Let’s Get Your Garmin Connected

Garmin Connect is the free app that brings all your watch data together—including activities, steps, heart rate, sleep, training insights, goals and more.

How to Get Started

1. Charge and turn on your Garmin watch.

2. Download the Garmin Connect app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

3. Open the app and sign in. If you’re new to Garmin, select Create Account and follow the prompts.

4. Add your watch. The app may automatically find your new device. If it doesn’t, select More → Garmin Devices → Add Device.

5. Place your watch in pairing mode if prompted. This is usually found under Settings → Connectivity or Phone → Pair Phone, although the wording may vary by model.

6. Confirm the pairing code shown on your watch and phone, then follow the remaining prompts to finish setup.

7. Allow notifications, location and Bluetooth permissions if you want to use connected features such as weather, notifications and automatic syncing.

Having Trouble Connecting?

Make sure Bluetooth is turned on, keep your watch close to your phone and restart both devices before trying again. If you still need help, stop by Run Away Shoes and our team will be happy to point you in the right direction!

Run with a Little More Peace of Mind

Your Garmin Forerunner includes safety and tracking tools designed to help you stay connected while running, walking or riding outdoors.

LiveTrack lets selected friends or family follow your location and activity in real time. It’s a helpful way to let someone know where you are during a solo run, long training day or race.

Incident Detection can recognize a possible incident during certain outdoor GPS activities. If something happens, Garmin Connect can automatically send your name, location and a LiveTrack link to your chosen emergency contacts. You’ll have a short opportunity to cancel the alert if you’re okay.

Assistance lets you manually send an alert to your emergency contacts if you feel unsafe or need help. Depending on your Forerunner model, this can generally be activated by holding the LIGHT button until the watch vibrates three times.

Set Up Your Safety Features

In the Garmin Connect app, select:

More → Safety & Tracking → Safety Features → Emergency Contacts

Add your emergency contacts, follow the prompts and sync your watch. You can then review your Incident Detection and LiveTrack settings under Safety & Tracking.

Important to Know

For most Forerunner models, your watch must remain connected to your phone through Bluetooth, and your phone needs cellular service and data coverage. Garmin’s safety features do not contact 911 or emergency services on your behalf, so always call emergency services directly when possible.

• Charge the watch.
• Complete any available software updates.
• Enter personal information and set heart-rate zones.
• Go outdoors and wait for the GPS indicator to show that the watch is ready before starting.
• Wear the watch snugly, slightly above the wrist bone.

Recording and Saving Your First Activity

Select RUN → Wait for GPS → Press START → Press STOP when finished → Select SAVE

Connect Other Apps

Show customers where they can connect services such as Strava through:

Garmin Connect → More → Settings → Connected Apps

The most common terms:

• Body Battery: An estimate of available energy throughout the day.
• Recovery Time: Suggested time before your next demanding workout.
• Training Readiness: How prepared your body may be for training today.
• Training Status: How your recent training affects fitness.
• HRV Status: Overnight heart-rate variability trends.
• Daily Suggested Workouts: Personalized workout recommendations.

*Available metrics vary by Forerunner model.

New technology can take a little time to learn. If you purchased your Garmin from Run Away Shoes and need help getting started, bring your watch and phone into the store. Our team will help you find the right settings and features for how you plan to use it.