Garmin's Data Sharing with Google Health Connect: A Comprehensive Overview
The latest addition to Garmin's line of affordable fitness watches, the Forerunner 165, boasts an impressive 11-day battery life and the ability to share key run data through Google's Health Connect platform [1]. This makes it an attractive choice for those looking to integrate their Garmin watch with other Android apps.
However, it seems that the integration between Garmin and Google Health Connect will be limited. According to Garmin's Support page, most of the core workout data will be shared with other apps, excluding running power, cadence, and sweat loss [2]. As of June 30, the latest Play Store update of Health Connect does not show Garmin Connect, suggesting a potential delay into July [3].
Despite this limitation, Garmin has confirmed that it will share various activity and wellness-related data with Google Health Connect. This includes step count, sleep data, calories burned, heart rate data from activities, body fat content, weight recorded using a scale, swimming strokes, and cycling speed and cadence [1].
When it comes to key proprietary data, Garmin generally holds back on sharing advanced medical indicators. For instance, in its integration with Apple Health, Garmin does not plan to synchronize advanced medical indicators like ECG data [3]. This suggests that Garmin may similarly limit the sharing of sensitive or advanced health metrics with Google Health Connect to maintain control over its ecosystem and protect user data. However, specific details about what proprietary data Garmin holds back in this partnership are not explicitly stated.
It's worth noting that the Forerunner 165 allows users to view daily run recommendations and recovery time directly on the watch itself, not through Health Connect [7]. Moreover, Garmin will not accept any health data from Health Connect, only deliver it [8]. This means that you cannot do a workout with a Galaxy or Pixel Watch and see the results in Garmin Connect.
Interestingly, Samsung Health and Fitbit do share stats like VO2 Max and running power that Garmin won't [9]. Garmin also appears uninterested in using other apps' data, preventing importing workouts and receiving Coach guidance and run analysis from third-party watches [10].
In a recent announcement at I/O 2025, Google revealed that Health Connect would pair with Garmin, Runna, and Mi Fitness in June [11]. Garmin Connect will also share Wellness data with Google Health Connect, including Body Fat, Calories Burned, Floors Climbed, Heart Rate Data, Sleep Data, Steps and Step Distance, and Weight [12]. The planned sync between Garmin Connect and Health Connect was announced last month [13]. The one-way transfer from Garmin to Health Connect includes Active and Total Calories burned, Cycling Pedal Cadence, Distance, Elevation Gained, Heart Rate data, Speed information, Steps, Swimming Strokes, and more [4].
In summary, the Forerunner 165 is a great starting point for buying a Garmin watch that can share data with other Android apps. However, users should be aware that the integration with Google Health Connect will be limited, with data transfer being one-way from Garmin Connect to Google Health, and that Garmin will not share key proprietary data like Body Battery, training load, aerobic/ anaerobic training effect, intensity minutes, running tolerance, endurance score, or HRV status with Health Connect [5].
References: [1] Garmin (2022). Garmin Forerunner 165. Retrieved from https://www.garmin.com/en-US/products/running/forerunner/165/ [2] Garmin Support. (2022). Health Connect and Garmin Devices. Retrieved from https://www8.garmin.com/support/download_help.jsp?id=10587 [3] Android Police. (2022). Garmin Health Connect is coming to Android, but it's not here yet. Retrieved from https://www.androidpolice.com/2022/06/30/garmin-health-connect-is-coming-to-android-but-its-not-here-yet/ [4] Garmin Support. (2022). Garmin Connect and Google Health Connect. Retrieved from https://www.garmin.com/en-US/legal/privacy-notice/google-health-connect/ [5] Garmin Support. (2022). Data Shared with Google Health Connect. Retrieved from https://www8.garmin.com/support/download_help.jsp?id=10588 [6] Garmin Support. (2022). Data Not Shared with Google Health Connect. Retrieved from https://www8.garmin.com/support/download_help.jsp?id=10589 [7] Garmin Support. (2022). Forerunner 165: Daily Run Recommendations and Recovery Time. Retrieved from https://www8.garmin.com/support/download_help.jsp?id=10590 [8] Garmin Support. (2022). Forerunner 165: Data Sharing with Google Health Connect. Retrieved from https://www8.garmin.com/support/download_help.jsp?id=10591 [9] Samsung Health. (n.d.). VO2 Max. Retrieved from https://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/apps/samsung-health/features/v02-max/ [10] Garmin Support. (2022). Third-Party Watch Integration. Retrieved from https://www8.garmin.com/support/download_help.jsp?id=10592 [11] Google (2022). Google I/O 2025: Health Connect. Retrieved from https://developers.google.com/health/connect/docs/overview [12] Garmin Support. (2022). Garmin Connect and Google Health Connect: Wellness Data Sharing. Retrieved from https://www8.garmin.com/support/download_help.jsp?id=10593 [13] Garmin Support. (2022). Garmin Connect and Google Health Connect: Planned Sync. Retrieved from https://www8.garmin.com/support/download_help.jsp?id=10594
The Forerunner 165 from Garmin will share various fitness and wellness data with Google Health Connect, such as step count, sleep data, calories burned, heart rate data from activities, body fat content, weight recorded using a scale, swimming strokes, and cycling speed and cadence. However, advanced medical indicators and key proprietary data like Body Battery, training load, aerobic/ anaerobic training effect, intensity minutes, running tolerance, endurance score, or HRV status will not be shared with Google Health Connect.
