How To Connect Zwift To Garmin Watch? – [Step By Step]

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Connecting your Garmin device with Zwift can be a new and exciting experience. However, for some people, it can be a complete headache. But worry not, as I will teach you this whole process in a simple and easy-to-follow method.

In this article, as already mentioned, we will learn how to connect Zwift to Garmin without messing things up. In addition, we will also talk about some common issues people face when trying to connect the two devices together.

We will also discuss some common pitfalls to avoid when connecting the Zwift with a smartwatch. If you are interested in learning all this, then keep on reading!

How To Connect Zwift To Garmin

How To Connect Zwift To Garmin

You must learn a general method when connecting your Garmin to the Zwift device. This is because once you figure out how to connect Zwift to Garmin, you can work it out with almost every device from Garmin. After all, they are almost the same.

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Apart from that, you need to switch off anything possibly connected to Zwift or your Smartwatch as a prerequisite. This will help a smoother experience and eliminate the risk of other processes tempering with the connectivity process.

Turn off any background running third-party app because it usually interferes with the Zwift’s ability to detect and pair with a Garmin smartwatch.

Once you have turned everything off, here is a step-by-step guide on how to connect your Garmin smartwatch to Zwift:

  • Access Zwift on your device
  • Enter your credentials and log in to your Zwift account
  • After logging into the account, there will be two options, i.e., Ride or Run, and you must select Ride.
  • Click on the Search option and find Garmin in the list of devices you can pair with using ANT+ or BLE technology
  • Select Garmin and then click on the pair option
  • Press ok and wait for the process to finish.

Garmin Watch Configuration To Run Zwift

Once you have paired the two devices, the next step is to configure your Smartwatch to start working with the Zwift. Don’t worry; this is quite easy, and all you need to do is follow the given guidelines.

  • Click on the start button, which is located at the top right corner
  • Press and hold the start button, and an option called “+Add” will appear
  • Scroll down until you see the bike option
  • Now tap on the start button again
  • Voila! now you have properly configured your Garmin Smartwatch to work with the Zwift

Congratulations, you have successfully configured your Garmin Smartwatch to work with Zwift. With this setup, you can track your performance data, including heart rate, speed, and distance, and use Zwift to enhance your indoor training experience.

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Can I Link Zwift To Garmin Connect?

Can I Link Zwift To Garmin Connect

Yes, you can link your Zwift account to your Garmin Connect account. This integration allows you to automatically sync your Zwift ride data with your Garmin Connect account.

First, log in to your Zwift account on the Zwift website to link your accounts. From there, click on the “Profile” tab and select “Connections.” Under the Garmin Connect section, click on “Connect” and follow the prompts to authorize the connection between the two accounts.

Once the connection is established, any rides you complete on Zwift will be automatically synced to your Garmin Connect account. This includes data such as distance, speed, heart rate, etc. You can also view your Zwift activity details in the Garmin Connect app or website and track your progress over time.

Why is Zwift Not Uploading To Garmin?

When Zwift is not uploading to Garmin, it could be due to several reasons. One common reason is that your device is out of storage space. This means your device may not have enough space to store the Zwift activity data before uploading it to Garmin.

If this is the case, you can try clearing up some space on your device by removing unused programs or files to make room for the Zwift activity data. Once you have cleared up some space, you can try uploading the Zwift activity to Garmin again.

Another reason why Zwift may not be uploading to Garmin is if you are using a school or work computer. Some computers have restrictions or limitations that may prevent Zwift from uploading data to Garmin.

In this case, it is recommended to switch to a personal computer instead and ensure that you are running Zwift as an administrator. This will ensure that the necessary permissions are granted for Zwift to upload data to Garmin.

It is worth noting that Zwift only supports standard setups at this time, so it is important to use a personal computer and follow the recommended setup to avoid any issues.

Suppose you have tried the above solutions and are still experiencing issues uploading your Zwift activity to Garmin. In that case, contacting the support teams for both Zwift and Garmin is recommended.

They may be able to provide additional troubleshooting steps or identify any other compatibility issues that may be preventing the upload.

Can You Link Zwift, Garmin, And Strava Together?

Yes, you can link Zwift, Garmin, and Strava together. This integration allows you to automatically sync your Zwift rides to your Garmin Connect account and Strava.

To link your accounts, you must first connect your Zwift account to your Garmin Connect account, as explained earlier. Once your accounts are linked, you can connect your Garmin Connect account to your Strava account. This will enable the automatic syncing of your Zwift ride data to Strava.

To connect your Garmin Connect account to Strava, log in to your Strava account and go to your account settings. Click “Applications, Services, and Devices” and select “Connect with Garmin.” Follow the prompts to authorize the connection between Garmin and Strava.

Once the connection is established, your Zwift ride data will automatically sync to your Garmin Connect account and Strava.

With this integration, you can easily track your Zwift ride data across all three platforms, including distance, speed, heart rate, and more. Additionally, you can join challenges, connect with friends, and get insights into your performance to help you reach your fitness goals.

Can I Use My Garmin Watch For Zwift Running?

Yes, you can use your Garmin watch for Zwift running if it has a built-in accelerometer or if you have a foot pod sensor that can be paired with it.

A Wrist-Based Accelerometer:

Garmin watches that have a built-in accelerometer can be used for Zwift running without the need for any additional sensors. The accelerometer measures your wrist movements and calculates your pace and distance. Some popular Garmin watches that support this feature include the Forerunner, Vivoactive, and Fenix series.

To use your Garmin watch for Zwift running, connect it to the Zwift app and start running on a treadmill. Your watch will track your distance and pace, and this information will be transmitted to the Zwift app, which will then simulate your progress on the virtual course.

Pairing Older Devices:

If you have an older Garmin watch that does not have a built-in accelerometer, you can still use it for Zwift running by pairing it with a foot pod sensor. A foot pod sensor is a small device that attaches to your shoe and measures your speed and distance.

Using ANT+ or Bluetooth you can pair your Garmin watch with a foot pod sensor using ANT+ or Bluetooth.

Once you have paired your Garmin watch with a foot pod sensor, connect it to the Zwift app and start running on a treadmill. Your watch and foot pod sensor will work together to track your distance and pace, which will be transmitted to the Zwift app.

Data Recording:

Using your Garmin watch for Zwift running will record your workout data, including distance, pace, heart rate, and burned calories. This data will be stored in your Garmin Connect account, where you can analyze your performance and track your progress over time.

Last Minute Thoughts!

In this article, we went through the whole process of connecting Zwift to a Garmin smartwatch and learned how to connect Zwift to Garmin correctly. Apart from that, we also learned whether these two devices are officially compatible with each other or not and how to use them together to maximize your workout experience.

I hope you have learned something new, cool, exciting, and interesting from this article and found it actually helpful. If that’s true, please consider sharing it with your friends and family. It can help make their day by letting them know how to connect a Garmin Smartwatch to Zwift.

You can also leave your thoughts about this guide using the comments below.

Thank you so much for reading and happy cycling.

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Tonny is an active cyclist with 7+ years of experience in coaching. With over 500 trained students, he is currently promoting safe cycling around the globe.

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