a second gps unit to replace the first one I purchased( wasn’t even a month old) and the same issue is happening. Why can’t you guys get this right. Customer service wasn't much help. Had me do a bunch of logs to see what the problem was and finally it worked. All of two days and back to the same problem as before. GarminSmartphoneLink needs fixing!!!!! Im a truck driver and i depend on getting updates on traffic. Have to run gps and either maps or waze to get updates on traffic. Just ridiculous. If i could give no stars i would.

by Khggbvfer

Just updated GarminSmartphoneLink on my iPhone 8 to work with my dēzl 580. All GarminSmartphoneLink does, as it always has, is make the unit not perform at the most inappropriate times. While using GarminSmartphoneLink connected to my dēzl I’ve been directed more than once to “ROAD CLOSED” signs and needed to back up and make a U-turn. IN A SEMI TRUCK. Only with iOS Services connected does the unit announce “lost satellite reception” and take literally several minutes to figure out where I am. That’s REALLY BAD when I’m on a new route and don’t know where I need to turn. As reported by other reviewers, often the best way to get from point A to point B is to ignore the route directed by the unit (I’ve saved literally a half hour on some routes of only 200 miles by ignoring the Garmin four or five times). Before these experiences I’ve always been happy with Garmin units I’ve purchased for my cars. Also, like other reviewers, I feel the need to use Google Maps in tandem with my dēzl for reliable traffic data. Please, get your act together, Garmin.

by Tim Cook Monk

I mean why do you even need this useless app. This is buggy confusing and doesn’t work et al. It could be great if I have GarminSmartphoneLink and I could just lunch Google map to GarminSmartphoneLink and it can show me on the device without much fuss. Just simply mirror Google maps directions on the device directly or via GarminSmartphoneLink. That could make it more easier. Even if I save next direction on GarminSmartphoneLink that doesn’t show up on the screen. They are still like ving in 90s. Now a days itinerary plans change fast so they must have lot easier options to quickest possible way to feed info and get going without making complicated nonsense. AppStore should remove GarminSmartphoneLink because the customer satisfaction is just 2 stars. AppStore must warn developers that if they won’t give attention then due to low quality of app and reviews they will remove app in 2 weeks. That way these developers would keep their butts up to provide quality.

by RK1963

I purchased a 3597 to replace my 1960 because of the iPhone link. Bluetooth hookup was easy. I purchased the camera and advanced weather support. Do not bother with the camera, crappy resolution, better resolution using web browser. The advanced weather integrates just fine and has a couple of display options to choose from. There is no voice integration with the smartphone apps. To use the google search, you have to use your phone and push the result up to your GPS. The GPS will not search through the phone, but the weather and camera will. This is where I am disappointed. My 1690 will do google searches from the GPS unit. If Garmin will make the GPS search google through the phone, I would give more stars. Also I have not Seen a way to get gas prices or movie information. Maybe they will add later. 31 October 2017 update application just locks up now on iPhone 6+ and is non functional. Changing to one star.

by Notapaidreviewer

The interface is awful. Map density icons all look identical with the exception of the red boardered ones. There's no way of knowing the average speeds without selecting it. The legend is a joke. Traffic does not automatically refresh. There is no pull down to refresh and no background refresh functionality. In order for things to update, you must go BACK and then have the traffic refresh. In otherwords, there is no update and sync coordination between the GPS, smartphone, and smartlink. You must manually update.

The Garmin GPS always looks for the link after disconnected even though it's connected to traffic receiver. App has potential but like Garmin support it fails on so many levels.

One would think with standalone GPS use declining Garmin would try to ensure they're outstanding at every level. But no, even Garmin customer service is becoming very poor with incomplete or inaccurate information.

I feel Garmin's days are numbered...they will likely abandon consumer GPS and focus on marine and other commercial markets.

by Dwbrown87

As the title says. The Bluetooth smart link won’t connect. I am paired with the device. It says we are connected. However. When you click on the smart link icon on both devices to verify it is connected and talking to each other. They both say that they are not connected. So the money I spent on the advanced weather updates is a waste. The traffic updates are going to be all but useless because they will not be working. All in all it is a gps and that part will work. But if you’re going to advertise these features they need to work flawlessly. As of right now they do not work at all.

by KCotham

Every time I go to look at the traffic map, GarminSmartphoneLink crashes. Every single time. If you uninstall it, good luck getting GarminSmartphoneLink to pair with your phone again! Why is there not a simple option to use traffic without all the other features? Features that every car made in the last 20 years has, like hands free calling and notifications and the like? I just need the ability to use the traffic features without all the features that my base model car has being duplicated! Garmin should just make my DriveSmart61 (just a couple of years old) and all other models made in the last couple of years compatible with Garmin Drive app. Then retire this dumpster fire. And include a FM/HD receiver cable with ALL your automotive GPSs. Even the cheap ones had one included 10 years ago!

by Agent Merq

I wish they’d update this so that it didn’t completely freeze or slow down my Garmin unit. The odd thing is that it works GREAT for traffic and weather updates but while it’s connected you have to consistently deal with HUGE input lag on the Garmin. For example, you press a button and have to wait about 30 seconds for it to register. This only happens when I have GarminSmartphoneLink connected. If I disconnect GarminSmartphoneLink , my Garmin unit works flawlessly and is super responsive. It also can freeze at times and eventually unfreezes. It seems like the Garmin is having trouble receiving constant information from GarminSmartphoneLink and still be able to handle everything else. A shame they probably won’t fix this. I basically pick and choose when I want to deal with the lag depending on my trips and if I want to see traffic updates or not. So sometimes I use GarminSmartphoneLink, most of the time I don’t now.

by CFegs

I just received the Drivesmart 51 LMT for Xmas and after pairing it to my iPhone 6S it loses the smartphone link almost every 3 minutes while driving. This is extremely annoying. I use the live traffic feature and need this Bluetooth linking fixed. I am running iOS 12.1.2. I see many others have the same issue. Garmin, this needs to be resolved now. I have owned many Garmin GPSs over the years and have never had an issue like this before. I have also tried unpairing and re-paired to my phone but that did not work to fix the issue.

by BFasterling

I downloaded GarminSmartphoneLink to interface with my BMW Navigator VI. I do like the ability to automatically send a destination to the NAV VI when it connects to my iPhone. I bought the Advanced Weather add-on for long road trips. The weather radar is slow, but functional as your planned route is also displayed. However, there are far better apps for weather radar. The weather alerts are a nuisance. I get a banner and an alert tone which mutes everything else from the GPS but no really useful info. For example ... "dense fog advisory", "excessive heat warning", "gale force winds", etc. pop up on the NAV VI with no indication as to WHERE. Selecting the banner or weather icon brings up the weather map on the NAV VI without any indication where the weather condition exists. I've seen a flash flood area highlighted a few times, but that's it. I'm underwhelmed. For an app that links up with a $950 GPS, I expect much better integration/performance.

by MusicMac

Been a year or more since an update. Besides that - it’s tired & outdated. The UI needs an overhaul.

We have THREE different Garmins and we’re stuck with GarminSmartphoneLink because none of Garmin’s other apps will function with our models.

Not very intuitive and it’s clunky getting around which isn’t conducive to use when a lot of states now have “hands free” use laws - EVEN with considering voice on the GPS.

Glitches:
It very often will not sync with either of our phones and often takes two, three, four times sometimes to send an address from our phone to the GPS.

And then... when an address finally makes it to the GPS, there’s sometimes that many requests showing on the screen as address options to choose.

I’m sure there’s more glitches, but we’ve gotten so fed up with GarminSmartphoneLink - we rarely use it so I can’t name them now.

There’s so many more things that could be added to GarminSmartphoneLink that would allow GarminSmartphoneLink to function better between my phone and GPS.

I‘d give GarminSmartphoneLink more stars if there were a better, more intuitive & functional UI, but as it stands in its current version - I can only provide 2 stars.

Improve and update the, and maybe it will justify a change in review and star increase.

by Was Hopeful

Garmin seems to always get it backwards. They promise high and deliver low. GarminSmartphoneLink is really user unfriendly and there is no documentation for how to use it. The features like live track just don’t work reliably. It is not possible to do the first thing GarminSmartphoneLink list of features claims you can do: share addresses and online search results. You can share contact addresses but it is absolutely a FALSE CLAIM that you can share online search results to any navigation device. I paid for the equipment and I paid for an in-app purchase for weather. Garmin is the one that promised features and didn’t deliver. I guess I should learn my lesson and NEVER TRUST GARMIN AGAIN.

by El_Bo

I have not had any issues with connectivity or app bugs, so that is good. However, there is no place to simply enter an address and go. GarminSmartphoneLink only searches nearby places. I am always doing all of my trip planning on other map apps, then I have to enter addresses and locations on the GPS after I get in the car. It would be nice to enter an address or location or be able to search for places nationwide then link to the GPS when you get in the car. It seems like a well-established major GPS company would know to include this.

by Callen772002

I love the concept of my phone linking to GPS providing data I need to plan my trip better… however, traffic data is often not up to date. Weather is okay but I will see more as I play with it since I just did the $4.99 purchase for “detailed weather”. GPS holds signal very well and seem to keep me on point.
Truth is GPS of any sort doesn’t drive the vehicle, people do and we need to keep that in mind. Device is good for routing though.
One thing I would like is to be able to black out screen without “pausing” whole system. Addresses can be tricky to look up and saving is definitely a different process all together.
Overall it seems to be a good system that once you learn how to do all that you need it works for the most part well.

by Mr Optimist.7

Yes. Please keep it updated as newer versions of iOS are released. Otherwise garmin gps seems useless in simple tasks as transferring address from phone to Gps unit. Thank you so much for fixing the bugs and taking me into confidence that my future investments with Garmin are secured. App works great with the phone. My $350 were worth to buy the product. It could even be better in looking up addresses or once the address is copy paste from google maps, it should be able to find in the phone app.

Request: Please issue an update for Garmin nuvi 2589LMT series to be able to stream audio music from phone to Gps unit as it does in phone calls. It really feels dated that it doesn’t do so.

by Bitter Frequent User

Reading through reviews it seems many people may be technically challenged.. I haven’t had any connection issues through 3 different Iphones. Never had any issues using in town to get where I need to go. Weather and traffic updates, sometimes too frequent, are accurate.

Took up a job and found a limitation with GarminSmartphoneLink I would love to see overcome. The ability to lookup a location in a distant city.

Currently I am saving the address to a contact in my phone as “work site” and sending to my garmin. May seem like a lot of work but its actually easier in the moment and typing on a phone is far more desirable than the GPS unit itself.

So a basic location, name, or address search function that works similar to the built in search on the GPS would be great.

Thanks for all your work!

by Masterferrari

Just wanted to say for all those people leaving bad reviews it does work, just the initial sync up is a pain. You have to have the Bluetooth connected first then open app and try pairing and even then it may take couple try’s of forgetting gps in Bluetooth settings for both iPhone and on the gps itself and possibly having app open before you even connect the two. But once it does show up as connected in app all the apps show up on gps and it all works,weather, cameras, four square. The traffic takes about 3 minutes or so to show up on gps and once it says smartlink under traffic settings if you get disconnected from your phone it does not seem to revert back to normal traffic.

by Panzer081

Edit; All issues fixed, 4.5 stars on it now! Garmin devices such as dēzl truck gps and automotive units require GarminSmartphoneLink to display real time traffic that’s advertised as free for life along with map updates. Well GarminSmartphoneLink will not communicate with an iPhone XS Max. I’ve been over all the steps repeatedly, uninstalled and reinstalled and made sure everything was set as it should be , also fully updated the Garmin device. Still no live traffic displayed on the device. GarminSmartphoneLink and the device keep saying check to make sure device and phone are in Bluetooth range, what a joke! They are both right here in the truck, close enough? Look at these reviews developers! Fix this crappy app before I sling the Garmin device out of the window of this truck. What good is lifetime traffic I can’t ever use? Seems like false advertising really. Edit: After looking over the other reviews with issues going back as far as 2 years, it’s very obvious Garmin doesn’t care that GarminSmartphoneLink doesn’t function . Very disappointing and I won’t be buying anymore Garmin devices in the future. Gps units, dash cams , I’ve never used anything but Garmin , but if they can let this go on for this long then they obviously care less , so it’s time to move on.....sad really!

by JayBDawg

Got a software update for my nuvi 2598. Has worked like a charm ever since. Love GarminSmartphoneLink. It’s replaced all my gps apps except Apple Maps. I purchased the upgrades. All that information is awesome. Time to pump those ratings up again because GarminSmartphoneLink is awesome

Update, still works flawlessly! There was an outage the other day from the servers, but traffic still worked accurately as always. Love GarminSmartphoneLink, helps keep the old GPS relevant.

by Iphonerocks00

Updated June 2018: After several years of GarminSmartphoneLink being buggy and working only temporarily after needing to be unpaired and then repaired to your Garmin device, it is now working very well reliably every time with my iPhone. I have submitted many tickets and Bluetooth logs to Garmin in hopes of getting this fixed and I am so pleased that it is now working well please keep it that way and don’t mess it up. This is a must-have for any Garmin compatible device user! The coverage is much greater than FM reception areas which are limited to only urban cities. I get coverage with this well outside of the city boundaries. A+. Other features such as local parking and traffic cameras are a big plus also. Yay for Garmin getting this fixed in June 2018. I only wish it would launch automatically on the phone when you get in the car.

by Seamork

I have an iPhone 6s and GarminSmartphoneLink stopped connecting to smartphone services after upgrading to iOS 11. Well, it works maybe 1 in 10 times I get in the car.

It is absolutely infuriating to have mess with the settings on the GPS as well as restarting my phone over and over to get this to connect properly - all while driving in bumper to number rush hour traffic, which is why I paid so much money for this product in the first place.

As far as GarminSmartphoneLink goes, it has a lot of features I could care less about and are not particularly intuitive as to what they even do. I just want it to connect to traffic and weather. That’s it. But it doesn’t.

by Alexandruseb

Till few weeks ago everything was fine but since last update i cannot go live and no traffic or weather synchronized with my phone,the Bluetooth find my phone but i cannot connect my phone (iphone 7 last software ) to the smartphone link,the navigator is on last update but is keep telling me “404 error connection”don’t know what the heck means that but is something wrong with the navigation because im using my Bluetooth on my headphones and anything is fine,fix that bug because is annoying to stay stuck in traffic with a 65’ feet truck !!!
Garmin DZL780 👈🏼 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼

by Cmkersey2

Running iOS 13.3 and decided to purchase the Advanced Weather for my Garmin Dezl. I am disappointed in the reliability of GarminSmartphoneLink since I drive a semi in the Southern, Mid and Northeastern USA. Notifications are scarce, if any at all. Not getting any radar data. Mostly a blank map. So, with that Garmin, you need to keep up with your updates and on top of Apple’s updates as well. Get your PAID apps to work as they should and stop blaming Apple for your programming failures. My other radar app products work fine and will have to be my resource for planning my routes. Wish I could get my money back on this one Garmin!!!

by Xdman007

I’m sending this info concerning my iPhone app with my Garmin. To often I can’t pull up the address with my iPhone but can pull up on Garmin unit. I like to load up my addresses prior to leaving my place so my Bluetooth will upload for me. Many times the address won’t be available, so I have to do a manual pin drop and send the coordinates to Garmin unit. Takes a lot longer than it needs to. I paid good money for the electronics. Need to know if there is another app that is compatible with Garmin? Again unit finds most but iPhone app does not.