Tips, settings & hidden features
Step-by-step Garmin settings, shortcuts, alerts, battery tips, navigation help, and features worth enabling.
Day 1201You Can Change Garmin Settings Mid-Run Without Losing Any Data
That heart rate alert buzzing at you from last week's run doesn't have to ruin today's. You can open the activity settings while the timer is still running — here's how, on both Forerunner and Venu.
Day 11610The One Running Data Field Almost Nobody Adds: Cadence
Most runners only look at pace, distance, time, and heart rate. Cadence — your steps per minute — is one of the best signals for why a run feels harder than it should.
Day 11122Set a Heart Rate Alert So Your Garmin Watches Your Zone 2 Run For You
Most runners stare at their screen the whole run trying to stay in Zone 2. Set a heart rate alert instead and your Garmin buzzes the moment you drift out.
Day 1082Garmin Not Charging? Clean the Connector First
If your Garmin looks like it charged overnight but didn't move at all, the pins on the charging cable are probably dirty — not broken. Here's the fix.
Day 9679How to Create a Running or Cycling Course in Garmin Connect
Use Garmin Connect's Course Creator and Trendline Popularity Routing to plan a new route, then send it to a compatible watch or Edge.
Day 9527How to Set Drink Alerts on a Garmin Watch
Create a recurring time- or distance-based Drink alert inside an activity profile so your Garmin reminds you to hydrate during longer sessions.
Day 8614How to Import a GPX File Into Garmin Connect
Start with 10 useful websites for free and paid GPX routes, then import the file into Garmin Connect and send the course to a compatible watch or Edge.
Day 7635Your Garmin Knows the Way Home, Even When You Don't
The best runs are the unplanned ones — but at some point you need to get back. Here's how to use Garmin's Back to Start feature to find your way home.
Day 7264Every Garmin Has a Flashlight — Even Without Hardware LEDs
Most Garmin owners don't know their watch has a built-in flashlight mode, even on models without a dedicated LED. Here's how to enable it — plus the best tips for running safely in the dark.
Day 6371Silent Wake: Wake Up Without Disturbing Anyone
Sleeping next to someone with a different wake time? Your Garmin can wake you with vibration only — no sound. Here's how to enable silent alarms.
Day 6058The Turn Around Alert: Garmin's Best Hidden Run Feature
Out-and-back runs only work if you flip at exactly the right moment. The Turn Around alert on your Garmin tells you when to turn — so you finish exactly where you started.
Day 56123Top 5 Garmin Features You Didn't Know Existed
Your Garmin is packed with features most people never find. Here are the 5 best ones — from smart alarms to incident detection — and how to turn them on.
Day 5544GPS Accuracy Modes Explained: Which One Should You Pick?
Your Garmin has multiple GPS modes and the difference matters. Here's exactly which one to use — and when — to balance accuracy and battery life.
Day 4259Top 20 Garmin Features Your Apple Watch Doesn't Have
Battery life is just the start. Here are 20 things your Garmin does that Apple Watch simply can't — from Body Battery to topographic maps to solar charging.
Day 35138Top 20 Settings to Change on Every New Garmin
Every time I get a new Garmin, I work through this list. From software updates to GPS defaults to emergency features — 20 settings that actually make a difference from day one.
Day 306Apple Watch vs Garmin Battery Test: How Long Does Each Last?
I charged both to 100%, disabled always-on, and ran the same route. The results weren't even close — but the Apple Watch had one clever trick up its sleeve.
Day 2956My Top 5 Favourite Garmin Features
After years of daily Garmin use, these are the 5 features I genuinely couldn't go back to living without — ranked from good to irreplaceable.
Day 2833Your Garmin Has Hidden Shortcut Buttons — Here's How to Use Them
Long-press any button on your Garmin to assign a custom shortcut. Log a drink, start an activity, or open any app with one button. Most users never set these up.
Day 2725Forgot 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 2120Cheapest vs Most Expensive Garmin: GPS Accuracy Tested
Multi-band GPS on a Fenix vs single-band on a Vivoactive — the results are closer than you'd think, and the battery cost of multi-band is real.
Day 1414Sunset Alerts: Your Garmin Can Help Keep You Safe at Night
Set a 'time until sunset' alert in Garmin and get a heads-up before it gets dark on your run. A small setting that makes a real safety difference.
Day 12687 Settings to Get Extra Days of Garmin Battery Life
Without touching battery saver mode, these specific settings can squeeze 7+ extra days out of your Garmin. Display, GPS, connectivity — all covered.
Day 1141Heart Rate Alerts: Stop Staring at Your Watch Mid-Run
Set heart rate alerts on your Garmin and it buzzes when you go above or below your target zone — so you can run by feel, not by screen.
Day 731Why Garmin Doesn't Default to 10,000 Steps
Garmin's step goal auto-adjusts to your actual fitness level instead of defaulting to 10,000. Here's the science behind it — and how to change it manually.