Connect Strava to Garmin in three steps

Connecting Strava to Garmin takes about five minutes and happens in your Garmin Connect app, not in Strava itself. You authorize Strava once, and from then on your Garmin device automatically sends workout data to Strava every time you sync. The connection works with most Garmin watches and fitness trackers — Forerunner, Fenix, Epix, Venu, Instinct, and Vivosmart models all support it.

The process is the same whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, or computer. You will need both apps installed: Garmin Connect (the official Garmin app) and Strava. If you do not have Strava yet, read it from your phone's app store or visit strava.com and create an account first.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Garmin Connect, go to Settings, find Connected Apps or Third-Party Apps, and select Strava to authorize the connection.
  • You authorize Strava once in Garmin Connect — after that, your workouts upload automatically when you sync your device.
  • The connection works with most modern Garmin watches and fitness trackers, but older models may not support it.
  • If workouts do not appear in Strava after syncing, check that both apps have permission to access your location and health data.

Open Garmin Connect and find the connected apps section

Launch the Garmin Connect app on your phone. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and look for a section called Settings, Preferences, or Account Settings — the exact name depends on your phone's operating system, but it is always near the bottom of the menu.

Once you are in Settings, look for an option labeled Connected Apps, Third-Party Apps, or Partner Apps. Tap it. You will see a list of services Garmin can connect to, including Strava, MyFitnessPal, and others. Find Strava in the list and tap it.

Authorize Strava and confirm the connection

When you tap Strava, Garmin Connect will open a login screen. Enter your Strava username and password — the same credentials you use to log into the Strava app or website. If you do not remember your password, tap the "Forgot password?" link on the login screen and follow Strava's recovery process before coming back to this step.

After you log in, Strava will ask you to confirm that you want to allow Garmin Connect to access your account. You will see a screen that says something like "Authorize Garmin Connect to access your Strava account." Tap the Authorize or Connect button. The app will return to Garmin Connect and show a confirmation message. The connection is now active.

Sync your Garmin device to upload your first workout

The connection does not upload old workouts automatically — it only sends new ones going forward. Open the Garmin Connect app and make sure your Garmin device is nearby and connected via Bluetooth. Tap the sync icon (usually a circular arrow) at the top of the app. Wait for the sync to finish; you will see a checkmark or confirmation message when it is done.

Now open the Strava app. Go to your profile or feed. Your most recent workout from Garmin should appear within a few seconds to a few minutes. If it does not show up right away, close the Strava app completely and reopen it. If the workout still does not appear after five minutes, check the troubleshooting section below.

What happens after you connect

Once the connection is active, every time you sync your Garmin device in Garmin Connect, new workouts will automatically appear in Strava. You do not need to do anything else — the upload happens in the background. This includes runs, walks, bike rides, swims, and other activities your Garmin records, depending on your device.

Strava will show your Garmin workouts with the same data your device captured: distance, time, pace or speed, elevation, heart rate (if your device has a sensor), and any splits or laps you created. You can edit the activity in Strava after it uploads — change the title, add notes, mark it as private, or remove it entirely.

Disconnect Strava if you change your mind

If you want to stop sending workouts to Strava, open Garmin Connect, go back to Settings and Connected Apps, find Strava, and tap Disconnect or Remove. This stops future uploads but does not delete workouts already in Strava. If you want to remove those workouts from Strava, you have to delete them individually in the Strava app.

You can also disconnect from Strava's side. Open the Strava app, go to Settings, find Connected Apps or Integrations, locate Garmin Connect, and tap Disconnect. Either way works — disconnecting in one app disconnects in both.

Troubleshooting: workouts not appearing in Strava

If you synced your Garmin but the workout did not show up in Strava, first check that the connection is still active. Open Garmin Connect, go to Settings and Connected Apps, and confirm Strava is listed there. If it is not, the connection dropped and you need to authorize it again using the steps above.

If Strava is still connected, the problem is usually app permissions. Both Garmin Connect and Strava need permission to access your location and health data. On iPhone, go to Settings, find Privacy, and check Location Services and Health. Make sure both Garmin Connect and Strava are set to "Always" or "While Using the App." On Android, open Settings, go to Apps, select Garmin Connect and Strava one at a time, tap Permissions, and turn on Location and Health permissions for each.

If permissions are already on, try closing both apps completely and reopening them. Then sync your Garmin device again. If the workout still does not appear after ten minutes, the issue may be on Strava's end — check the Strava status page (status.strava.com) to see if there are any known outages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will old workouts from my Garmin upload to Strava?

No. The connection only uploads new workouts recorded after you authorize Strava. If you want to add older workouts to Strava, you can export them from Garmin Connect as a file and import them into Strava manually, but that is a separate process.

Can I connect multiple Garmin devices to the same Strava account?

Yes. Once you authorize Strava in Garmin Connect, any Garmin device you sync to that account will send workouts to Strava. You do not need to authorize again for each device.

What if I use Garmin Connect on both my phone and computer?

You only need to authorize Strava once, in either the phone app or the web version of Garmin Connect. The authorization is tied to your Garmin account, not the device you use to set it up. Workouts will upload no matter which version of Garmin Connect you sync with.

Does connecting Strava to Garmin cost money?

No. The connection itself is free. Strava offers both a free version and a paid subscription (Strava+), but connecting your Garmin device does not require a subscription. You can use the free version of Strava and still receive all your Garmin workouts.

Can I edit a workout in Garmin Connect after it uploads to Strava?

Changes you make in Garmin Connect do not automatically update in Strava. If you edit a workout in Garmin Connect after it has uploaded, you will need to make the same edits in Strava separately. The two apps do not sync changes in both directions.