Garmin Connect App Lacks Strength Training Support for Older MARQ Watches
It’s disappointing that Garmin’s app still lacks proper strength training support for older MARQ watches, especially for a premium product in this price range.
The watch itself doesn’t necessarily need to support every new feature, but the app should continue to evolve and offer better functionality. AI, coaching, and advanced training insights are primarily software-driven features, so they shouldn’t be limited just because someone owns an older watch.
Competitors are moving ahead with smarter coaching and strength training features, while Garmin seems to be leaving its existing premium watch users behind. For a subscription-based service, I expect much better app functionality, ongoing improvements, and support for strength training.
Garmin needs to focus on improving its app experience instead of making loyal customers feel like they need to upgrade their hardware just to access modern training features.
The watch itself doesn’t necessarily need to support every new feature, but the app should continue to evolve and offer better functionality. AI, coaching, and advanced training insights are primarily software-driven features, so they shouldn’t be limited just because someone owns an older watch.
Competitors are moving ahead with smarter coaching and strength training features, while Garmin seems to be leaving its existing premium watch users behind. For a subscription-based service, I expect much better app functionality, ongoing improvements, and support for strength training.
Garmin needs to focus on improving its app experience instead of making loyal customers feel like they need to upgrade their hardware just to access modern training features.
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Latest update
Vivosmart 4 and 5 now suddenly radically underestimate distance compared with a map and my step count x stride length. Maybe since recent update? Was fine Thursday 21 but Fri 22 May and today Sat 23 reporting 1 mile approx as 0.6 of a mile. Is it missing steps? Or mismeasuring them? I haven't changed stride length since Thursday The error occurs on 95% of walks, to varying degrees.
And across different watches. Reactivated a Vivosmart 5 that I didn't like as much because so fed up with this problem. And its exactly the same! Google AI tells me it's because of a software update across the whole Garmin suite. Well, it sucks!
The GPS just doesn't work well where I live in London so that's not a realistic option. Very disappointed because have been using these watches for nearly 10 years and now it's broken. I won't be buying another Garmin.
Update 11 October. After an app update in the last couple of days the watch has much improved. I had nailed it down to excessive sensitivity to minor halts in arm swing, manifested in zigzags all over the pace chart, resulting in usually significant underestimates of moving time (eg losing 8 mins instead of 2 on a 20 min walk.) and hence distance. Now that’s fixed, with a slight overcompensation, walks minimally too long. But another potential update is available today and I’m reluctant to apply it and go back to how it was before, if that change was a mistake! It would be useful to know what the updates are doing before applying them. Is this available anywhere?
And across different watches. Reactivated a Vivosmart 5 that I didn't like as much because so fed up with this problem. And its exactly the same! Google AI tells me it's because of a software update across the whole Garmin suite. Well, it sucks!
The GPS just doesn't work well where I live in London so that's not a realistic option. Very disappointed because have been using these watches for nearly 10 years and now it's broken. I won't be buying another Garmin.
Update 11 October. After an app update in the last couple of days the watch has much improved. I had nailed it down to excessive sensitivity to minor halts in arm swing, manifested in zigzags all over the pace chart, resulting in usually significant underestimates of moving time (eg losing 8 mins instead of 2 on a 20 min walk.) and hence distance. Now that’s fixed, with a slight overcompensation, walks minimally too long. But another potential update is available today and I’m reluctant to apply it and go back to how it was before, if that change was a mistake! It would be useful to know what the updates are doing before applying them. Is this available anywhere?
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app notifications on watch
I wish so badly that I could pick and choose which apps on my phone could send notifications to my Garmin Lily 2 Active. I like having only calls & text notifications activated, but it doesn’t include WhatsApp notifs or anything like that. Fitbit lets you opt in to specific apps in device settings: it’s a shame Garmin only lets me have ALL APPS or none :( big fat Garmin L
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Truck driver
Don’t think this app works.
It wants to force you to add an exercise app wtf.
It wants to force you to add an exercise app wtf.
Awesome
I love this app. This app helps me track how well I’m running and tells me if I did better than a certain run. I highly recommend this app if you want to exercise better and better each time. This app has more than just running so get this app if you want to improve at your exercises. MUST GET!!
It's never loads properly
Been using it for two months now. Easy to use when it works. It never loads anything when you open it. It takes ages to load, if it loads at all. Whatever you click, it says: “Network connection error”, “Loading problem”, “Data not available” or “Data for this activity could not be loaded”.
Base Good - Subscription Bad
Used for years on the base version. Good for tracking all the stats from your device and your activities.
The connect+ part seems to be trash. As in multiple features mentioned in the help article for nutrition for example just don’t exist (e.g. no microphone icon for voice logging, no my recipes feature for breaking it into portions)
They have a lead in their hardware but need to up their software game badly.
The connect+ part seems to be trash. As in multiple features mentioned in the help article for nutrition for example just don’t exist (e.g. no microphone icon for voice logging, no my recipes feature for breaking it into portions)
They have a lead in their hardware but need to up their software game badly.
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Garmin Forerunner 620 Problems
I’ve been using the Connect app since I got my trusty Forerunner 620 over 10 years ago. The watch is still going strong, but after the latest update the app will no longer pair with it.
Hoping this is a short-term glitch!
Hoping this is a short-term glitch!
Not updating
The app is great - when it’s working. This watch tells me the stats on my screen but not in the app. I’ve deleted and redownloaded the app multiples times. Disconnect the watch. Even had my laptop out and connected via that method. Still not updating in the app - well some parts will and some don’t. This is not my first Garmin watch. Maybe it’s an iPhone issue, it’s just super inconsistent.
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Vivofit 1 stopped working?
I’ve used my vivofit 1 for over 12 years to track my sleep. Since September 29, 2026 nothing is syncing. I’ve tried all the trouble shooting & nothing worked. Are you no longer supporting Vivofit 1 or is there something wrong with the app?
Lost connection
In Spain for the Camino and I lost connection. Couldn’t get it back.
This app and the cirqa suck
Cirqa keeps disconnecting from app. Not constant. Have to constantly reconnect for real time data. Annoying
Worst app of all time
It absolutely blows my mind that a company of this size and advanced in technology has the WORST APP EVER MADE. You can’t even edit your watch face from the app. There are so many limitations of this app that it truly makes me want to go back to Apple Watch. Garmin needs to do better and FAST.
Bricked the App again
DONT BUY GARMIN, BUY WAHOO. App doesn’t sync again. “Fixes bugs” to only create more. Ridiculous. Paired, repaired, paired to different device. NOTHING SYNCS OR WORKS. FIX YOUR APP.
Great
I have been using a garmin watch for a few years now and find the app simple to navigate. There is a really good range of activities to track. My only frustration is that it doesn’t track steps when using the stair master, so my step count looks much lower than it should. Please fix this.
Alfred
Ever since the new iOS update the app has become terrible.
Fails to sync with my devices. I have to try multiple times and it still doesn’t work. Makes having the watches difficult
Fails to sync with my devices. I have to try multiple times and it still doesn’t work. Makes having the watches difficult
Broken update
User of app for over 5 years and this one broke my connections. I usually do not update without looking to see if there are issues from users and I didn’t do that this time - my bad
Connect is terrible
No small tiles, bugs, nonsense
Garmin Coach
In this day and age with adaptive AI Garmin could do so much better with their running plans. The plans can’t be adapted to your lofe such as days you can train and days you can’t and when you have the days to run or not. It’s very limiting so I won’t be using Garmin as my coach any longer. Too many other programs out there built around you.
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Good but could be better
Everything is detailed but I feel you need to dig dig dig to get the info out. I’d love a homepage feature that shows top trends of main data like Apple Fitness does of the past 90 days. Helps to show if need to push in areas at a quick glance.
