Many Garmin® watches can broadcast heart rate like a Bluetooth sensor. That lets you start a workout in FITIV and use your Garmin® watch for live heart rate, with FITIV's metrics and analytics on every session.
How does my Garmin® watch work with FITIV?
Your Garmin® watch works with FITIV in two ways, and each one does a different job:
- Garmin Connect™ sync: brings in the workouts you record on your watch, plus your sleep, recovery and daily metrics, after your watch syncs. This is the main connection for most Garmin® users.
- Broadcast Heart Rate: sends live heart rate to FITIV during a workout you start in FITIV. This guide covers this option.
You can use both. Garmin Connect™ keeps your recovery and daily data up to date, and broadcasting adds live heart rate whenever you want to train with FITIV's in-workout metrics.
| ℹ️ Pro Tip: To set up the Garmin Connect™ sync, follow Guide: How to Sync Your Garmin® Watch with FITIV Using Garmin Connect™. |
Before you begin
- Make sure your Garmin® watch is charged and worn snugly on your wrist.
- Check your device manual to confirm your model supports Broadcast Heart Rate. Not all Garmin® watches do.
Step 1: Enable Broadcast Heart Rate on the watch
The menu path depends on your watch model. Use the option that matches your watch, or check your Garmin® manual.
Option 1
- Hold UP.
- Select Health & Wellness.
- Tap Wrist Heart Rate.
- Select Broadcast Heart Rate.
Option 2
- Hold LIGHT.
- Open the Controls menu.
- Select Broadcast Heart Rate.
- Press START.
Step 2: Connect the watch in FITIV
- Open FITIV on your iPhone.
- Go to the Workouts tab.
- Open the Device Picker.
- Tap Discover and Manage Devices.
- Select your Garmin® watch from the list.
Step 3: Start the workout
Start your workout in FITIV. FITIV records the session while receiving live heart rate from your Garmin® watch.
| ⚠️ Alert Tip: Do not pair your Garmin® watch through your iPhone Bluetooth settings for use inside FITIV. Connect it from the Device Picker instead. |
What if FITIV does not detect my Garmin® watch?
- Confirm Broadcast Heart Rate is active on the watch. Broadcasting stops when you exit the mode.
- Make sure the watch is not broadcasting to another app or device, like a gym machine or bike computer.
- Turn off Bluetooth on nearby devices that previously paired with the watch.
- Close FITIV, reopen it and repeat Step 2..
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Q: Can I broadcast heart rate and use the Garmin Connect™ sync at the same time?
A: Yes. Broadcasting gives you live heart rate in FITIV workouts, and Garmin Connect™ syncs your sleep, recovery and daily metrics. If you also record the same session as an activity on your watch, it syncs through Garmin Connect™ too, so use the History tab duplicate filters to hide the repeat.
Q: Does broadcasting drain my Garmin® battery faster?
A: Yes, broadcasting uses more battery than normal wear. Stop broadcasting when your workout ends.
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- The FITIV Support Team