Review Insights · App Store
Garmin Connect™
Garmin · 56,803 ratings · ★ 4.4
4.4
★★★★★
56,803 ratings
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Top complaints - extracted from 55 negative reviews
Recurring phrases mined from 1-2★ reviews. The bigger the percentage, the more users have the same problem. Fix the top 2-3 in your version and you have product-market fit on day one.
1
"watch"
27 negative reviews mention this · 49% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Lost watch connection. Bluetooth connection to Forerunner is unreliable and I can’t get it to pair again at all anymore, even after restarting the watch and my iPhone 17 pro multiple times." - Shsjcidjdbsvshxkx
2
"garmin"
21 negative reviews mention this · 38% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Update not working with Edge 520. I have an older Edge 520 bike computer that has historically worked well with Garmin Connect including auto upload of rides and syncing with Strava and Ride with GPS. Worked fine three days ago but today, I cannot upload my ride. The app wa…" - Puffer Family
3
"update"
20 negative reviews mention this · 36% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Update not working with Edge 520. I have an older Edge 520 bike computer that has historically worked well with Garmin Connect including auto upload of rides and syncing with Strava and Ride with GPS. Worked fine three days ago but today, I cannot upload my ride. The app wa…" - Puffer Family
4
"phone"
16 negative reviews mention this · 29% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Lost watch connection. Bluetooth connection to Forerunner is unreliable and I can’t get it to pair again at all anymore, even after restarting the watch and my iPhone 17 pro multiple times." - Shsjcidjdbsvshxkx
5
"connect"
15 negative reviews mention this · 27% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Lost watch connection. Bluetooth connection to Forerunner is unreliable and I can’t get it to pair again at all anymore, even after restarting the watch and my iPhone 17 pro multiple times." - Shsjcidjdbsvshxkx
6
"work"
10 negative reviews mention this · 18% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Garbage, won’t connect. used to work and then you supposedly fix bugs, just made it worse. Why am I keeping this watch?" - HonestPost12345
7
"sync"
9 negative reviews mention this · 16% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Not Great. Constantly have to close and reopen app to get it to sync. Not worth it." - Sid T Sloth
8
"connection"
8 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Lost watch connection. Bluetooth connection to Forerunner is unreliable and I can’t get it to pair again at all anymore, even after restarting the watch and my iPhone 17 pro multiple times." - Shsjcidjdbsvshxkx
9
"device"
8 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Never connected. Would give 0 stars if I could. Requires you to reconnect your device every single time you use it. Defeats the purpose of having a “smart” watch" - anon472929193663919
10
"everything"
8 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "New update made everything worse. Can’t connect watch to my phone anymore after the update" - birdperson088
11
"better"
8 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Goals needed on app ASAP. This has most of the functionality of Strava. However, the UI could be better and they need to add the goals function immediately" - Jordanian Jackhammer
12
"longer"
8 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "I usually love this app.. Since the last update my watch will no longer connect all the way. This is incredibly frustrating. I wanted to go back and get rid of the most recent update but Apple doesn’t allow me too so now I’m stuck with a watch that lost 50% of its f…" - Amy unamused
📋 All 55 negative reviews
Every 1-2★ review we fetched. Use the copy button to grab them all for your own analysis (paste into ChatGPT/Claude with a prompt like "summarize core user problems, group by theme, ignore bugs, focus on missing features").
Not Great
Constantly have to close and reopen app to get it to sync. Not worth it.
Customer service non existent
I never received my order, yet this company is refusing to issue a refund based solely on a GPS delivery claim. The package was NOT delivered to my door, and no one contacted me about its whereabouts. A GPS pin is not proof that the item was actually placed in my hands or at my residence.
Customer support dismissed my concern without properly investigating or offering a solution. This is extremely frustrating and unacceptable. I paid for an item I never received, and instead of helping, they chose to close the case.
I would not recommend ordering from this company unless you’re willing to risk losing your money with no accountability
Customer support dismissed my concern without properly investigating or offering a solution. This is extremely frustrating and unacceptable. I paid for an item I never received, and instead of helping, they chose to close the case.
I would not recommend ordering from this company unless you’re willing to risk losing your money with no accountability
Lost watch connection
Bluetooth connection to Forerunner is unreliable and I can’t get it to pair again at all anymore, even after restarting the watch and my iPhone 17 pro multiple times.
Never connected
Would give 0 stars if I could. Requires you to reconnect your device every single time you use it. Defeats the purpose of having a “smart” watch
Garbage, won’t connect
used to work and then you supposedly fix bugs, just made it worse. Why am I keeping this watch?
Update not working with Edge 520
I have an older Edge 520 bike computer that has historically worked well with Garmin Connect including auto upload of rides and syncing with Strava and Ride with GPS. Worked fine three days ago but today, I cannot upload my ride. The app was apparently updated during that time, and I see numerous other similar complaints.
I repaired my Edge and iPhone for both BT and BLE and both the device and my phone believe they are connected, but every time I try to Upload Ride I get an Update Failed error.
This functionality is very important to me, and if I have to replace my device it is very unlikely to be another Garmin
I repaired my Edge and iPhone for both BT and BLE and both the device and my phone believe they are connected, but every time I try to Upload Ride I get an Update Failed error.
This functionality is very important to me, and if I have to replace my device it is very unlikely to be another Garmin
New update made everything worse
Can’t connect watch to my phone anymore after the update
Still needs to be updated for ios26
App does not recognize a connected Edge device while both phone Bluetooth and Edge device show connection is active.
Constant Disconnect
Everyday, at least once I have to manually reconnect, restart, and do everything to connect my watch to the app. The phone shows that the watch is paired, but it’s the app that doesn’t recognize.
Dear software developer
Hi, I have two notes of frustration that I’d like to share. Otherwise, this app functions pretty well. You’ve clearly done a lot of good work. I hope these two notes of frustration guide you to making the next version even better.
- I hate that it frequently logs me out after app updates (presumably), forcing me to frequently type out my whole email and remember my password (ugh!) and forcing me to go through the setup process with my watch each time (feels like once per month).
- poor scaling on the axes of plots. I don’t want to see my resting HR and my max HR on the same plot. It becomes impossible to see subtle trends
Thanks!
Update: I am still so annoyed with this app that I have come back to write a second 1-star review. None of my prior complaints have been fixed. I can’t wait for my Garmin watch to die so I can move on to something else.
- I hate that it frequently logs me out after app updates (presumably), forcing me to frequently type out my whole email and remember my password (ugh!) and forcing me to go through the setup process with my watch each time (feels like once per month).
- poor scaling on the axes of plots. I don’t want to see my resting HR and my max HR on the same plot. It becomes impossible to see subtle trends
Thanks!
Update: I am still so annoyed with this app that I have come back to write a second 1-star review. None of my prior complaints have been fixed. I can’t wait for my Garmin watch to die so I can move on to something else.
Tracking Gear, Bike and Other
The ability to track gear usage or to set up timers that tell you when to wax your chain, rotate tires, or perform bearing maintenance is gone. I ride a 10 chain rotation every 600 miles. The ability to keep track of when to change chains was priceless. Now all these features don’t work with this new upgrade. What a waste.
Lots of bugs
If you already have the app, do not upgrade to the latest version because there’s a lot some bugs and it doesn’t run right at all on the latest version of iOS. One of the biggest is it gives you hundreds of extra intensity minutes for no reason. Throwing off all your metrics.
Broken
The new update broke the app. When paused it switches the power to maximum of 1500 watts and when you restart riding the app does not restart. Beyond that the new background makes reading stats difficult
Watch Syncing is broken
How do you manage to break one of the most important aspects of the Garmin app: Syncing with your Garmin watch. It’s been 2 updates now and I’ve been unable to seamlessly have my workouts sync between my watch and this app without having to continually disconnect and reconnect the watch.
Broke connection to fenix7 pro solar
No longer connecting to watch
Update broke everything
Latest update broke the connection with my Edge device and the device will now not pair with my phone. Removed, tried to re-add, no dice. Dead in the water. Tired of being Garmin’s alpha tester.
Broke connection again
This update yesterday once again broke my connection to my fénix pro 7 sapphire solar
Is this social media now???
The new “followers” is gross. I’m not trying to be on Facebook or Instagram when I’m using my Garmin. If Garmin is turning into social media you’re ruining everything good about it. Please stop.
Bad update
Doesn’t work as well. Please fix. Learn to leave well enough alone. Geesh.
Terry
Terry
Can’t edit activities
This new update sucks. Sometimes, I’m not wearing my watch but I still want to add the activity. You can’t do that anymore. Also my 1.5 year old watch freezes and I can’t stop the activity for 5-10 minutes. I used to edit the time or distance after I saved it. Since I can’t edit, it looks like it took me 30 minutes to run 2 miles. 😒 get an Apple Watch or some other brand. I’m going to ditch garmin and tell others to avoid this brand.
UX still terrible after 10 years
The device itself is great, but the UX of this app is laughable. How have you not overhauled this whole thing with Claude code yet? Open source the code already so people can fix this BS
Connection issues
It seems that with a recent update the app frequently looses connection with my fenix 7pro. I have to go through many steps to reconnect it and then it will inevitably lose the connection within a few days. This never happened up until this last month.
Bluetooth Issues
I can’t sync the watch to the app all of a sudden. This wasn’t a problem a week ago.
app disconnecting from watch repeatedly
i’ve had a garmin for 10 years and i’ve loved it. but here lately with this app, it disconnects from my watch at least twice a month. the whole app “restarts”. my profile is still there, but i have to log in again and when i do, my watch is no longer connected. and the app and watch don’t connect easily to each other . it’s infuriating. if this doesn’t get fixed, i am switching to apple watch,
No longer tracks my walks
Since the update, I can’t track my walks anymore. The GPS data no longer syncs. Garmin used to be a good company but each upgrade makes things worse.
Loses connection
Recently my fenix 6 will say it’s connected to Bluetooth but there is no connection, data on the phone is missing as if it’s not connected. Sync option not available as if watch is not there
Stopped updating runs
Runs no longer sync
Used to be pretty good.
App used to be great but it’s getting increasingly buggy and they introduced a paywall. I thought Garmin was better than this.
Buggy Lifestyle Logging
Don’t you guys test your software? Caffeine logging is so broken. I can’t log different types of drinks anymore. It worked when the feature was fist launched, but now it’s broken.
Stopped connecting and reset device
After last update my device stopped connnecting. It had to be added as a new device and settings have been reset.
Bluetooth stopped working
Would give a zero if possible. The permission for Bluetooth suddenly stopped working tried all the things even reset my watch and phone to factory settings nothing works and now my watch is a glorified paper weight because I can’t connect it to the app.
Vivosmart5
The setup will test the patience of the pope. It is not easy to follow, and often puts the customer in a loop which is endless. I will never recommend a Garmin product. There is no phone # to call for assistance. If I could rate no stats, I would. Wasted money.
worse than ever
with each update my old garmin has a more difficult time connecting. after the mandatory update a few weeks ago, i would have trouble connecting about every third ride or so. i would have to kill the app and start over… then everything was fine. this last update, where you are forced to give your age…. i can connect but i can no longer sync.
Garbage Connect
Will not connect to Fenix 6X. Bluetooth pair is fine the 10 times I did it but this app still manages to fail the final mile. Iphone 15 so not like it’s some niche device. Also did a full app reinstall. It used to work. Maybe 6X is too old now? That matches the “don’t care” attitude throughout all of Garmin software development and QA.
Overall reliability
Went on Vacation phone connection won’t connect to phone without phone service and will not post data from watch to phone. My friends iwatch stayed connected while my watch would not connect to my phone. Since in foreign countries I don’t use phone service I’m on vacation but I have my phone for emergency needs. Overall I would not recommend it since without phone service it doesn’t work. I will be looking for a more reliable watch.
New update
Horrendous update. Cannot get my Edge 1030 plus to connect to my phone no matter how many Garmin “help” articles I read, YouTube videos I watch, or Reddit threads I try. I have had several iterations of Edge computers and will not buy Garmin again.
App Update Ruined Everything
Can no longer connect my watch to my phone. Tried everything and now have to find another app to track my progress. Terrible.
Honestly the least reliable app on my phone. And their hardware is worse.
I have owned three different Garmin computers over the years for cycling and multiple watches. I have Garmin headlights and radar as well. Every one is completely unreliable connecting and I have to unpair and re-pair multiple times a week to sync anything and this has been going on for years. Every time I launch this app I have to shut it down and restart it so that it will find Garmin's computer. The computer can't connect to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi sitting right in my house next to the router and right next to my phone, a new iPhone. This doesn't improve with any different router or any different phone.
Avoid The Garmin Venue 4
The Garmin Venue 4 was purchased for over half a thousand dollars yet for 10hours straight completely lagged and failed to give proper on time readings and step counts, the only advice I was given by the Nice employee was “give it some time since it’s new”. If I spend over half a thousand dollars on a watch it better work 100% the first day, instead of me trouble shooting it and being told that the technology will be glitchy for the first few days since its new. This company must do better with their products, I wasted so much of my time that I had to calm down because I was becoming furious with this Garmin Venue 4.
Not a good app for tracking progress
After the latest update, my activities for the last 5 years disappeared. Not a reliable app for tracking progress. Also, all my connections were deleted with the latest updates.
Overly Complicated Interface
The app works most of the time but specific setting are incredibly difficult to find. I’ve been having trouble with Garmin suggested workouts that are overriding my Runna app runs which has been causing me a ton of frustration. There’s no way to turn it off and then I’m unable to sync my watch with the Runna app. This has been very annoying and is the reason for my low review. Garmin need to improve this UI and make it easier to find things.
Was good
App worked pretty well for the few months I have had my watch (outside of the app being flunky). After the last update the Life Style logging section seems to be broken when trying to add quantities ( used to be able to add different categories of alcohol) you can only enter one category now and when you delete an entry you can no longer at quantities at all. Nothing seemed to be updated for the Life Style log but it somehow it is not working like it used to or correctly at all. Phone is iPhone 16 with the latest non-beta update
Genuinely who made this app bruh
I’ve never left a review on an app before, but felt compelled because this app is genuinely that bad
Switched from Apple Watch to Garmin for the better data tracking. The watch itself is great, but the app itself is egregiously bad.
My watch frequently disconnects from my phone (even after proper troubleshooting), app is annoying to use- too many side menus to navigate, not customizable, delayed syncing, and bad graphics to display data. I feel like I lose brain cells every time I use it. Also if you want to change the watch face you need to download a separate app that’s somehow worse than this one…
Switched from Apple Watch to Garmin for the better data tracking. The watch itself is great, but the app itself is egregiously bad.
My watch frequently disconnects from my phone (even after proper troubleshooting), app is annoying to use- too many side menus to navigate, not customizable, delayed syncing, and bad graphics to display data. I feel like I lose brain cells every time I use it. Also if you want to change the watch face you need to download a separate app that’s somehow worse than this one…
Goals needed on app ASAP
This has most of the functionality of Strava. However, the UI could be better and they need to add the goals function immediately
Getting Worse - App Subscription Feature Needs to Go
This app has always done what I needed it to, with a few bonus features. It’s never been particularly great but one of the reasons I like Garmin is because the devices themselves are awesome and with the expensive device price tag, you get the accompanying (decent but not great) app - and all of the features just work.
Or, they did.
Now? The subscription Connect+ is obnoxious. I have the Descent MK3 - am I going to have to start subscribing to use the Dive feature? That’s one of the reasons I didn’t switch from Garmin to Apple. I *hate* the new subscription aspect of this app and I worry that Garmin will transition more features behind a subscription paywall. I’ve already bought the watch (watches, really - we’re a Garmin family. We’ve got four watches, the scale, an eTrex, and an inReach) - maybe grant the connect+ features automatically to people with two or more devices. *Something* to acknowledge loyal, long time customers.
Or, they did.
Now? The subscription Connect+ is obnoxious. I have the Descent MK3 - am I going to have to start subscribing to use the Dive feature? That’s one of the reasons I didn’t switch from Garmin to Apple. I *hate* the new subscription aspect of this app and I worry that Garmin will transition more features behind a subscription paywall. I’ve already bought the watch (watches, really - we’re a Garmin family. We’ve got four watches, the scale, an eTrex, and an inReach) - maybe grant the connect+ features automatically to people with two or more devices. *Something* to acknowledge loyal, long time customers.
Watch not connecting
As others have stated, watch isn’t connecting. Unable to view stats for the week and add’l info unavailable through the watch.
Hate this new version
You ruined the app with the overhaul of that platform. I hate the new version. Have to dig in to get to things like weight, last activity, and everything. The better app layout was last years version. I do not like this new layout and I gave it a few months to get used to it. HATE it
I usually love this app.
Since the last update my watch will no longer connect all the way. This is incredibly frustrating. I wanted to go back and get rid of the most recent update but Apple doesn’t allow me too so now I’m stuck with a watch that lost 50% of its functionality.
New update incorrect step count
Generally I enjoy Garmin connect. But after the latest update my phone doesn't count my steps right. Additionally, my steps and other metrics doesn't show on my calendar as they used to, even though I haven't changed my settings. Please fix.
Just barely does anything
The app and watch don’t talk to one another well. The app is clearly an afterthought, its abilities are limited, and the UX is as poor as the watch’s
+ 5 more in the clipboard copy
Sentiment summary
86%
Positive (4-5★)
3%
Neutral (3★)
11%
Negative (1-2★)