Can I Use Garmin Connect With Apple Watch?

As an owner of both a Garmin Connect and an Apple Watch, I was frustrated to find out that the two devices weren’t connecting. After doing some research and testing, I’m here to share how I was able to connect them and the various solutions I discovered along the way. In this blog post, I’ll be discussing the various ways you can use your Garmin Connect with an Apple Watch.

While you can’t directly sync Garmin Connect with an Apple Watch, you can manually input your data or import the files using third-party apps. However, you’ll need to set up the Health app on your iPhone to do that.

Method	How to Connect Garmin Connect to the Apple Watch
Through the Health App	1. Open the Health app and click the profile icon in the upper-right corner. 2. Select Health Details and choose Edit. 3. Choose the type of health information (body measurements, fitness, sleep, etc.). 4. Pick the health data option (steps, running distance, workouts, etc.). 5. Tap Done when ready. 6. Access Settings, click on Apps, and select Apple Health. 7. Choose Garmin Connect and follow the linking wizard instructions. 8. Double-check by heading to the Garmin app’s settings and clicking on Connected Apps.
Third-Party Apps	Use apps like RunGap or HealthFit to convert your Apple Watch fitness data into a format that Garmin Connect can read. – RunGap reads and records workouts from and to the Health app. – HealthFit exports fitness activity data as .fit files, which can be uploaded to Garmin Connect.
Manual Data Input	Add data manually in Garmin Connect by creating a manual activity. – Using the Application: Start the Garmin Connect app, access the menu, choose Activities, select Create Manual Activity, enter necessary data, and save. – Using the Website: Log in to Garmin Connect’s website, choose Activities, click All Activities, click + Manual Activity, enter necessary data, and save.

Table of Contents

Is Garmin Connect Compatible With Apple Watch?

Many fitness apps can sync in with the Apple Watch easily. However, if you prefer Garmin, you cannot, sadly, sync the app with your watch directly.

That’s because the Apple Watch cannot send data to the Garmin Connect app due to a file-type incompatibility.

Don’t lose hope, though. There are some tips and tricks to keep up your sleeve!

How to Connect Garmin Connect to the Apple Watch

Although you can’t directly connect the Garmin Connect, you can still use it on your Apple Watch.

Here are your available options:

Through the Health App

One thing that you can try to do is to sync the data using the Health App, but you’ll need to do that with an iPhone.

If you don’t know how to set the Health app up, here’s how to do it:

Open the app and click on the profile icon in the upper-right corner.
Select Health Details and choose Edit to complete the information in this section.
Choose the type of health information (body measurements, fitness, sleep, etc.)

Pick the health data option (steps, running distance, workouts, etc.)
Tap Done when you’re ready.
Access Settings by clicking on your photo in the top right corner.

Look for the Apps option and click on it to select Apple Health.
Choose Garmin Connect and proceed with the instructions displayed on the linking wizard till you see the pop-up confirmation window.
Double-check by heading to the Garmin app’s settings and clicking on Connected Apps.

If Apple Health is listed, you might be prompted to use a verification notice for the first use.

Third-Party Apps

The main issue with Garmin is that it can’t read the Apple Watch’s files.

In that case, you can use a third-party application that converts the files into readable data.

Here are some of the applications that you can use to make your data readable for Garmin Connect:

RunGap

RunGap can read and record workouts from and to the Health app. This makes it much easier for Garmin Connect to read your fitness data.

Fortunately, RunGap is simple to use and won’t require any complex skills. When you first run the app, you’ll receive a prompt that requests your permission to record nine different data types from your physical activities.

All of your workout data can then be easily imported and exported from there.

HealthFit

Another good app that you can use is HealthFit. This application exports your fitness activity data as .fit files that you can later upload to Garmin Connect without much hassle.

The method is still helpful even if you decide against using Garmin. That’s because it can connect with other fitness apps, like Strava.

As an added preventative measure against data loss, the HealthFit app now allows you to upload activities to your iCloud storage.

Manual Data Input

One thing you can do is to add the data manually. This method is a bit of a hassle, but it’s suitable if you don’t want to use third-party apps. You just need to enter some basic information into an activity.

However, bear in mind that adding a manual activity won’t give you details about your wellness statistics.

If you want to use this method, here’s what you need to do.

Using the Application

Start the Garmin Connect application.

Access the menu by selecting More on the bottom right.
Choose Activities, then select Create Manual Activity.
Enter all the necessary data.

Select Save to finalize the manual activity details.

Using the Website

Log in to Garmin Connect’s website.
Choose Activities from the navigation menu on the left.

On the top right, click All Activities, then click + Manual Activity.
Put in all of the necessary data.
Click Save.

Wrap Up

Many people rely on their Apple Watches for their workout routines. Of the many apps available, Garmin Connect seems to be a common choice, but can you use Garmin with Apple Watch?

Sadly, the application doesn’t sync with Apple Watch due to Garmin’s inability to read Apple Watch file formats. Instead, you can either manually enter the information or convert the files using third-party programs.

That way, you can keep track of your fitness routine and enjoy your workout.