Connect Garmin to Strava in three steps

You can connect your Garmin device to Strava so your workouts sync automatically without manual uploads. The connection happens through Strava's settings, not through Garmin — you authorize Strava to pull data from your Garmin account, and then any activity you record on your Garmin (running, cycling, swimming, or other sports) appears in Strava within a few minutes to a few hours.

The process takes about five minutes and works whether you use a Garmin smartwatch, fitness tracker, or handheld GPS device. Once connected, you do not have to do anything else — every workout syncs on its own.

Key Takeaways

  • You authorize the connection through Strava's website or app, not through your Garmin device itself.
  • Strava needs your Garmin account login to pull your workout data, so you must have both a Garmin Connect account and a Strava account before you start.
  • After you connect, workouts sync automatically, usually within minutes but sometimes up to a few hours.
  • If a workout does not sync, the most common causes are a weak internet connection on your Garmin device, a disconnected Garmin account, or Strava's sync service being temporarily slow.

What you need before you start

You need two separate accounts: one with Garmin and one with Strava. If you set up your Garmin device, you already have a Garmin Connect account — that is where your device sends workout data. If you do not have a Strava account yet, go to strava.com or open the Strava app and create one using your email address.

Make sure your Garmin device has synced to Garmin Connect at least once. Turn on your device, connect it to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (if it has Bluetooth), and let it sync. You will see a checkmark or notification when the sync is complete. This step matters because Strava pulls data from Garmin Connect, not directly from your device.

Connect through the Strava website

Step 1: Open Strava and go to settings. Log into strava.com on a computer or phone browser. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner, then click "Settings." On a phone, tap your profile picture in the bottom right, then tap "Settings."

Step 2: Find the connected apps section. Look for a section called "Connected Apps," "Integrations," or "Third-Party Apps" — the exact name varies by when your account was created. Click on it.

Step 3: Select Garmin and authorize. Find Garmin in the list and click "Connect" or "Authorize." A new window will open asking you to log into your Garmin Connect account. Enter your Garmin email address and password, then click "Sign In." Garmin will ask you to confirm that you want to allow Strava to access your data — click "Allow" or "Authorize." You will be sent back to Strava, and the connection is complete.

Connect through the Strava app

Step 1: Open Strava and tap your profile. Open the Strava app and tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner. Tap "Settings" (the gear icon).

Step 2: Go to connected apps. Scroll down and tap "Connected Apps" or "Integrations." The exact wording depends on your phone and app version.

Step 3: Tap Garmin and log in. Find Garmin in the list and tap it. Tap "Connect" or "Authorize." You will be taken to a Garmin login screen. Enter your Garmin Connect email and password, then tap "Sign In." When Garmin asks for permission, tap "Allow." You will return to the Strava app, and the connection is done.

What happens after you connect

Once the connection is live, any workout you record on your Garmin device will appear in Strava automatically. The sync usually happens within a few minutes of your workout ending, but can take up to a few hours depending on internet speed and Strava's servers. You will see the activity in your Strava feed with the same name, distance, time, and route data as it appears on your Garmin.

You can edit the activity in Strava after it syncs — change the name, add a description, mark it private, or add photos. These edits stay in Strava only and do not change the original data on your Garmin device.

Troubleshooting when workouts do not sync

If a workout recorded on your Garmin does not show up in Strava after an hour, check these things in order. First, make sure your Garmin device synced to Garmin Connect — open the Garmin Connect app or website and look for the workout there. If it is not in Garmin Connect, your device did not sync, and you need to connect your Garmin to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and try again.

If the workout is in Garmin Connect but not in Strava, go back to Strava's settings and check that Garmin is still listed as a connected app. Sometimes the connection drops if you change your Garmin password or if you have not used the connection in a long time. If Garmin is no longer there, repeat the connection steps above. If Garmin is still connected, wait another hour — Strava's sync can be slow during peak times.

If you see the workout in Strava but it is missing data (no route, no heart rate, no elevation), the issue is usually that your Garmin device did not record that data. Check your Garmin settings to make sure the sport profile you used has those metrics turned on. For example, if you ran without GPS enabled, Strava will show distance and time but no route map.

Disconnect Garmin from Strava

If you want to stop syncing workouts, go back to Strava's Connected Apps settings and find Garmin in the list. Click or tap "Disconnect" or "Remove." Strava will stop pulling new workouts from Garmin, but any workouts that already synced will stay in your Strava account. You can delete them individually if you want, but disconnecting does not erase them automatically.

Disconnecting does not affect your Garmin device or Garmin Connect account — your workouts stay there as usual. You can reconnect Strava to Garmin at any time by following the connection steps again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to disconnect Garmin if I get a new Garmin device?

No. As long as you log into the same Garmin Connect account on your new device, Strava will keep syncing workouts without any changes on your end. The connection is tied to your Garmin Connect account, not to a specific device.

Can I connect multiple Garmin devices to the same Strava account?

Yes. If you have more than one Garmin device and they both use the same Garmin Connect account, they will both sync to Strava. If they use different Garmin Connect accounts, you would need to connect each account separately, which Strava does not allow — you can only have one Garmin account connected per Strava account.

Why does my workout show different numbers in Strava than on my Garmin?

Strava sometimes recalculates distance and elevation based on its own maps, so the numbers may not match exactly. Heart rate, cadence, and power data come directly from your Garmin and should be identical. If distance is very different, check that your Garmin recorded GPS data — workouts without GPS will show estimated distance instead.

What if I change my Garmin password?

You may need to reconnect Strava to Garmin after a password change. If workouts stop syncing, go to Strava's Connected Apps settings, disconnect Garmin, and then reconnect using your new password. This usually fixes the problem within a few minutes.

Can I sync workouts from Strava back to Garmin?

No. The connection is one-way only — Strava pulls data from Garmin, but does not send data back. If you record a workout in Strava's app instead of on your Garmin device, it will not appear in Garmin Connect.