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    How to View Your CGM Readings on Your Phone

    Continuous glucose monitors like Dexcom and Abbott FreeStyle Libre send real-time blood sugar readings directly to your iPhone or Android phone. Here is how to set up the companion apps.

    4 min read 5 stepsApril 19, 2026Verified April 2026
    1

    Download the right app for your CGM

    ~23s
    Dexcom G6 users: download "Dexcom G6" from your app store. Dexcom G7 users: download "Dexcom G7." Abbott FreeStyle Libre 2 users: download "FreeStyle LibreLink." Libre 3 users: download "FreeStyle LibreLink" (same app, works for both). All apps are free.

    Quick Tip

    Make sure to download the correct app for your specific CGM model. They are not interchangeable — a G6 app will not work with a G7 sensor.

    2

    Create your account

    ~16s
    Open the app and tap "Create Account." Enter your email, password, date of birth, and country. For Dexcom, also enter your sensor type (G6 or G7). Accept the terms. Your account stores your glucose history in the cloud, accessible from the app or dexcom.com (or libreview.com for Libre).
    3

    Pair the app with your sensor

    ~27s
    Dexcom: after applying the sensor and transmitter, open the app → "Start Sensor" → follow on-screen pairing steps. The app communicates with the transmitter via Bluetooth. A 2-hour warmup period follows before readings begin. Libre: tap the phone to the sensor (or for Libre 3, keep it nearby). The app detects it and begins displaying readings.

    Warning

    CGM readings are for trend monitoring and require confirmation from a finger-stick blood glucose meter before making insulin dosing decisions. Follow your healthcare provider's guidance.

    4

    Set up glucose alerts

    ~26s
    In the app settings, go to "Alerts" or "Alarms." Set a low glucose alert (common recommendation: alert at 70 mg/dL or per your doctor's guidance) and a high glucose alert. The app will sound or vibrate on your phone when readings cross these thresholds — even when your phone screen is off.

    Quick Tip

    Quick Tip: Make sure the app has permission to send notifications and that your phone is not silenced during sleeping hours if overnight alerts are important to you.

    5

    Share readings with a caregiver

    ~23s
    Dexcom users: open the Dexcom app → "Share" → add a follower's email. They download the free "Dexcom Follow" app and accept your invitation. They will then see your readings in real time on their phone. Libre users: open LibreLink → "Connections" → add a contact who downloads the "LibreLinkUp" app. This is valuable for parents of children with diabetes and for seniors whose family wants to monitor remotely.

    You Did It!

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    If you or someone you care for uses a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) for diabetes management, your smartphone can be a key part of how you track blood sugar levels. Both major CGM brands — Dexcom and Abbott FreeStyle Libre — have companion apps that display readings on your phone in real time.

    A CGM is a small sensor worn on the skin (usually the arm or abdomen) that measures glucose levels continuously throughout the day and night — no finger sticks needed for routine readings. The sensor transmits data wirelessly to your phone or a dedicated receiver.

    Dexcom G6 and G7

    : The Dexcom app shows your current glucose level, a direction arrow showing whether it is rising or falling, and a graph of the last 3 hours. You can set high and low alerts that vibrate or sound an alarm on your phone. The Dexcom app also allows optional "sharing" — your readings can appear in real time on a caregiver's, parent's, or family member's phone.

    Abbott FreeStyle Libre 2 and Libre 3

    : The LibreLink app (also called LibreLinkUp) shows readings and alarms similarly. Libre 3 transmits every minute continuously like Dexcom; Libre 2 transmits automatically when it detects you are close to a phone.

    Having readings on your phone means you see your glucose without reaching for a separate receiver device. You can also share your data with your doctor via each company's cloud platform (Dexcom Clarity, LibreView).

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    Official Resources

    Medicare.govMedlinePlus — Health InfoAARP Health & Technology

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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    How to View Your CGM Readings on Your Phone — Step-by-Step Guide | TekSure