You can use the Mini 3 on its own or with the EVERYWHERE App. Either way, do a USB sync and run a satellite test before you head into the field. This guide also works for the Mini 3 Plus. Steps that need the Plus are marked.
Skip every Garmin app prompt. During setup, the Mini 3 asks you to scan a QR code and install Garmin Messenger. Do not scan it. The device can pair with only one phone app at a time, and Garmin Messenger stops it from working with EVERYWHERE. Use the EVERYWHERE App for registration and pairing.
Before you start
Check with your admin that they have activated satellite service, assigned the device to you, and confirmed your emergency contacts and response plan. Then have these ready:
- Your Mini 3 and your phone, both charged.
- Your Configuration Key, your registration QR code, or the email address your admin assigned to this device.
- A USB-C data cable and a computer. A Windows computer works best for USB sync.
- A spot outside with a clear view of the sky for your test.
Get to know your device
Use the touchscreen or the buttons to move through menus and select options.
| Button | What it does |
|---|---|
| Power | Press to turn the device on. Press again to lock the touchscreen. Hold to open the controls, where you can turn the device off. |
| Up and Down | Press to scroll through menus, pages, and settings. From the home page, press to see your apps. |
| BACK | Press to cancel or go back one page. Hold to open the action menu. |
| OK | Press to choose an option or acknowledge a message. On some pages, press to open more options. On the Mini 3 Plus, hold to use voice commands. |
| SOS | Sits under a protective cap. Use it only in a real emergency. |
The action menu is the fastest way to common tasks. From the home page, hold BACK to open it. It includes Start Tracking, Send Message, Check-In, and Test Device.
Icons at the top of the screen show data being sent over satellite, tracking, unread messages, muted sounds, locked buttons, charging, and temperature warnings.
Register the EVERYWHERE App 
Skip this section if you use the Mini 3 on its own.
- Download the EVERYWHERE App from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
- Open the app. Read and accept the End User License Agreement.
- Enter your Configuration Key, enter the email address assigned to you, or scan your registration QR code.
- When the app asks about restoring message history, select No, unless you are restoring old messages.
- Allow access to Location, Bluetooth, and Notifications. Access to Contacts is optional.
- When the app asks to pair with your communicator, select Yes to pair now or No to pair later.
No Configuration Key? Try your email address instead. If you don't get a registration email, ask your Hub admin or EVERYWHERE Support to check that your email is assigned to the right device. See Why am I seeing the Invalid Configuration Key error?
Pair your Mini 3 with the EVERYWHERE App
Start on the device, then finish in the app. Keep your phone and the Mini 3 close together.
On the Mini 3
- From the home page, press Up or Down to open the apps, then select Settings > Phone.
- Turn on Bluetooth under Status.
- Select Pair Phone, and leave the pairing screen open.
In the EVERYWHERE App
- Tap the Settings gear in the top right corner.
- Select Bluetooth Pairing and Status.
- Your device shows as Disconnected. Tap it.
- Enter the code shown on the Mini 3, then tap Pair.
- Check that the status bar shows Bluetooth as Connected.
After the first pairing, the app and the Mini 3 reconnect on their own when both are on and near
Pairing didn't work? Check that the app has Bluetooth and Location permission. Then clear the old pairing on both sides and start again on the device. On your phone, open Bluetooth settings, find the Mini 3, and select Forget. For more help, see the Bluetooth Pairing Overview.
Sync Contacts & Messages from the Hub
A USB sync loads the contacts, Preset Messages, and Quick Messages your admin set up in the EVERYWHERE Hub onto your Mini 3. Do one before each trip and any time something changes in the Hub.
- Get the config file. Open the device in the Hub and click its sync icon. Follow the steps shown for the Mini 3 and download the config file. If you don't have Hub access, ask your Hub admin or EVERYWHERE Support for the file.
- Open the port. Make sure the USB port and weather cap are dry, then pull up the weather cap.
- Plug in. Connect the Mini 3 to your computer with a USB-C data cable. It shows up as a drive.
- Copy the file to the root folder. Drag the config file into the top level of the device drive, not into a subfolder.
- Eject. Safely eject the device, then unplug it. Close the weather cap tightly.
- Apply the update. Restart the Mini 3 and follow the prompts on the screen.
Device not showing up as a drive? On the Mini 3, go to Settings > System > USB Mode and choose mass storage. Then plug it in again.
The update finishes on the device. The Hub sync icon turns green once the file is downloaded, but your changes only take effect after you restart the Mini 3 and accept the prompts. Contacts in the EVERYWHERE App update over the air. That does not update the Mini 3, so you still need the USB sync.
A USB sync does not update firmware. Update firmware with Garmin Express on a computer when EVERYWHERE asks you to. See Understanding the USB Sync Process for inReach Devices.
Send a message
These steps use Messenger on the Mini 3 itself. You do not need the Garmin Messenger phone app.
- Press Up or Down to open the apps, then select Messenger > New Message.
- Select a contact, or select Type Contact to enter the recipient's details.
- Select Next > New Message.
- Type your message and select the check mark, or select Quick Texts to use a saved one.
- Select Send.
To reply, open Messenger, select the conversation, and select Reply. Write your response and send it.
Stay outside until it sends. Keep a clear view of the sky until the message finishes sending. Satellite messages can take a few minutes. Messages sent to more than five contacts, or to email or inReach addresses, go out as individual messages, so recipients can't see each other's replies.
Send from the EVERYWHERE App
Typing is easier in the EVERYWHERE App. With Intelligent Routing on, the app uses Wi-Fi or cell data when it has them. When you lose coverage, it sends over satellite through your Mini 3, as long as the Mini 3 is on and paired.
The Mini 3 sends text over satellite. The Mini 3 Plus can also send photos and voice messages over satellite through the EVERYWHERE App. Check your model and your plan before you try to send media off the grid.
A working data connection in the app does not prove your satellite service works. Run the satellite test below before every trip.
Send a Quick Message
Quick Messages are short, saved phrases. You choose who gets the message, then pick the phrase.
- Select Messenger > New Message.
- Choose your recipients, then select Next > New Message.
- Select Quick Texts.
- Choose the message you want.
- Select Send.
Your admin can set up to 20 Quick Messages in the Hub for one device or a whole team folder. New or edited messages show up on your Mini 3 after the next USB sync.
To send a check-in your admin set up, open Check-In, scroll to the message for your assigned recipients, and press OK.
Test your satellite connection
Run a test before every trip to make sure your device can send and receive over satellite.
- Take the device outside with a clear view of the sky.
- Press Up or Down to open the apps, then select Service Plan.
- Press OK, then select Test Device > Start Test.
- Keep the device on and wait. When a confirmation comes back, your device is ready to use.
Then send a routine message to your dispatcher and wait for a reply. That checks that your team's workflow works too.
Never press SOS to test your device. Use the test instead.
Send an SOS
Use SOS only in a real emergency. If your Mini 3 is paired with the EVERYWHERE App, start the SOS on the Mini 3 itself.
- Lift the protective cover off the SOS button.
- Press and hold the SOS button.
- Wait for the countdown to finish. Stay outside with the clearest safe view of the sky while the device sends your location and emergency alert.
- Reply to the response team if you can. Tell them what happened, any injuries, who is with you, and any hazards nearby.
- Keep the device on and watch for new messages.
Help still comes if you can't reply. For the first 10 minutes, the device sends your location every minute. After that, it sends it every 10 minutes to save battery. You can start an SOS with the device on or off, as long as the battery has charge and your satellite service is active.
Garmin Response is the default emergency response service. Your organization may have a different response team set up. Follow the instructions from your assigned responder.
Cancel an SOS
Cancel only if you no longer need help or you started the SOS by mistake. You can cancel once the SOS has been sent.
- Lift the protective cover and hold the SOS button.
- Select Cancel SOS.
- When asked to confirm, select Cancel SOS again.
- Keep the device on while it sends the cancellation.
When the response team confirms, the device goes back to normal. If the alert was a mistake, send them a message to explain.
Need help?
For help with registration, config files, pairing, or using your Mini 3, reach out to your Hub admin or contact EVERYWHERE Support at support@everywherecomms.com. Let us know your device model and what you see on the screen.