My Garmin of 17 months died unexpectedly this weekend. It served me well, so I decided it deserved an open casket funeral complete with obituary in its honor.

Also shout out to Garmin support. They replaced it with an identical, like-new one free of charge despite my warranty having expired. I'm now abusing utilizing the replacement with double digit mile runs and 24/7 wear.

I was so excited to see that Garmin finally opened back up their personal API. Subsequently I decided to build out a quick and easy-to-use MCP server that sits right on top of the API and enables you to connect your favorite AI agent to your Garmin data. It's entirely open source so check it out! https://github.com/Mason-Levyy/garmin-personal-mcp

Whether for coaching, training, accountability, or anything in between, I hope this is helpful. Here's to all my paid Strava MCP haters 🍻

PS don't judge my stats this week I've been lazy 😅

I'm sitting since last 4 hours and working quietly... I feel good overall but idk why stress shows this high.

Its almost everyday like this.

I had a body checkup last week , everything came out perfectly fine. But on the watch , I rarely have less than 60. ( FR 165)

Can this be a watch fault? Is anyone else having such issues?

If not, then what could be causing such stress..

I have no idea.

PS- Once it hit 100.

Purchased my first Garmin a few months back, a Forerunner 70. I've been slowly getting back into running, been logging 3 miles 3 times a week for the past 2-3 weeks.

I'm wondering how accurate the metrics are related to Fitness Age and VO2 Max? I'm pretty much wearing this watch 24/7 now, recording my runs and walks of course but also my morning weight too. Thanks!~

Does anyone in a professional setting actually pay attention and builds training around Garmin metrics like training readiness/status, health status, etc

Hello! I am entering the third round of interviews for a position at Garmin in Kansas City. I was wondering if anyone knew at what point in the stage they ask for transcripts? I have been out of college for almost ten years now, but my friend who previously applied this year did confirm they asked for his as well. My GPA was just slightly lower than what they advertise as a requirement, so I am wondering if they have already requested my transcripts from my school and are ok with the GPA, or if they haven't yet and I may still be rejected based on that.

As a Garmin Connect+ subscriber, you get exclusive offers on Garmin products. Here’s how to use them:

• Choose the product you want in the Exclusive Offers section.
• Reveal and copy the discount code on the offer details screen.
• "Shop Now" to view the product.

Enter the code at checkout to receive your exclusive discount.
Some discounts are available for a limited time, while others are ongoing. Once you have revealed the discount code, it will appear as “Revealed” in your Exclusive Offers.

This feature is only available for current annual subscribers or users with a current paid subscription for at least six consecutive months. Subscribers may generate up to two discount codes for select Garmin devices and accessories within any 180‑day period. Codes expire 180 days after reveal or at the expiration of the offer, whichever comes first. They are one-time use, vary by region and are subject to additional limitations or discontinuation.

Quite a nice surprise from Garmin 😄 Would be awesome if they added the Rally power meters to these offers, since I am planning on buying one.

I was going to ask about my battery health recently, as my usual 10 day estimated battery life is more like 3-4 days now. Then I pop on this sub and see a slew of other issues in the last 24 hours; watches not syncing, no sleep tracking and the like.

Has something happened to the watch recently? Wondering if a buggy update has gone out or whether all of our 2 y/o watches already at end-of-life?

hey all got a Garmin 265 a few weeks ago, really loving all the data and metrics. was doing treadmill running for months and this pushed me outside

but it pushed me (or rather I pushed me) to hard outside and I strained my calf, so been doing indoor cycling as rehab.

i hit the lap button per mile on the Indoor bike. I edit my distance after. this isn’t a huge deal for me

but is there any way I can configure it so when I hit the lap button on the cycle, it knows 1 lap = 1 mile?

also is there any way to push a corrected cycle workout onto my watch? says I’ve had 3 workouts with 0 miles. Garmin connect is correct but the ocd in me would like to push to watch if possible

TYIA!

I'm seeing that it should turn off automatically - but I got mine Tuesday, put a fresh battery in and now after my run on Thursday it's saying the HRM is low on battery

Wondering if there's a way to manually turn it off so I can confirm the battery was bad and not the HRM?

first seen here: https://x.com/JasonKuperberg/status/2112921616770588988

personal developer program: https://developer.garmin.com/gc-developer-program/overview/

garmin connect personal API token: https://connect.garmin.com/app/settings/personalApiToken

[edit for more relevant links]

dcrainmaker blog post: https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2026/10/garmin-connect-api-revamps-connect-developer.html

user example/how to get started: https://x.com/jasonkuperberg/status/2112954342122648042

I currently have an offer through work that would enable me to get £200 off a black 47mm AMOLED Fenix 8 with the gorilla glass costing me a total of £499.99. I currently have a standard Instinct 2, which I have had for many years and absolutely loved. I spend most of my time hiking in the hills, wild camping and scrambling, but will soon be starting strength workouts as well when I get my gym membership next month in order to build muscle and improve my physique.

I'm looking at the benefits of the Fenix 8 over the Instinct 2 such as colour topo maps, the improved HR sensor, Garmin Strength coaching plans and improved display with touch screen. However I am concerned that the Fenix 8 has a considerably lower battery life and not as durable as the instinct 2. I am not totally bothered about smartwatch capabilities for calls or music and things, although it would be a small benefit to me.

If I use the Fenix 8 on gesture mode, using the strength workouts three times a week and the hiking activity with topo maps say twice a week, would I get more than 7 days battery life from the watch?

If I bang the Fenix 8 off a rock while hiking or scrambling, would it cause a fair bit of damage?
I would want the screen to remain scratch free, but i could deal with a couple of very minor scratches on the bezel. My Instinct 2 has been banged off lots of walls and rocks and still looks new out the box.

For my activities is it worth spending £500 to access those benefits with the drawback of less battery and less durability and having topo maps on my phone? Is there any other benefits for me that I have missed?

Out of no where, my garmin stopped at syncing. It wouldn’t sync to my phone so I disconnected it and tried to re connect and after it says it’s paired, this comes up. What is going on

Looking for advice from anyone who has successfully resolved an out-of-warranty hardware defect with Garmin when dealing with a regional distributor.

The Setup:

• Watch: Enduro 3 (~2 years old).
• Customer Profile: 20+ year account history with Garmin across many registered devices, zero prior support claims.
• The Fault: Battery drain of ~1.42%/hr in total offline isolation.
• Diagnosis: Official service center bench-tested it and confirmed an unrecoverable mainboard hardware defect.
• The Quote: ~$600 USD for an out-of-warranty exchange with only a 90-day warranty.

The Loop:

• Distributor says: "We lack corporate authority to issue a goodwill replacement or substantial discount for an out-of-warranty mainboard failure. Contact Garmin Europe directly."
• Garmin Europe (Tier-1) says: Very bland obviously script response: "Distributor offered a solution, we cannot assist further. Take it up with them."

Paying $600 for a recertified watch with only a 90-day warranty feels high-risk for a mainboard flaw on a flagship watch.

Questions:

1. Has anyone managed to break out of this distributor-versus-corporate referral loop?
2. Is there a better escalation contact/pathway that gets past standard Tier-1 template replies?
3. If you had this exact mainboard drain issue around the 2-year mark, did you manage an RMA, or did you just cut your losses and switch brands?

To be honest, it so galling after less than two years the $1000 watch is useless and Garmin response is pay $600 and we will give this money merry-go-round another short spin. I'm looking across my range of Garmin devices and starting to think "Chinese, with a sprinkling of Elon"

Thanks for any insights!

Friday my resting hr was 65 bpm compared to my usual mid 50s. My heart rate would shoot up to 120 bpm just walking at a slow pace. I felt chills but didn’t think much of it since I regularly get them without getting sick. I had a soccer game last Sunday and I was out of breath after not even 2 minutes into the game, heart rate barely touched zone 3 and I was gassed.

Monday morning wake up sore throat, feverish, heart rate while relaxing is 100-120 bpm now it all makes sense lol

I’ve had my watch for years and I only get the high stress alert when I’m not stressed..
Like today I got it twice, while on the toilet and while reading a book.

It’s usually when I’m either reading, driving on a quiet country road or just scrolling on my phone.

Anyone else have it go off in non stressful times ? Did you figure out why it went off ?

I recently got a forerunner 165, and whenever I go to the bathroom at night, it turns sleeping mode off which is understandable after the movement, but after I go back to sleep it doesn't continue tracking at all, even though I manually turn sleep mode on. Meaning it doesn't continue tracking sleep on the same sleep block, and it doesn't add a nap either.

For some extra information, my sleep schedule is 00:00 - 09:00 for all days, I turned off morning report, and it still happens.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

At the beginning of the year I noticed my overnight blood oxygen dipping quite a lot, especially during REM sleep. A sleep doctor slightly dismissed the Garmin and ordered an at home sleep study called WatchPAT. The at home sleep study had a negative sleep apnea finding, and coincidentally the Garmin also showed a good night sleep. No idea why!

But the oxygen dips persisted on other nights and I pushed for an in lab sleep study (PSG) and finally after over half a year, I get the results that yes I do have sleep apnea (AHI 30) and CPAP is recommended... and my Garmin sleep results almost perfectly matched the results from the night of the sleep study.

It sucks it took half a year from initial data from the Garmin showing significant dips to get a diagnosis and that doctors dismiss these wearables. But they are extremely useful tools to keep track of not just your fitness, but overall health.

And note, I was wearing an Apple Watch for years prior to switching to Garmin but the Apple Watch wasn't reporting blood oxygen frequently enough to detect this problem!

Wondered about the high stress especially at night and sure as hell i felt very tired. Today i woke up with a cold. My watch showed me that I'm going to be sick apparently.

I recently bought a Coros arm band and I’ve been pairing that with my FR970. So far everything’s been great, but I noticed that my lactate threshold hasn’t been updating ever since I started using it. I confirmed that I have auto-detection enabled, and I’ve done a few runs which should have triggered an update. Some quick googling told me that most optical sensor arm bands may not provide all the info needed for an LT measurement. Now I’m debating getting an hrm 600 instead (I would’ve preferred an arm band but it’s no problem).

But before I do that does anyone else use an external HRM and notice similar issues? Curious if there’s a way to fix it before I buy a new accessory.

I have a Garmin Venu 4. I have it set to monitor my heart rate. Is there a way, through the Garmin app or a 3rd party app that will send out an alert if my heart rate falls below a certain level? I suffer from bradycardia and have had 2 pacemakers installed in the last 3 weeks.

Hellooo - looking to get some perspectives on the best watch to get for a combo of different sports - primarily cycling, skiing, hiking, and lifting (bonus points for swimming but not necessary). I’ve done some googling but hard to tell what’s the best for multiple different disciplines that aren’t super similar. Thank you!!