Top 5 Garmin Tips

Once you’ve invested in a watch it can be easy to feel overwhelmed with the amount of features at your fingertips. But how many features on your Garmin do you REALLY understand? And do you know these handy tips and tricks which could completely transform the way you use your watch?
Join Anna and Sarah as they take you through some hacks for your Garmin watch which could transform your running!
↓↓ What’s your favourite Garmin watch feature? Are there any hacks that we missed? Let us know in the comments! ↓↓
What’s in this video?
00:00 Whats in this video?
00:56 The Lock Key
02:35 Custom Run Profiles
03:53 Motivation
05:27 Alerts!
07:18 Shortcuts
MUSIC licensed by Artlist:
Sugar Sweet by Zach Sorgen
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[@runningchannel]

What’s your favourite Garmin watch feature? Any hacks we missed? Let us know in the comments!

[@karabotlhophane6081]

Auto lock and the gesture backlight, I love them

[@marcleong80]

Find my phone... I have a brain drain and can't remember were my phone is and thank god for the find a phone feature.

[@kierenkd]

The ability to programme custom workouts with various paces / recoveries

[@dliedke]

Menu System -> About -> 6/7 times power button quick clicks and go to hidden developer menu 🤓

[@Alan-Smith]

Auto Pause when stopped. Great for training sessions and saves you having to stop and start your watch every time you have a rest!

[@andrewkitson4491]

Pacing tip: Use the "lap pace" data field instead of the "pace" one as it'll give you an eta for the lap instead of the snapshot of your pace at that instant. I also really like the pacing feature for pool swimming but that's probably for a different channel!

[@markg99]

Sounds much better. The wildly fluctuating pace I'm used to seeing is not much use 😄👍🏻🏃‍♂️

[@derrunn3r613]

Fully agree, the "pace" value if often far off the actual pace I'm currently running and most of the time basically useless.

[@supotube]

my favourite :) Yeah, thanks these setting it is much more easy to run an exact pace, even around buildings or trees.

[@Stash1978]

100%

[@pappamea4750]

I was sold on the start/stop and laps button and the nice alerts for HR and pace etc, but this was awesome add-ons! 😅

[@si7273]

I just started running and for the first time used a garmin GPS to track my last 3 runs. It's amazing what a little device can do!

[@scratchvippy2600]

For the vivoactive 4 I really like the screen which only shows your hartrate zone and your bpm. If you are going for specific heartrate ranges, my tip is to always use that screen. Less data can sometimes be more! When I see my speed as well for example i do way worse with keeping to my zone, because I know that I avarage a 6min/km pace on 142bpm I find it really hard not to push for that pace when i am sitting at 6:10min/km with a 140bpm rate and by pushing I then screw my traing over by leaving my zone which makes me drop the pace again which in turn doesn't really help with the whole idea behind these types of runs. As long as I don't know how fast I am going everything is fine :D Utilizing the heartrate monitor is generally a good idea. It even helps in intervall sessions where lap splits aren't enough to pace yourself because the distance itself is so short. Just relying on the displayed speed can also lead to problems, especially if your gps isn't that great. Sometimes the displayed speed is simply wrong in those cases. Also looking at your rate makes it easy to see whether thats the case or not. (on some of my intervallsessions where I am not on a track i know that there is this one street that sometimes confuses my gps a lot. When I am going fullspeed on 800m and my watch suddently shows me a speed of 5:30min/km instead of the usual 3:50min/km I than look wether I am above 180bpm or not. If i am i simply keep the pace until my watch eventually catches up again)

[@lisawirz]

I love these tips, really helpful! I just wish they were a bit longer with more explanations for those of us with less experiences with Garmin watches. 🙂

[@gretchenlynn89]

Since there are different models, I imagine they didn't give specific directions to avoid making the video very long. This is just inspiration/ideas, and more details can be found on Garmin's website 😊

[@SubtleForces]

Thanks a lot. 1. On my vivoactive: hold the button and select the lock - lots of long sleeved running in the winter in Canada and I'll absolutely use it: lost a whole run once. 2. Used the custom profiles and I used a lot of them going through 2 garmin coach programs. I personally prefer setting the program up on my computer on Garmin connect web rather than on the watch itself. 3. Alerts: will try them, but not sure how during winter base training. 4. On my vivoactive, the hotkeys are accessed holding the key (lock is on of the options)

[@keithfalconer2870]

Getting a Garmin frontrunner 245 music for Christmas so these tips will help me no end on my training for very first Marathon. Love you guys xx

[@jessicafrankston7155]

Forerunner. Doesn't have all the features, though, seems they were talking about a Venu or Fenix.

[@stuarthatton1973]

Thanks ladies , brilliant video , im getting my first watch at christmas which happens to be a garnin , cant wait to get it and have a good play around with it

[@alanshrimpton6787]

My tip is when in a pace workout the value it shows is your lap average pace but when out of range it flashes your current pace. That way you know if you need to speed up or slow down to get back into range

[@lucy32180]

Super helpful!! Love my new garmin and appreciate these tips 😃

[@williammorris7895]

I (and others) were negative about the last watch video you did because it was misleading, but this time you've made it super clear that the content is for Garmin users :) It's really awesome to see that the channel responded to such concerns, very nicely done :)

[@kophotography895]

HI RC Team, great Garmin Tut...just one for you, the option to set Park Run as KM is a global variable on Fenix 6 series or Venu 2 (not within the Activity (Copy) variable, so you either have to change the device System > Units > Distance from Miles to KM or to see Miles as KM you can do it post run in Garmin Connect. I find this useful. My device is always in Miles, so my Park Runs run in Miles, then I now at 3 miles to stick the hammer down, seems to be working for me anyway, another PB today.

[@InfluentialFinance]

These are awesome! Had no idea I could set up different settings for different sessions. Also plan on using the notifications on my next race to remind me to take my gels. Thanks for sharing!

[@chalkus]

HR management training is easily done using workouts! Love the parkrun tip

[@shafi8373]

i thought you meant human resources lol

[@chrisupfold]

Thank you! Extremely informative!

[@runningchannel]

Thanks for watching Chris! 😊

[@reieli87]

Great tips, tip number one could not have come at perfect time. It happen to me today and two days before 😅. Love playing around and organizing my hot keys. And one tip id suggest is custmize your power modes a) for the whole watch b) for certain actvivties. You dont need all your functions running and can save you battery life. My first tip I learned from Anna is always charge your garmin before you shower. Still my favorite tip when first got my Garmin. 😁

[@petraalma29]

Thanks! Didn’t know about the custom run profiles. Always use auto lap set at 0.5 mile which gets in the way during interval sessions. Just set up a new custom activity without auto lap on my Garmin now and called it ‘run session’ . That will be so much easier than turning auto lap on and off!

[@rubarb1275]

Fantastic stuff! I had a Garmin watch for ages and didn't know about any of these things. I have a Polar watch now and it just doesn't have the depth of features that the equivalent Garmin would have. Thinking about going back to Garmin for my next watch.

[@cian4468]

Thanks for the tips. Fun to watch. Cheers!

[@timverkoyen8742]

Awesome tips. Thanks a bunch!!

[@richskater]

If you take the time to build a custom workout with heartrate zones on the app and send it to your watch, you can unlock a cool HR data page on your watch. It sort of shows like a speedometer for your HR and can be adjusted by setting specific values or by zone when you build the workout. To my knowledge this page doesn't become available if you just use the alert method via the watch interface, only by creating a custom workout and syncing your phone. Some third-party workout builders will also work, I know FinalSurge's builder is compatible. Can't say that it's a must have, it just makes you look at your watch more often, but it's fun to look at.

[@nehallavey-khan7209]

Amazing - the parkrun barcode widget is a gamechanger! I saw Anna and Freddie the legendary cameraman today at the Runthrough Olympic Park 5/10k event - was great to see some footage up close and in real life 💪🏾

[@anna.the.runner]

Aww, hope you had a great time. Did you race too?

[@nehallavey-khan7209]

@@anna.the.runner I did! I ran the 10k - it was such a great event 💪🏾 Hope your race went well!

[@jwellsntr]

Great video! You've just helped me unlock so many important features on my Garmin. Thank you!

[@danielll5571]

Thanks Anna and Sarah. I'm going to that lock keys the next time I go out.

[@allegrastevens3375]

These are great tips. I really enjoy your shows!

[@carlleighton6317]

Thanks TRC, great tips!!

[@CorneliaAB]

Thx so much! Great tips!

[@isingbass]

Checks his watch... Wow! Sure enough, my watch has a built-in metronome! Definitely going to be using that. 👍

[@jasonree]

Excellent video, even for a Garmin fanboy, I have learnt something! Park Run Barcode on my Garmin, I have died and gone to heaven!

[@sascha1778]

Very useful features I have not known about. Thanks very much!

[@runningchannel]

Thanks for watching!

[@fatrunner]

Wow some great tips here. Custom run profiles will be a game changer. I like to change units and autolap between miles and km for long runs and 5/10 k fast efforts but often forget to change back again, which is really annoying, this will help a lot! Alerts are also a great idea.

[@fatrunner]

Ok so turns out you can't switch between miles and KM for profile settings so not quite as useful as I thought. 😞

[@johnokeeffe9572]

Great video. I never knew I had a metronome! Game changer. Thanks and Happy Christmas!

[@runningchannel]

Merry Christmas John!

[@mikekarpaty3871]

Thanks,very useful video.😉

[@ryanbthiesant2307]

Thank you. A little quick on skipping over the RunKeeper profiles. But interesting I can do some research

[@abdulazeem2992]

Thanks for the video :)

[@ChoirFan1]

I use the range alerts for pace management. I set the high pace and low pace at 10sec either side of my target pace, so I don’t go too fast or too slow.

[@ralfw.3009]

Thx RCT very useful tips I´ll use on my Garmin. One challange still exists for me when you like to record a session which might use different profiles. I often like to do workouts (predefined on my garmin) which is best to do on a track course. But the run to and from the track i normally use as warm up and cool down session. So I cannot use the track run profile for this. Do you have a solution how to record this in one file without stopping the overall training session?

[@CYBERMUSICompany]

Original idea !! keep up the good work brother.

[@jhomarvlogs]

Very useful watches,I like the design and durability...merry xmass.THE RUNNING CHANNEL 👪

[@runningchannel]

Thanks for watching! Merry Christmas 🎅

[@stefan.schlag]

Honestly.. such helpful tips. Thank you. :))

[@runningchannel]

Thanks Stefan, glad you found the video helpful :)

[@TristanBailey]

Screenshot 🤯 just tested on my Venu holding both buttons and works!

[@MrAndemob]

The time alert was useful, now that Garmin, oddly enough, doesn't have that option in "Goals". Also useful in longer races, as pointed out👍👍 Wouldn't work with screenshot on my old Fenix 5 plus though...

[@KarlBrownTV]

Thinking of getting a Garmin to help train for my second marathon. When I finally make up my mind (so many choices!) these tips'll come in very handy :) Thanks!

[@runningchannel]

Nice! Let us know which one you go for and best of luck for the marathon! 😊

[@jaymeschrader4585]

I love my forrunner245!

[@msaintmac]

If you don’t want to overspend just get a forerunner 245. It has all the features you need for a marathon. More expensive ones have features that are not useful for running or extended battery life useful only for ultras. Disclaimer I have only tested the 245 but after 14 years of running with only Apple products I’m blown away with the running features for the price

[@marcindybowski3603]

Buy 945 - ull thank me later:)

[@KarlBrownTV]

@@marcindybowski3603 Next time :) went for the 245 without music when I spotted it on sale

[@marcleong80]

Love the tips

[@swaggytheguitarplayer2452]

My favourite feature is GARMIN COACH 🔥🔥🔥

[@simonjones2260]

I wish this video came out yesterday. Hit the lap button on my watch by mistake this morning!

[@runningchannel]

Haha oh no! At least you know for next time 😊

[@lexington476]

1:04 Oh, you mean I'm not the only person who's ever done that 🙂. It's really fun when you're doing a bike race that's about a mile per lap and you want to hit the lap counter in each lap... I have hit the wrong button, and stop the watch it times 🤫.

[@ciaranmcbride6295]

Love your videos! Merry Christmas to all at The Running Channel 👏🏻

[@SarbjitSingh-ww4re]

Same to you

[@runningchannel]

Merry Christmas!! 🎅

[@anna.the.runner]

Merry Christmas, Ciaran! 🎄 🎁

[@julietwistguernsey]

Great tips, most of which don't seem to appear on my old Garmin Vivoactive 3 - I feel a new watch coming on.....

[@salvadoribarra3519]

me encanta mucho este canal ya estoy corriendo son fantásticos todo el equipo la verdad en especial Anna pero todo fantástico la verdad

[@davidmaina4379]

Amazing watch Garmin

[@xelionizer]

Uh, Anna, you're freezing! I'm sending you a warm hug 🤗

[@xelionizer]

Sarah, you as well, of course;)

[@AddingLifeAdventure]

Pretty cool, ladies!

[@ensambleconsultoriabarragan]

wuaw!! my next watch has to be. a Garmin jaja sooooo have to work hard next year!

[@graeb4751]

great vid, few things in there i really didnt know and i've owned garmin watches for 6 years:( maybe time to read the manual:)

[@janicegagnon2294]

There is so much I don’t know and don’t use with my Garmin, there is so much more I could be using to step things up.

[@karabotlhophane6081]

Best video yet, the tips I love. Didn't know about some of them🙈😌😌😌

[@runningchannel]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching 😊 which feature is your favourite?

[@karabotlhophane6081]

@@runningchannel screenshot feature and the last tip. They made me realize I a due for an upgrade

[@grahamhowes3912]

Hey TRC! I have dabbled with a few of these features on my Garmin, it's definitely something you need to make a routine of (for me anyway)...I always enjoy setting up and using the alerts and such on the run, however I always forget to change it/turn it off for my next run! It can be quite annoying once you've set off and you're in your groove and alerts start going off that aren't applicable to that workout...I guess it's a question of diligence...uhm what? Hehe...loved the video though, thanks!

[@runningchannel]

Thanks for watching Graham! What's your favourite Garmin feature?

[@shredpow]

Hi Graham! That happened to me, too. So I made appropriately named copies of my run activities: "threshold run", with threshold HR alerts, and "easy run", with zone 2 alerts, and kept my run activity with no alerts. Forgetting about alerts you've set is so frustrating, especially when they keep interrupting my audiobook or music!

[@Catcrumbs]

It's a pain to go through the menus to set up alerts. Programming a workout with the relevant targets is far more preferable and is also possible on devices that have restricted activity profile functionality.

[@jmvlog9063]

Amazing 🤩

[@kellypreston9366]

Are you able to add a hot key function to switch between workouts for a Garmin 245?

[@kevinlance1813]

All good stuff. Honestly I'm slightly older than the technology revolution so I struggle from time to time with my Garmin but I couldn't imagine running without it. New one for xmas also so it should be the best of times and the worst of times. Sorry.

[@lexington476]

1:41... ( pauses video)... (goes into the bedroom with all the sports stuff)... (finds Garmin Forerunner 635xt)... And that feature is not supported on the older 635XT... 😶... Well the new 945 lte is on order.

[@gusmalave4864]

Hello guys do you have any idea to import to Garmin all my previous sessions from polar? Very appreciated indeed 🙏🏼

[@lexington476]

From your last Garmin video i ordered a new watch. About a 4 model upgrade.

[@runningchannel]

Nice! Which watch did you go for?

[@lexington476]

@@runningchannel 945 LTE, I figured go big or go home... I got the latest watch as I figure it'll be good for at about four years.

[@pajodublin]

I'm here for the squirrel 😁

[@Naraic2]

Hi Team I'm looking at purchasing a new watch. I see the Garmin 55 ATM and on sale on some sites. Any thoughts or opinions on the quality?

[@user-bv7jc]

you can take a screenshot on your Garmin by holding the Light button and the Back button at the same time, for like 1 to 2 seconds. Good for memories and stuff.

[@alyson8620]

So funny... I have a Garmin, but apparently it's getting old😅most of those features are nonexistent for it. But the others are helpful, thank you😘

[@arcticrunning8370]

Also, if you have a tattoo on your hand the pulse reading will not work. The darker tattoo the harder it will be for the lazer to read your pulse. I have had to start wearing my watch on my "wrong" hand 😂

[@Estertje93]

You can also wear it on the inside of the wrist if your skin in still virgin under there

[@dominic8051]

Chest straps should work. They don't use a freaking lazer. Lol

[@piotrrostow]

Should you shave it?

[@anthonyhickling8867]

The first time I saw the metronome feature earlier in the video I thought it was something to be used whilst doing piano practise

[@phillamb8808]

Merry Christmas TRC

[@runningchannel]

Merry Christmas Phil! 🎅

[@wover1988]

There is a squirrel doing Parkrun at 4:05 !! :D

[@vegannature]

I have a garmin vivofit 4 at the moment, which has basically no real running features other than "start/stop" and the countdown function, so I rely on the Garmin connect app for all additional data, which is ok for. But I still am considering a new forerunner (probably the 55).. I'm just not sure it's really worth it to buy a new watch as long as the vivofit is still working just fine after 2.5 years of use. I definetely don't NEED a new watch, but I kinda still want one. I'm considering buying the forerunner for daily use and running and keeping the vivofit for long-distance hiking (which I do almost every vacation), because of its 1 year battery life. In Garmin Connect one can use several watches simultaniously, right? Any input would be greatly appreciated. :)

[@runningchannel]

You can have multiple watches sync'd to you Garmin Connect account. The Forerunner series are really good and we've done a number of videos looking at features from that range. If you have a look at some of the other videos we've done (search Garmin on our homepage), it might help you make up your mind.

[@drzeus9449]

@@runningchannel Great video, so many things I had no idea of. Are many of these features available on most watches, even the 55 (mine's coming today😁) or are they restricted to the higher end?

[@JamesBlackman]

How do you download the pack run setting?

[@key2adventure]

Lots of these are not possible on my vivoactive 3 as far as I can see. Isn’t my watch a running watch?

[@runningvoorbij4008]

Not my favorit but it works very good… the HELP-function. (Garmin assistance and accident detection)

[@SilviaPallova]

What is that function about?

[@kelvinphelps3012]

How do you download your park run barcode to your watch? I have a fenix 3hr.

[@atleastthreecharswide]

How do I do the weekly target thingy?

[@michaelmulligan0]

How do you do that 2nd one?

[@Jay-sd9ye]

Thanks. I have my pace set up on alert now. If I drop under 10min pace it warns me. Thanks.

[@tw9341]

How do we add park run ?

[@ujalshrestha4177]

👍👍

[@arne.munther]

So how to set up different running profiles ? Maybe make a short how-to video.

[@najimusa4204]

How about PacePro feature?

[@RobDickson69]

I like parkrun barcode idea. Much better than fiddling with my phone in the rain. Is it the one by gasteropod, or is there an official parkrun one?

[@RobDickson69]

The screenshot feature is excellent. I didn't know about that either.

[@gradesix2241]

What is the best yet affordable garmin watch for middle distance runners that you can recommend?

[@beaj.6304]

Where are the screen shots stored? Where can find them?

[@tomasdeloubes5043]

Does anyone know how to set the custom message alerts on an activity I only have "eat" "drink" "go home" and can't find how to add new ones

[@schmitzvarun5518]

😘😘😘😘 from india

[@screwymatt]

I can’t afford one of these yet but have Strava on my Apple Watch and it has the lock feature. I couldn’t figure out how to unlock it and was panicking as I watched my average pace increase hahaha

[@michaelmulligan0]

How do you download the Parkrun barcode to Garmin watch?

[@InspiNatio]

Bro just casually pulls a 10 miler on the treadmill for his double.

[@torbennielsen6070]

Have or could you do a video on The stryd power devise please best regards Torben

[@tupertv4144]

Wow nice The running channel

[@akfilms6748]

New annoying feature appeared in my Garmin 245. It says MOVE! when I stay still for a bit longer. Need to google how to turn off this. Sometimes it tells me to move even when I'm standing, what da hell :D But speaking about positive stuff, I just finished 10K coach program and it was awesome. Too bad I can't see marathon program for some reason...

[@anna.the.runner]

Depending on your watch, access the main menu (usually by holding ‘UP’.) Scroll to ‘Activity Tracking’ and then ‘Move Alert’. Click on it to toggle between ‘on’ and ‘off’. Mine is ALWAYS off - I’m not a fan of it either! Ha. I just finished the 10k coach plan too! 🙌

[@narrowboatlongpod4176]

You can also change it in Garmin Connect.

[@runningchannel]

Congratulations for finishing the 10k 👏👏

[@akfilms6748]

@@anna.the.runner Found that! Thank you! Now it's time for half marathon program :)

[@FiremanFrach]

Are these features for all Gamins? I have an original Instinct Solar.

[@EricElsewhere]

I'm really waiting for a Forerunner 255 (if it ever comes), after watching this my FR 235 feels ancient!!!

[@dliedke]

Definitely worth the upgrade now :)

[@atleastthreecharswide]

How to set the alerts bruh? No link in the description.

[@richardspandley6387]

Is the Metronome feature legal to use in a race?

[@runningchannel]

You should be able to use it in most races but it's always worth checking with the race organisers 😊