Switching from the Dexcom G6 to the G7 is straightforward, but it involves more than just swapping sensors. You’ll need a new prescription, a different app on your phone, and possibly a receiver update. The G7 also works differently in a few key ways that affect your daily routine. Here’s what to expect at each step.
You’ll Need a New Prescription
The G7 sensor is a different product from the G6, so your existing G6 prescription won’t cover it. Contact your endocrinologist or prescribing provider and ask them to write a new prescription specifically for the Dexcom G7 sensor. The G7 sensor is an all-in-one unit with an integrated transmitter, so the prescription looks different from your G6 order, which had separate line items for sensors and transmitters.
Insurance companies typically require documentation of medical necessity, which may include a recent A1C value and confirmation of a visit with your provider within the past six months. If you’ve been on CGM continuously, your provider likely has this on file already. Call your insurance company or check your plan’s formulary to confirm the G7 is covered under your current benefits before your provider submits the order. Some plans cover both models, while others may have a preferred device.
What’s Physically Different About the G7
The biggest change you’ll notice is size. The G7 sensor is about 60% smaller than the G6, measuring roughly 1.1 by 0.9 inches compared to the G6’s 1.8 by 1.2 inches. It also sits much flatter on your skin (0.2 inches thick versus 0.6 inches), making it less visible under clothing and less likely to get caught on things.
The G7 combines the sensor and transmitter into a single disposable unit. With the G6, you kept a reusable transmitter and swapped sensors every 10 days. With the G7, you apply one piece and discard the entire thing when the session ends. There’s no transmitter to track, charge, or snap into place. This simplifies the process considerably, though it also means there’s no separate transmitter to reorder on its own cycle.
Warm-Up Time Drops Significantly
The standard G7 sensor warms up in 30 minutes, compared to the G6’s two-hour warm-up. That’s a meaningful improvement on sensor change days, since the gap without readings shrinks from two hours to half an hour. If you use the newer G7 15 Day sensor (which lasts 15 days instead of 10), the warm-up is 60 minutes due to a different algorithm that supports the longer wear time.
Approved Sensor Placement
If you’ve been wearing your G6 on your abdomen, this is an important change. The G7 is FDA-cleared for the back of the upper arm for anyone age 2 and older. It is not approved for abdominal placement. The G7 15 Day is approved for the back of the upper arm for adults 18 and older. Children ages 2 to 6 can also use the standard G7 on the upper buttocks.
Many G6 users wore their sensor on the abdomen, so this may require an adjustment period as you get used to arm placement. Clinical accuracy data supports this change: in a study published in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, the G7 worn on the arm had a mean accuracy error of 8.2%, compared to 9.9% for the G6 on the abdomen, meaning arm-placed G7 readings tend to be closer to actual blood glucose values.
Download the G7 App
The G6 and G7 use separate apps. You cannot manage a G7 sensor through the Dexcom G6 app. Search your phone’s app store for “Dexcom G7” and download it before your first sensor arrives. Your phone needs to be running at least iOS 18.6 or Android 13. If your phone is older and can’t update to those operating systems, check Dexcom’s compatibility list before making the switch.
You’ll sign into the G7 app with your existing Dexcom account, which preserves your connection to Dexcom Clarity and your data-sharing contacts (followers). Your historical G6 data remains accessible through Clarity, but the G7 app itself won’t display old G6 readings. Once you’re fully transitioned and no longer using G6 sensors, you can delete the G6 app.
Receiver Compatibility
If you use a standalone Dexcom receiver instead of (or alongside) a phone, compatibility depends on which model you have. The standard G6 receiver (the smaller, button-operated device) can be updated to work with the G7 15 Day sensor. However, if you have the older G6 Touchscreen Receiver, it is not compatible and you’ll need a new receiver. Note that the standard G7 (10-day) sensor used with Omnipod 5 is not compatible with any receiver, only with a smartphone.
Insulin Pump Integration
If you use an Omnipod 5, the transition is smooth. Omnipod 5 is compatible with the G7, the G7 15 Day, and the G6, so you can switch your CGM without changing your pods. Your existing pods that worked with the G6 will work with G7 sensors. You’ll pair the new sensor through your Omnipod 5 controller or app the same way you paired G6 sensors.
If you use a Tandem pump, check Tandem’s current compatibility list before switching. Pump integrations have been rolling out in stages, and the timing of clearance and software updates varies. Your diabetes care team can confirm whether your specific pump model and software version support the G7 before you place an order.
Your First G7 Sensor Change
The application process is simpler than what you’re used to. Open the G7 app, select “Start New Sensor,” and follow the prompts. The applicator is a single piece: pull the tab, press it against the back of your upper arm, and click. There’s no separate transmitter to snap in afterward. The app pairs with the sensor automatically via Bluetooth, and after the 30-minute warm-up (or 60 minutes for the 15 Day version), readings begin.
One practical tip: if you’re applying the sensor to your own arm, use a mirror or ask someone to help you place it on the back of your upper arm where the skin is relatively flat. Avoid areas where clothing seams or bag straps press against the sensor throughout the day.
Managing the Transition Period
You don’t have to switch cold turkey. If you have remaining G6 sensors and transmitter life, use them up while your G7 prescription processes. There’s no clinical reason you can’t alternate between systems during a transition period, though you’ll need to use the corresponding app for whichever sensor is active.
Keep in mind that your G6 transmitter has a fixed lifespan (typically around 90 days), and once it expires, any unused G6 sensors become unusable without a new transmitter. Timing your switch to coincide with transmitter expiration avoids waste. If your transmitter is nearing the end of its life, that’s an ideal moment to start G7 sensors rather than ordering another G6 transmitter you won’t fully use.