If you are looking to increase your fitness and get into better shape, then a Garmin Fenix 6 could be the smartwatch for you. It’s hard to beat this watch when it comes to fitness tracking, as it offers a vast array of features that are perfect for anyone from a beginner runner to an Ironman triathlete.
If you’re already a Garmin Fenix 6 owner or have just bought one, then you might be wondering about the best apps for the watch. We’ve put together this list of the best apps that will help you use your Garmin Fenix 6 to its full potential.
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Best Apps For Garmin Fenix 6
If you’re the owner of a new Garmin watch, whether it’s an oldie (but a goodie) like the Forerunner 235 or something new like the Fenix 7 or Epix, there are now some top apps and watch faces to download from Garmin Connect IQ – the company’s own app store.
Garmin only opened up its platform a few years ago, allowing developers outside of Garmin HQ to use their brains and coding skills to create apps, widgets and watch extensions.
It means new sports and niche add-ons can be added into the mix to make the watch feel like a personal companion.
Upgrade: Choose the best Garmin watch for your needs
Tested: Garmin Fenix 7 – in-depth review
If you are wondering how Connect IQ works, read on for everything you need to know, plus we pick the best apps to try out.
Skip to the the best Garmin Connect IQ apps
Which Garmin watches use Connect IQ?
garmin air quality
There are a lot of Garmin’s sports watches, smartwatches, bike computers and dedicated GPS devices that are compatible with Connect IQ.
The list of supported devices continues to grow as Garmin ushers out more new devices. Some of Garmin’s most recent launches including the Venu 2 Plus and the Epix are Connect IQ-friendly watches.
That support can vary device to device though. The Forerunner 45 for example is compatible with Connect IQ, but will only let you download watch faces.
Right now, the Connect IQ compatible list includes:
Fenix 7 (all models)
Fenix 6 series (all models)
Fenix 5 (all models)
Epix (Gen 2)
Enduro
Fenix 3/3 HR
Garmin Venu/Venu 2/Venu 2 Plus
Garmin Venu Sq
Forerunner 45, 230, 235, 245, 630, 645, 645 Music, 935/945, 735XT, 745 and 920XT
Vivoactive, Vivoactive HR and Vivoactive 3, Vivoactive 3 Music, Vivoactive 4/4S
Swim 2
Approach S60, S62
Edge 520/530, 820/830, 1000/1030
D2 Bravo, Quatix 5, Epix, Oregon
Instinct (all models)
Instinct 2
Marq (all models)
If you do own one of the supported devices, the idea is that the watch you bought to train for that marathon, triathlon or cycling race can now morph into something that does a whole lot more, such as track your golf score, give you the weather and even let you monitor your stocks and shares.
What can you download?
download Garmin Connect watch faces
Most of the apps on Garmin Connect IQ are free. We are starting to see some paid apps appear, but on the whole the majority are up for grabs for nothing.
Many of these apps have been made by Garmin themselves. The rest are from third party developers and other Garmin users.
The different downloads split into four types. Here’s what each option does.
Apps
Apps in Garmin Connect IQ world are downloaded and stored on your watch in pretty much the same way as you would an app for your phone. You can download as many apps as your device will store, but you can only run one at a time. You access apps on your Garmin as you would do the main sports.
All the new third-party apps you’ve downloaded will sit in the main list of native sport options such as running, cycling, swimming or indoor running.
But you can also expect to see apps related to the smart home, and the addition of music support on Garmin watches like the Forerunner 645 Music and Fenix 6 Series means there are music apps to discover too.
Garmin watch faces
Best Garmin Connect watch faces
Finally you can choose from a range of third-party watch face designs and layouts. These cover everything from turning your Garmin Forerunner 945 screen into an old school big hand, little hand display to putting a skull and cross bones Jolly Roger on your Vivoactive 4.
Many of the watch faces have been designed to work across different devices too, so upgrading your watch won’t mean sacrificing your beloved custom screens.
Read this: Best Garmin watch faces to download
Widgets
Widgets appear on the watch face when you’re in power save mode and they work by piggy-backing your connected smartphone’s data to display information from other services you might be using.
Among the widgets available for download there are third party offerings from AccuWeather with its allergen monitor, as well as things like multi time zone display, step counter, sleep history and even Snake. Yes, even Snake.
Data fields
If you’re familiar with Garmin you’ll know what we mean by data fields. If not these are basically the customisable sections you can display on the face of your Garmin.
Whereas before you could only display the fields Garmin pre-selected, with Connect IQ you’ll be able to add more options and tweak your device with a wider variety of stats.
How to download from Garmin Connect IQ on phone
How to download from Garmin Connect IQ on phone
With the arrival of Garmin’s standalone Connect IQ app, it’s definitely got a lot easier to get stuff on your device. First, you will need a Garmin Connect account, which you’ll need to have if you use Garmin’s Connect companion app. That’s the app where you can view all of your exercise, health and fitness data.
With your Garmin paired to your phone, download the Connect IQ app (Apple App Store or Google Play) to your phone and launch the app. Your connected device should appear in the top right corner of the app to indicate that the two are paired.
Now you can scroll through the app store to find what you’re looking for, hit download and it should sync over to your device.
How to download from Garmin Connect IQ on a computer
The other way to do it is by getting access to a laptop/computer with Garmin Express installed, and getting your Garmin device fully up to date so that’s it compatible with IQ. Once that’s sorted the download process is fairly simple.
If you fire up Garmin Express you’ll see some menus for Watch Faces, Apps, Data Fields and Widgets. Hitting the Manage button takes you to another page where you can see what’s already installed, check how much space you’ve got left on the device and manage all of your downloads onto and off the watch.
You can also navigate to the Garmin Connect IQ store from here to search for things you’d like to download from your phone or computer.
Best Garmin Connect IQ apps to download
strava garmin
The Garmin Connect IQ Store has come on leaps and bounds since we originally penned this list, and now there’s a whole host of useful applets to try out. We’ve rounded up our favourites below.
Not all apps are compatible with all devices, but we’ve picked out some of the supported devices with the picks below.
Best Garmin Connect IQ running and cycling apps
Strava Routes
We think it’s a fair assumption to make that if you’ve got a Garmin, you’re most probably logging your workouts in Strava as well. If a friend or fellow Strava user happens to share a good running or cycling route, this app will let you transfer it over to your watch so you can follow the same route. It’ll show you when you’ve veered off course as well, if you’re worried about getting lost.
A note though, Strava has now made this a feature you need to pay for if you want to make good use of it.
Compatible watches: Forerunner 245, Forerunner 945, Fenix 7 series, Marq
Download Strava Routes Connect IQ app
RunSafe+
This is a really nice app for runners and walkers with tracking profiles that include stroller running, cross country and even pool running.
It then offers you a rich array of data fields to glance over during your session and features like adding transitions for multiple leg activities and race estimations for any distance. It’s one you’ll need to pay for, but you can trial it first before deciding to part with your money.
Compatible watches: Forerunner 245, Forerunner 945, Fenix 3/5/6/7 series, Marq, Venu, Vivoactive 3/4,
Download RunSafe+ Connect IQ app
Stryd Workout
The makers of the wearable power meter for runners has a built an app that helps you build training sessions focused around the metric. It still offers the Stryd Zones data fields (which you can download here), if you’re already up to speed with your own power-based training.
If you need a little more guidance or dabbling with it as a concept for the first time, you’ll want the Workout app that also plays nice with third party training platforms too.
Compatible watches: Forerunner 245, Forerunner 945, Fenix 7 series, Marq, Venu, Venu SQ, Vivoactive 4
Download Stryd Workout Connect IQ app
Learn to run
For running beginners who’ve splashed out big on a feature-packed Garmin watch, this simple app offers a host of different training programs that will help you run 5K. When you’ve mastered doing a 5K you can move up to 10k and running for longer, with interval training added to the mix to get you in shape for those big distances. It’s been around for a while, but it’s thankfully been recently updated to work with the latest Forerunner watches.
Compatible watches: Forerunner 245, Forerunner 945, Fenix 7 series, Marq, Venu 2, Venu SQ, Vivoactive 4
Download Learn to run Connect IQ app
Strava Relative Effort
Previously known as Strava Live Suffer Score, this is actually more of a data field than an app that shows a live reading of how hard you’re working from your device’s HR monitor, helping Strava users ensure they’re getting the maximum from their session.
Compatible watches: Forerunner 245, Forerunner 945, Fenix 7 series, Marq, Venu, Venu SQ, Vivoactive 4
Download Strava Relative Effort Connect IQ app
Trail Run/Running
Another one that sits in the data field collection, but one we think is worth knowing about. If you like getting off road, you can squeeze all of your key metrics into one screen to save you from swiping through them on the move.
It’ll save you the job of doing it in Garmin’s own settings, putting metrics like elevation and ascent/descent data alongside your core running metrics.
Compatible watches: Forerunner 245, Forerunner 945, Fenix 7 series, Marq, Venu 2, Venu SQ, Vivoactive 4
Download Trail Run/Running Connect IQ app
Best Garmin Connect IQ music apps
Best Garmin Connect IQ music apps
Spotify
Yes, there is a dedicated Spotify app, joining Deezer and Amazon Music in letting you pile playlists from the streaming music service onto compatible Garmin watches. That does also mean you have offline playlist support if you want to leave your phone behind on your next run or ride. As mentioned, it only works on select devices that offer music player support.
Read this: How to connect Spotify to Garmin watches
Compatible watches: Forerunner 645/645/745 Music, Forerunner 245 Music, Fenix 5 Plus series, Fenix 6 series, Fenix 7 series, Epix, Marq, Vivoactive 3/4 Music, Forerunner 945, Venu.
Best garmin watch apps 2021
Barcode – Save Wallet Space. …
MyHomeControl – Home Automation App. …
Strava Routes – Route Tracking App. …
Maps Nav – Hands Free Navigation App. …
Watchlist – To Do List, Notes, Task app. …
AccuWeather MinuteCast – Weather App. …
Amazon Music – Music Streaming App. …
Sleep As Android – Sleep Tracking App.
Conclusion
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