Garmin has officially introduced a new Google Maps app for its smartwatches, allowing users to experience turn-by-turn navigation right from their wrists. This feature brings the widely-used Google Maps navigation capability to Garmin’s robust range of fitness and outdoor smartwatches, significantly enhancing user convenience and mobility.
The app was made available on July 8 and can be downloaded for free from the Garmin Connect IQ Store. However, unlike Wear OS watches that offer standalone Maps functionality, Garmin’s implementation requires pairing with an Android smartphone to input destinations.
📱 How Garmin’s Google Maps App Works
The new app bridges Garmin’s smartwatch ecosystem with Google’s powerful Maps engine, enabling a smoother experience for outdoor enthusiasts, athletes, and casual users alike.
Step-by-Step Usage:
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Input your destination in the Google Maps app on your Android phone.
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The connected Garmin smartwatch receives the route instructions.
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The watch displays real-time turn-by-turn directions.
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The device will gently vibrate before each turn, helping guide users without needing to look at their phones.
Users can also tap the Google Maps app logo on the watch screen to preview the next three upcoming turns.
⌚ Compatible Garmin Smartwatches
Garmin has confirmed that the Google Maps navigation feature will work with a select group of devices. These include:
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Garmin Venu Series
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Garmin Forerunner Series
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Garmin Vívoactive Series
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Garmin Fenix Series
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Garmin epix Series
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Garmin Enduro Series
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Garmin Approach Series
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Garmin D2 Series
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Garmin MARQ Series
To check compatibility, users can visit the Google Maps app page on the Garmin Connect IQ Store and see if their device is listed.
🔔 Features and Benefits of the Garmin Google Maps App
1. Turn-by-Turn Navigation with Vibration Alerts
Get seamless turn-by-turn directions while walking, running, or biking. Garmin smartwatches offer gentle vibration cues to alert users when a turn is approaching.
2. Activity Tracking Integration
While using the app, users can continue tracking their workouts such as walks, runs, and bike rides. All data is synced with the Garmin Connect app, and can later be exported to other Android health and fitness apps.
3. Quick Preview of Turns
Tap the app icon on your watch screen to instantly view the next three navigation instructions — helpful for better planning during longer routes.
4. Personalized Experience
Although not feature-rich like Google Maps on phones, Garmin offers a lightweight and energy-efficient interface optimized for wearables.
📉 App Ratings and User Feedback
Despite the excitement, the app currently holds an average rating of 2.8 stars from 294 users on the Connect IQ Store. Some early adopters have reported limited standalone functionality and expressed a desire for full Google Maps integration directly on the watch, without needing a phone connection.
📅 Why This Launch Matters Now
This announcement comes nearly two years after Google added standalone turn-by-turn navigation for Wear OS-powered smartwatches with LTE in January 2023. That feature removed the dependency on smartphones, offering true independence for wearable users.
Why Garmin’s Implementation Still Requires a Phone
Unlike Wear OS watches, Garmin smartwatches do not have native support for standalone Google services. The new Garmin Google Maps app relies on smartphone connectivity to fetch and transmit routing data to the wearable.
While this might feel limiting to some, it still represents a big leap forward in merging Garmin’s fitness-first ecosystem with Google’s reliable navigation platform.
💡 Final Thoughts: A Smart Move With Room for Growth
The Garmin Google Maps turn-by-turn navigation app marks a strategic upgrade to Garmin’s smartwatch capabilities. For outdoor enthusiasts, runners, and cyclists, this feature adds another layer of convenience by keeping navigation close at hand — literally.
However, the lack of standalone functionality means users will still need to carry their smartphones. As demand grows, we can hope for future updates that might offer offline or LTE-based support similar to Wear OS smartwatches.
For now, Garmin users can enjoy Google Maps integration, combined with the powerful health and fitness tracking they already love.
