ActiveCaptain® for PC - Free Download: Windows 10/11 Edition

★ ★ ★ ActiveCaptain Overview

What is ActiveCaptain? The ActiveCaptain app is a free app that connects your compatible mobile device with Garmin chartplotter, charts, maps, and the boating community. It allows you to wirelessly transfer and access charts and maps, software updates, routes, waypoints, and feedback from the ActiveCaptain Community. The app is not recommended for use as a stand-alone navigational app.

Software Features and Description

1. The free ActiveCaptain app creates a powerful connection between your compatible mobile device and Garmin chartplotter, charts, maps and the boating community.

2. Just pair the app with your compatible chartplotter to wirelessly transfer and access charts and maps, software updates, routes, waypoints and helpful feedback from the ActiveCaptain Community.

3. > New Garmin Navionics+™ and premium Garmin Navionics Vision+™ cartography, featuring a Navionics® style appearance, advanced Auto Guidance+™ technology(2) and a one-year subscription to daily updates, is available now for North America and Europe, and coming soon to the rest of the world.

4. - GARMIN QUICKDRAWTM COMMUNITY: Download the latest 1’ HD contour maps shared by your fellow boaters, and sync with your chartplotter.

5. - CONTROL YOUR CHARTPLOTTER: Using the built-in Helm™ feature, the ActiveCaptain app lets you view and control your compatible(4) chartplotter from your smartphone or tablet, even when someone else is at the helm(5).

6. Purchase our newest-generation charts or legacy BlueChart® g3 charts from your mobile device, and upload them to registered Garmin chartplotters on your vessel.

7. You will get exceptional coverage, clarity and detail with charts that feature integrated Garmin and Navionics data and much more.

8. - ACTIVECAPTAIN COMMUNITY: Join a community of boaters to get up-to-date feedback on marinas, boat ramps and other points of interest (POI).

9. - USER DATA SYNC: Automatically back up and sync your data between your chartplotter and the ActiveCaptain app.

10. Please note that this app is intended for Garmin chartplotter owners and is not recommended for use as a stand-alone navigational app.

11. Then, transfer your data to your chartplotter where you can view your routes and waypoints.

12. Liked ActiveCaptain? here are 5 Navigation apps like Google Maps; Waze Navigation & Live Traffic; ParkMobile - Find Parking; Transit • Subway & Bus Times; SpotHero: #1 Rated Parking App;

Download and install ActiveCaptain® on your computer

GET Compatible PC App

App	Download	Rating	Maker
ActiveCaptain	Get App ↲	3,247 3.92	Garmin

Or follow the guide below to use on PC:

Select Windows version:

Windows 10
Windows 11

Install ActiveCaptain® app on your Windows in 4 steps below:

Download an Android emulator for PC:
Get either Bluestacks or the Nox App >> . We recommend Bluestacks because you can easily find solutions online if you run into problems while using it. Download Bluestacks PC software Here >> .

Install the emulator:
On your computer, goto the Downloads folder » click to install Bluestacks.exe or Nox.exe » Accept the License Agreements » Follow the on-screen prompts to complete installation.

Using ActiveCaptain on PC [Windows 10/ 11]:

Open the Emulator app you installed » goto its search bar and search "ActiveCaptain"
The search will reveal the ActiveCaptain® app icon. Open, then click "Install".
Once ActiveCaptain is downloaded inside the emulator, locate/click the "All apps" icon to access a page containing all your installed applications including ActiveCaptain.
Now enjoy ActiveCaptain on PC.

Download a Compatible APK for PC

Download	Developer	Rating	Current version
Get APK for PC →	Garmin	3.92	36.1

Download on Windows 11

For Windows 11, check if there's a native ActiveCaptain Windows app here » ». If none, follow the steps below:

To get started, Download the OpenPC software »
- Upon installation, open OpenPC app » goto "Playstore on PC" » click "Configure_Download" button. This will auto-download and install PlayStore on your computer.

To use ActiveCaptain,
- Login to the PlayStore we just installed
- Search for "ActiveCaptain" » then Click "Install".
- ActiveCaptain® will now be available on your Windows start-menu.

Minimum requirements	Recommended
8GB RAM SSD Storage Processor: Intel Core i3, AMD Ryzen 3000 Architecture: x64 or ARM64	16GB RAM HDD Storage

Get ActiveCaptain on Apple macOS

Download	Developer	Reviews	Rating
Get Free on Mac	Garmin	3247	3.92

Download on Android: Download Android

ActiveCaptain® functions

- ONECHART™: Purchase Garmin Navionics+™ and premium Garmin Navionics Vision+™ cartography, featuring a Navionics® style appearance, advanced Auto Guidance+™ technology, and a one-year subscription to daily updates. You can also purchase legacy BlueChart® g3 charts from your mobile device and upload them to registered Garmin chartplotters on your vessel.

- PLAN A TRIP: Plan your trip or e-scout a new fishing spot before you’re on the water. Then, transfer your data to your chartplotter where you can view your routes and waypoints.

- USER DATA SYNC: Automatically back up and sync your data between your chartplotter and the ActiveCaptain app.

- ACTIVECAPTAIN COMMUNITY: Join a community of boaters to get up-to-date feedback on marinas, boat ramps, and other points of interest (POI). Check ratings, read reviews, and view pictures of POIs to make informed decisions on the water. Contribute your own POI, reviews, and pictures from your compatible mobile device.

- CONTROL YOUR CHARTPLOTTER: Using the built-in Helm™ feature, the ActiveCaptain app lets you view and control your compatible chartplotter from your smartphone or tablet, even when someone else is at the helm.

- EASY SOFTWARE UPDATES: Receive notifications about software updates from the app and update your chartplotter wirelessly.

- ONDECK HUB: Use the ActiveCaptain app to track, monitor, and control any number of switches with the OnDeck system from nearly anywhere. Get text alerts and updates about your boat's status.

- GARMIN QUICKDRAWTM COMMUNITY: Download the latest 1’ HD contour maps shared by your fellow boaters and sync with your chartplotter. You can also upload your own Quickdraw Contours map data.

- SMART NOTIFICATIONS: Connect the app to your chartplotter and turn on smart notifications to see calls, text messages, and more on the chartplotter display while your phone is somewhere safe and dry.

✔ Pros:

- Great location with easy access to various stores and services

- Friendly and helpful staff

- Marina is being updated and improved

- App works flawlessly when paired with a Garmin chartplotter

- Easy to sync and set up

- Works as advertised

- Bug fixes have been implemented

☹ Cons:

- App is slow to render maps

- Designed only for use with a Garmin compatible chartplotter

- Integration with Active Captain has caused issues with the Helm feature

- Lack of clear release notes for updates.

Top Pcmac Reviews

Room for improvement, but not bad

By DW701 (Pcmac user)

First, if you’re not pairing this with a Garmin chartplotter, don’t even bother downloading. I had Bluechart prior and that was a fantastic standalone program. That program was the reason I bought a new Garmin chartplotter in the first place. I still keep it on my iPad for reference. This is designed for use with a Garmin compatible chartplotter. The main issue/problem with this is how slow it renders the maps when you open the program. They claim the map has more detail but it still shouldn’t take almost a minute to fully load. I’m running this on an iPad Pro and reloaded the program in an attempt to correct. Still slow. Cut down map detail and size of downloaded charts, still slow. When using Active Captain from the app, you can only read 10 reviews of a location, some outdated. To see all the reviews of a location/anchorage, you have to go to the Active Captain WEB site. A problem on the water without internet connectivity and even if you had WiFi, you’re switching between programs. This app has a lot of great features when paired to the chartplotter, like updating maps and software, controlling chartplotter from iPad, however until they fix the painfully slow map loading speed, it only gets 3 stars. Let’s hope they keep updating the App and improving.
New Port Cove Marine Center in Riviera Beach FL

By JME-NC (Pcmac user)

We just spent 2 weeks at New Port Cove at Lake Worth Inlet and couldn’t be more pleased with the service, location, and personnel. While waiting for a crossing window, we had some repairs done to our trawler and provisioned for a 3 month trip to the Abacos. We were an easy walk to Boat Owner’s Warehouse, Publix, BBT bank, Walgreen’s, multiple sport fishing stores, and Auto Zone and a cheap Uber ride to Walmart. The surrounding neighborhoods have seen tough times but we were met on our dog walks through them with consistently friendly people, multiple home and property renovations, and a huge presence of Rybovich boat yard’s expansion. GM Jim Nester is doing a great job updating the marina and getting (and keeping) enthusiastic and helpful staff. This was our second stay, and we will definitely be back. With all that and a 15 minute trip to Lake Worth Inlet, what more could you want?
A very good app!

By Foxnfriend (Pcmac user)

Hi, I noticed the app has a 1.8 rating so I just had to weigh in and give it 5 stars. Yesterday, I downloaded the app and synced it with my 7612xsv and everything worked flawlessly!! Connected to my home WiFi, walked through all the prompts added a 32gig card and everything worked perfectly. She updated the software, found the network, walked through every feature and just did exactly what was advertised!! I even had the 7612 and my iPhone talking so well that my mfd chart displayed on my iPhone and I could control the mfd from the phone!! It was pretty cool and will be useful when I don’t want to sit at the helm to program and create trips. The iPhone app has lots of accurate info and I’m positive I will use it frequently. So, great job Garmin, keep improving and thank you for keeping this free!! Safe boating all!!
PPLEASE TAKE HELM OUT OF A/C!

By fed up with improvements (Pcmac user)

Latest update - WHAT bug fixes? Publish real release notes! Garmin, please pull HELM back out of Active Captain! Helm has been totally dysfunctional since being integrated into Active Captain. There seems to just be too much overhead with whatever else is going on in Active Captain, and connection, updating and reliability of Helm has deteriorated to the point that it simply can no longer be trusted. I simply do not understand what you were thinking that it you thought it was a good idea to integrate it. I LOVED Garmin Helm as a stand alone product. Now: Connection is now problematic. The screen locks up. It repeatedly disconnects from the chart plotter. It has to be reconnected every time you want to use it. The chart plotter shuts off WiFi and Bluetooth and has to be reconfigured to start the session again! None of this is acceptable when you are on the bow trying to keep an eye on the depth to drop anchor, or navigate through shoals! It is dangerous. The last thing one needs to be doing is running back down to the pilothouse to reestablish a connection when what you need to be doing is paying attention to the work at hand! You have managed to RUIN a great product. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE pull it back out as a standalone product. There is no rational need for it to integrated with Active Captain. It adds no value by having them integrated, and doing so has ruined the utility of Helm.