Forgot to Charge Your Garmin? Charge It With Your Phone
If you have a USB-C phone and your Garmin uses USB-C, you can charge your watch directly from your phone in an emergency. Here's how.
Day 27: The Emergency Phone Charging Trick
You almost never have to charge your Garmin — but what if you forget and have a long run tomorrow morning?
The trick
Many modern Garmins charge via USB-C. Your phone also charges via USB-C. And most modern phones support reverse wireless charging or can act as a USB power bank via a USB-C to USB-C cable.
- If your phone has reverse wireless charging: place your Garmin charger on the back of your phone (only works with wireless Garmin chargers)
- If you have a USB-C to USB-C cable: plug your Garmin's charging cradle into your phone's USB-C port and charge directly
This only works on newer devices
Older Garmins use proprietary charging clips that require a proper USB-A or USB-C power source. But Garmin has been moving to USB-C charging across the lineup — check your model.
How fast does it charge?
Not fast. Your phone delivers far less current via reverse charging than a wall adapter. But in 20–30 minutes you can typically get 15–20% battery — enough for a long run the next morning.
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Watchfaces worth installing
Watchface
Cadence
A classic analog watchface with a wide choice of stats, fields and colours, long-press shortcuts into the app, and always-on modes for OLED screens.
Watchface
Cockpit
Everything you need to track your day on one clean, cleverly laid-out watchface, with colours you change right on the watch and a second time zone.
Watchface
Goals Pro
The most popular Garmin watchface, upgraded: the same goal rings with full control over colours, fonts, analog or digital time, and long-press shortcuts.