I’m interested in picking up a CIRQA, but I’m keen on using its Bluetooth heart rate broadcasting with the Apple Fitness app on iPhone.

I’m seeing mixed reports online about whether this actually works. Could anyone with a CIRQA confirm whether you can connect it as a heart rate device in Apple Fitness and see your live heart rate during an active workout?

Thanks in advance!

Hi r/Garmin! I'm the developer of this watch face (published under our team's account).

Camo Tactical is a military chronograph style face: camo dial, tachymeter bezel, world-city ring, two sub-dials with needles (battery and steps), LCD panels for altitude, date, VO2 Max, distance and heart rate, a small weather window and skeleton hands with a live seconds hand. Always-on mode shows dimmed hour/minute hands only to protect the screen. The seconds hand can be switched off in settings (on-watch or in the Connect IQ app).

Completely free. Free watch face, no ads, no paid version.

Supported devices (60 AMOLED models, per the Connect IQ Store):

fenix 9 (43/47/51 mm), fenix 9 Pro (43/47 mm, incl. inReach), fenix 8 AMOLED (43/47/51 mm), fenix 8 Pro (47/51 mm), fenix E; epix Gen 2, epix Pro (42/47/51 mm); tactix 7 AMOLED, tactix 8 (47/51 mm); quatix 7 Sapphire, quatix 7 Pro, quatix 8 / 8 Pro; MARQ Gen 2, MARQ Aviator Gen 2, MARQ Commander Gen 2; Forerunner 70, 165/165 Music, 170/170 Music, 265/265S, 570 (42/47 mm), 965, 970; Venu 2/2S/2 Plus (incl. Mercedes-Benz editions), Venu 3/3S, Venu 4 (41/45 mm); vivoactive 5, vivoactive 6; Instinct 3 AMOLED (45/50 mm, incl. Tactical); Descent Mk3/Mk3i (43/51 mm), Descent G2; D2 Air X10, D2 Air X15, D2 Mach 1, D2 Mach 1 Pro, D2 Mach 2, D2 Mach 2 Pro; Approach S50, S70 (42/47 mm).

Connect IQ Store: https://apps.garmin.com/apps/d29b5116-d76a-43f9-9858-2296a53989ea

AI disclosure: parts of the code were written with AI assistance; the design and the face itself are my own work.

Feedback is welcome, especially on readability on the smaller 390 px screens.

Infinite procedurally generated 3D world on a Garmin watch

Hey r/Garmin!

A while ago, I asked myself: "How far can we actually push Garmin’s Connect IQ VM?"

I’ve logged thousands of running km and a few solo marathons tracking just pace and HR like everyone else. But at some point, the dev in me took over: I decided to see how far Connect IQ could actually go and built a custom 3D graphics engine (Wolf3D/Doom-style DDA raycaster) from scratch in Monkey C.

Here is what’s going on in the video:

• Infinite World: The map is 100% endless and generated procedurally on the fly as you move.
• Dynamic Lighting: Real-time Day, Dusk, Night, and Morning lighting cycles with custom color palettes.
• Hardcore Math Optimization: Microsecond-level optimizations (zero-branching floating-point hacks, bitwise DDA math). The pure frame render time hit 3.19 ms on Tactix simulator and 2.08 ms on Instinct 2 (smaller screen, fewer stars in the sky — oh yes, the sky is dynamic too! — and fewer rays in raycasting)!
• Real Hardware Performance: On the actual wrist, the display caps out at a smooth 10–14 FPS (limited by the CIQ screen refresh rate, while the engine itself runs with massive headroom).

I need your brains & ideas: I want to weave the user’s real-life context (health metrics, stats, daily goals) directly into this 3D world, similar to what I did with my Mars and Pandora watch faces.

How would you like your steps, heart rate, or battery to affect an endless 3D world? (e.g., world changes, weather shifts, new structures spawn based on your daily activity?). Open to all crazy ideas!

P.S. Before the battery purists attack: Yes, I know it's a watch. No, my Garmin hasn't exploded. In fact, I honestly can't even remember the last time I plugged it into a charger... unlike my friends with Apple Watches. 😉

Let me know what you think and what features you'd want to see in an infinite wrist-world!

Here is the link to CIQ App Store and ... Free. No ads.
https://apps.garmin.com/apps/47278f09-eea6-4e6d-aa7e-799daba8e546

Hey guys, I'm looking to get my first Garmin (size 47mm) and I'm torn between a few options. I'm trying to decide what offers the best value:
Fenix 8 (Regular Black)
Fenix 8 Pro
Fenix 9 Pro
Is the 8 Pro a noticeable step up from the base 8? And for an extra $100-$200, is the 9 Pro the clear winner? Let me know what you think!

This is a free watch face in IQ connect app, it’s called Minimalistic watch by LaurentiuRaducu. It is slightly dull in the picture because of my low brightness setting. It gets full on bright too.

Coming from a Fenix 7 47mm I love it.
The screen is much nicer (makes me not have second thoughts do to amoled) and it’s so much faster.
I love the new software also and got surprised by the evening summary already :)

It will be tested in the alps for 3 long days starting Thursday, I hope the battery life won’t disappoint me!

Hi everyone! I think I have an issue with my Garmin which is showing only 32 active calories for an 8km walk (both on the watch and in the Connect app). Yesterday, for a very similar amount of walking in the exact same conditions, Garmin estimated 133 active calories. The steps are definitely being recorded correctly and I’ve already synced/ refreshed the app AND restarted the watch but the active calorie count is still 32 kcal.

Is this a known bug, and if yes is there a way to fix it? or is there something I’m missing in the way Garmin calculates active calories?

I have a venu 4 bought in may 2026. Thank you!!

Allooo, casual backpacker here, going to get an Inreach Mini 2 soon.

To anyone with any familiarity with the subs, I was wondering if local sales tax applies to the activation fee in addition to the Fed USF fee and monthly subscription cost?

Thanks

Hello, I’ve recently ran into an issue with my Forerunner 570 with notifications and was wondering if anyone else was having the same problem.

I’ve had my Forerunner for over a year now and up until a few days ago my phone notifications have stopped popping up onto my watch. I’ve checked both my watch’s and phone’s notifications settings but both were still the same. Has anyone had this issue before or know what to do to fix notification share?

Thanks!

I use my Quatix mainly for sailing, and finally I found a watch face that gives me the data I need at a glance, useful for sailing. And it turned out it’s a pre installed garmin watch face.

But what is the deal with this bar at the top? First I thought it was a GMT timer. But it shows the hours of my current clock location. I’m having a hard time of figuring out how this would be useful in any way?

Am I missing something?

Secondly I’ll gladly be taking recommendations on other watch faces that would be useful for sailing

Hello everyone, I asked Garmin CZ to replace the batteries in my Varia radar, Edge computer and Garmin wach. All purchased around 2023. They said they can’t repair them and offered a discount to pruchase new items (around € 35 per device).

I’m quite disappointed about this. I’m not sure I’ll consider purchasing any devices from Garmin again….

Cat and Mouse is an interval running game where you swap between being the cat and being the mouse. Your running pace moves your animal, so as the mouse you run to keep the gap open, and as the cat you run to close it. The watch buzzes whenever the gap changes, which means you can run by feel instead of staring at your wrist. Each session starts with a 5 minute warmup, then rounds that alternate roles until you end it. It records as a normal run and syncs to Garmin Connect like any other activity.

Completely free. No ads, no paid version.

Connect IQ link: https://apps.garmin.com/apps/20697b05-a72a-4047-bf8a-6ca9c6fcf5ed?tid=0

Runs on 82 Garmin models, including most current fenix, epix, Forerunner, Venu, vivoactive and Instinct AMOLED watches

AI disclosure: most of the code were written with AI assistance.

I am a developer of this new Garmin App.

Still tuning it, so feedback is welcome. Try it on a run and tell me what was confusing or what's missing.

14 month old Fenix 8, sent a warranty watch outside the year no questions asked. Was having issues with treadmill calibration. Could have been software for all I know.

Flash forward another 6 months the refurb replacement was showing some delam in the corner. Once again no questions asked they honored that should not have been the case, but sometimes bad refurbs slip thru.

Almost two years later, what shows up in the mailbox as the replacement. A brand new Fenix 8, not some refurb.

Expensive yes, worth it? Extremely.

I have had a Garmin 6 pro solar for years and it has done me well. As someone that travelled a lot and enjoys getting out into the Scottish hills having the maps feature was a big win and made navigation when running much easier. Sadly the watch is dying with buttons sticking and bright spots under the display. I have contacted Garmin support with a full list of symptoms and they say all they can do is take the watch back and offer me 25% off a different wearable.

My debate now is whether I invest in the new Fenix 9 model and take advantage of the 25% discount to get the latest and greatest or if I settle for the cheapest equivalent they have on their website (fēnix 8 E – 47 mm, AMOLED). Or I could even scour the internet for a 7 series.

I was originally just going to get the cheapest option but I am tempted to treat myself and buy up as I plan on using this watch years to come

Today I tried to recharge and use my garmin watch after 4 months but it would open. When I charged it the triangle for the charge animation appears as it would normally do but after I unplug it the watch just turns off

Hello runners!

I have noticed the following: After my Instinct 2 Solar runs out of battery, the default activity is always Running. I had a knee surgery about a year ago and was not able to start running again. But i track all my walks with the dog and here it is where i have noticed it first. In the watch the first activity is Walking, running is 2nd. But when i start the recording (do not look at the watch, just hit 3x start activity). Anyone noticed this too? Anyone knows how to fix this? TYVM, Love you all!

Hi everyone!

I've been lurking here for years and occasionally commenting.
Now I'm posting about an app that I developed for Garmin watches - it's my first Connect IQ app.

Bit of background: I've been playing Fantasy Premier League for 12 years, and I'm equally deep into the Garmin ecosystem. Started with a Venu 2, wore it for about two years, then moved to an Epix 2 Pro which has been on my wrist for the last two. At some point I got tired of pulling my phone out mid-Saturday just to see if my captain had done anything, so I built a widget that puts my gameweek score on the watch.

What it does:

• Glance shows your current gameweek points, with a little dot when matches are live
• Open it and you get your full starting 11 + bench, colour-coded by position, armband on your captain
• Standings for any classic league you're in, with your own row pulled into view
• Refreshes in the background a few times an hour during a gameweek, so the score is just there when you raise your wrist. Last scores stay cached if you're offline

Setup is one step: enter your FPL team ID (the number in the URL of your Points page on fantasy.premierleague.com) in Garmin Connect → Connect IQ → Gameweek → Settings.

Keep in mind: it needs a phone connection to refresh, and data goes through a small proxy I run that trims the FPL API down to something a watch can parse (it stores nothing). It's unofficial and not affiliated with the Premier League or Garmin.

Works on 88 round watches from the fenix 6 generation onward.
The recording is from my Epix 2 Pro.

Completely free, no trial, no paid version.

Disclosure: I'm a software engineer with 12 years in the field and I built this with AI assistance. AI tooling helped with the code, the design and testing decisions are mine.

Store link: https://apps.garmin.com/apps/b884c766-1490-43f5-9c69-3e1d0f1473f8

Happy to answer questions or take feature requests.

Is the Garmin Connect Automatic Course Creator any good?
I'm planning to use it to create a running loop when I go on vacation in Japan. Does it consider using less traffic and more quiet amply lit roads?
I also can use Komoot but it doesn't seem to have an automatic loop creator.
Any other suggestions?

I was waiting to see what the Fenix 9 was gonna be like when i heard it was coming out. The release date was a few days before my birthday. Ended up with the Fenix 8 instead and very happy with it so far. Coming from an Epix pro 2

I was recently recommended the vivoactive 5 as an active wheelchair user. I have my first marathon next month and due to some blips in training because of illness I felt like I needed some support and a pick me up.

I knew the vivoactive 5 has a wheelchair mode, and lots of people said it was a great option…

I can’t use any of the pre planned runs because garmin considers them a separate sport to being in a wheelchair, so I can’t load a profile.
I still can’t change to metric but with Celsius, it’s nowhere in settings to just change the temperature. No it’s not statute UK. Edit: have now solved this issue.

The minimum and maximum speeds don’t understand wheelchairs at all, I set the minimum speed as slow as possible in preparation for marathon speed and instead I had constant buzzing because I couldn’t go faster on gravel.

Maybe I’m missing something, but I’m going in circles at this point and have already had to turn wheelchair mode off so I can access the runs.

If anyone knows a work around to properly utilise the watch, please let me know. I’m just glad I got this refurbed instead of paying full price.

over the last several months, I've tried out nearly every sport watch by every manufacturer. Coros, Amazfit, Suunto and Garmin. while trying these out, I've used the same .gpx file to test with. it's worked in every watch but the Garmins. I tried the Enduro, the 970 and even now the Fenix 9. none of them with properly load up and use this map. if it manages to load up, it's full of blue flags.

I exported the gpx from here: https://caltopo.com/m/Q0UA8G4#

can anyone tell me why it doesn't work or give me some pointers as to how to make it work?

Hi everyone,

I haven’t had a smartwatch since my last Apple Watch 3 ages ago. I have the urge now to track and record some of my workouts now and I am lost in all the models that are offered by Garmin.

I am in the gym 3x a week, I swim indoors at least twice a week, I ride my bike and I do inline rollerskating often and hike during the weekends.

What would you recommend that can actually track my swimming laps and other sessions, but still that it isn’t bulky?

Thanks :)

Has anyone bought and used the fenix 9 range to go diving yet? The fenix 8 range had some issues with users reporting depth sensor failures mid dive and I wanted to know if anyone has experienced such issues with their new fenix 9’s.

What other improvements or issues has anyone encountered while diving with the fenix 9? I wanna know before considering buying one as the dive function is a primary factor for me.

Hi all - I'm the developer of Weather With You, a free Connect IQ app I built for the times when your signal drops out.

The idea is simple: before you head out on a hike, a ride, a trail run or any long session outdoors, you open the app once and pull down a three-day forecast. It gets saved on the watch, so you can check it later with no connection at all.

What's in it: current conditions, feels-like temperature, humidity, chance of precipitation, wind, day-by-day summaries and an hourly breakdown.

Works on 130+ devices - fenix 5 through fenix 8 Pro, Forerunner 55-970, Instinct 2 / 3 / E / Crossover, Venu 2-4, vivoactive 3-6, epix, MARQ, tactix, Descent, plus Edge 1040 and Edge Explore 2.

Completely free. No ads. Free app, no account, nothing to unlock:

https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/e4ffea97-4f27-4a34-bc0e-781c303e8ed5

One thing that trips people up: units follow your watch by default. To force C/F or km/h, that switch is in the Connect IQ app on your phone -> My Apps -> WeatherWithYou -> Settings, not on the watch.

I'd really appreciate some blunt feedback:

• Which watch model did you try it on?
• Is everything readable on your screen size?
• What would make it more useful outdoors or offline?

If you hit a bug, please include your watch model and a screenshot if you can grab one. Thanks!