Awesome Maps (Activity Datafield)
· vv2.1.3
About
Streaming high quality maps to your Garmin, including premium country maps including USGS, Ordnance Survey, IGN, LINZ, Kartverket, swisstopo, NGI, BKG, GeoDanmark and NR Toporama. Awesome!
Awesome Maps is a datafield for your activities that delivers high quality cartographic maps for biking/hiking (Open Hiking Map), satellite imagery (for devices with more than 64-colour displays) and premium local mapping including USGS (continental USA), Ordnance Survey (Great Britain), IGN (France & Spain), LINZ (New Zealand), Kartverket (Norway), BGDI swisstopo (Switzerland), NGI (Belgium), BKG (Germany), GeoDanmark (Denmark) and NR Toporama (Canada). ** No additional companion app is required on your phone, other than Garmin Connect. **
This is the sibling to “Awesome Maps" glance app/widget for map access from your home screen. Both apps have independent data limits (double your trial maps for free!) and share the same single license for unlimited access to premium maps. If you were looking for the other version, it’s here:
https://apps-developer.garmin.com/apps/f0ffb7a3-dc56-4ac2-9428-08250c816474
Awesome Maps is different to on-device maps that are only available on certain devices and require separate download and install (e.g. from Garmin or others). Awesome Maps loads maps on-demand and creates a small cache to optimise performance. However, it is designed to require data connectivity and so is not suited to planning trips into areas of poor reception, even with unlimited maps data subscriptions. Major benefits, on the other hand, include:
• maps on all supported watches and devices, not just those with native Garmin-maps
• up-to-date, high-quality maps styled for hiking and biking plus country-specific mapping
• multiple zoom levels [with pan/drag to move the map for exploring (touchscreen only)]
• optional show "snail trail" to display recent locations
• full configuration via touch-screen controls or button-menu with default settings configured from your connected device and Connect IQ app
** if you have any issues, please use the "Contact Developer" from this app page, from the contact menu in the app or direct email to [email protected] as this allows things to be resolved - unfortunately Garmin review processes are anonymous and don't allow interaction. I will *always* reply; if you send a message please check spam folders for messages from CrispGarmin - thank you!
Also see the FAQ here: https://garminapps.com/awesomemaps.html
** as an independent developer, access to a range of devices for real-world testing is limited. The Garmin "Simulator" only replicates some real world experiences so feedback on Awesome Maps image quality, look-and-feel and user experience (touch or buttons) is always appreciated.
Awesome Maps is provided as a freemium application; the default Trial version contains full functionality for testing, review and casual-use with limits reset every month. However, for unlimited map access a low-cost subscription service is required. Full details and costs are available from the ‘License…’ menu within the app.
Map images require a small data transfer for download. Mobile data is therefore required for access. Please be aware of your own data costs and limits (and potential increased battery usage), especially when travelling/roaming. Awesome Maps is not a replacement for navigation skills and maps; do not use Awesome Maps as your primary navigation solution.
More information, and direct contact details, available at https://garminapps.com/
See the Garmin Showcase forum for general Awesome Maps discussions at https://forums.garmin.com/developer/connect-iq/f/showcase/433612/awesome-maps
What's new
Click 'See All' on reviews below to see all replies and updates.
For the full (historical) changelog, help and contact info see the FAQ at https://garminapps.com/awesomemaps.html
v2.1.3 - 13 September 2026
Update: Exception handling (ERA)
Fix: Usage retrieval on Venu2-S (ERA Exception)
v2.1.2 - 10 September 2026
Update: Exception handling (ERA)
Fix: Usage retrieval on Venu2-S (ERA Exception)
v2.1.1 - 28 August 2026
Add: Device support for Fenix 9 series
Fix: Map types set on device are saved for next restart
Fix: Reset map type if change country when on premium map type
Fix: Reset map type if apply 'SAT' when unavailable to 64-colour devices
v2.1.0 - 23 August 2026
Add: GeoDanmark (Denmark) maps
Add: Natural Resources Toporama (Canada) maps
Add (Preview): Licensed user early-access to Awesome Maps Watch Face
Update: Exception handling
v2.0.0 - 6 August 2026
Add: Overlay speed and heartrate fields on map (with settings and menu control, defaults to 'on')
Add: BKG basemap Deutschland (Germany) maps
Fix: Maximum length on settings/properties for Default Map Type
Update: Re-installation detection
Update: Optimise (remove extraneous) logging
v1.9.5 - 14 July 2026
Fix: Blank map tiles due to Garmin API rotation failure (e.g. Venu2)
Fix: Tile download priority optimisation re-applied
v1.9.4 - 8 July 2026
Fix: Make touch screen identification dynamic to allow for locked touch screen UI updates
Update: Set datafield minimum size layout and improve UI (hide controls) for small datafield layouts
Update: Better image/error handling per-device rotation failure (e.g. Forerunner165)
Update: Refined text content
v1.9.3 - 30 June 2026
Fix: North arrow positioning
Update: Optimise tile download priority
Update: Compiler optimisations (Prettier Monkey C) applied - props to Mark W
v1.9.2 - 29 June 2026
Update: Connectivity messages for Fenix 4G/LTE and WiFi-enabled devices
Update: Improve initial user experience (allow old GPS location and messages)
Update: Better map handling per-device rotation failure logging
Update: Memory optimisation
v1.9.1 - 21 June 2026
Add: NGI.be map attribution
Fix: Switzerland boundary detection for Swisstopo maps
Update: Handle mixed-case settings values
v1.9.0 - 20 June 2026
Add: NGI (Belgium) TopoMaps
Add: 'Safe Mode' setting for troubleshooting drawing and additional logging
Update: Better map / North arrow handling per-device rotation failure using fallback with known devices (e.g. Forerunner165)
Update: Optimise Premium map types identification and management
Update: Monthly data reset logic and review option, extend review menu devices
v1.8.1 - 13 June 2026
Fix: handle per-device rotation failure using fallback to draw maps (e.g. Instinct 3)
Update: Handle and improve reporting on rare initialisation exception
v1.8.0 - 11 June 2026
Add: BGDI swisstopo (Switzerland) maps
Add: Device support for Approach series,Descent series, D2 Air X10, Edge Explore 2 and Venu 2 series
Update: Improved use of mobile data connections & messages
Update: Memory optimisation
Update: SDK 9.2.0
v1.7.1 - 23 May 2026
Add: Preview / Experimental setting for testing new features (default is 'Off')
Add (Preview): Speed and heartrate overlay fields on map... ** feedback please **
Update: Memory optimisation
v1.7.0 - 13 May 2026
Add: Device support for Forerunner 70, Forerunner 170 and Forerunner 170 Music
v1.6.0 - 5 May 2026
Add: Kartverket Norge (Norway) maps
v1.5.1 - 2 May 2026
Update: Exception handling
v1.5.0 - 28 April 2026
Add: Snail-trail route trace - 20 locations in licensed version (just 3 in Trial mode), with settings on/off
Add: Contact page link
Add: Map type display for UI button
Update: Memory optimisation
Fix: Text typo
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Full history at: https://garminapps.com/awesomemaps.html
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v1.0.0 - 9 April 2026
First release.