How to sync Garmin steps to Apple Health

Your Garmin watch does not send steps to Apple Health by itself. The Garmin Connect app on your iPhone does, once you allow it. After that, your watch’s steps show up in Apple Health next to your iPhone’s own count, and any app with access to Health can read them.

The short answer

The switch is in the Health app, not in Garmin Connect. Open Health, tap your profile picture, then under Privacy tap Apps → Connect, and turn on Steps and Walking + Running Distance. In Health, Garmin Connect is listed as Connect.

Step by step

1. Open the Health app on your iPhone.
2. Tap your profile picture in the top corner.
3. Under Privacy, tap Apps.
4. Tap Connect. That is Garmin Connect’s name in Health.
5. Turn on Steps and Walking + Running Distance, plus anything else you want to share.
6. Check that it worked: in the Health app, go to Steps, scroll down and tap Data Sources & Access. Connect should be on the list.

Garmin Connect has a Connected Apps screen of its own (More → Settings → Connected Apps), but its Apple Health Settings button opens the app’s general iPhone settings, which have no step switches. The Health app is where the sharing is turned on.

Why steps can arrive late

Your watch syncs with Garmin Connect, and Garmin Connect then passes the steps on to Apple Health. If Apple Health is behind your watch, open Garmin Connect once so it hands the latest steps over.

If your steps look doubled or too low

If you also carry your iPhone, it counts the same walk. Health does not add the two counts together: in Apple’s words, “the data source at the top will take priority over others.” Your watch is on your wrist all day and your phone is not, so most Garmin owners want the watch’s count to win:

1. In the Health app, go to Steps → Data Sources & Access.
2. Tap Edit, then touch and hold the handle next to Connect and drag it to the top.

No walk is counted twice either way. Only the order decides whose count Health shows.

On Android

On Android, Garmin Connect shares with Health Connect instead. Our support page has the steps.

More wearables

How to sync your wearable’s steps to Apple Health covers Fitbit, Oura and Polar too, and points to WHOOP’s steps.

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