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Many Garmin watches can transmit live wrist-based heart-rate data to a Garmin Edge, compatible gym equipment, a phone app, or another training device. On a compatible model, start Broadcast Heart Rate, then pair the watch on the receiving device as an external heart-rate sensor.
The exact menu path varies by Garmin model, and the receiving device must support the relevant sensor protocol—ANT+, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), or both. Broadcasting is live sensor transmission; it is not the same as syncing completed heart-rate data to Garmin Connect.
Before you start
Check these four things before attempting to pair:
- Your exact Garmin model: Garmin does not enable heart-rate broadcasting on every wearable, and models in the same family can have different menus and capabilities.
- The receiving device: Confirm that your Edge, phone app, treadmill, tablet, or other equipment accepts external heart-rate sensors.
- The wireless protocol: ANT+ is common in Garmin’s ecosystem, while phones, tablets, gym equipment, and third-party apps often require Bluetooth Low Energy.
- Watch fit and battery: Wear the watch snugly above the wrist bone, with the optical sensor in good skin contact. Broadcasting also uses additional battery.
If you only need your workout history to appear in Garmin Connect after exercise, you do not need broadcasting. Use this feature when another device needs the heart-rate reading while you are exercising.
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Garmin’s support documentation lists compatible models across several ranges, including selected Forerunner, fēnix, epix, Enduro, Instinct, Venu, vívoactive, vívosmart, Descent, D2, MARQ, quatix, tactix, and Approach devices. Examples listed in Garmin’s current support material include Forerunner 55, 165, 170, 245, 255, 265, 570, 745, 945, 955, 965, and 970 series; fēnix 6, 7, and 8; fēnix E; epix Gen 2; Enduro 2 and 3; Instinct 2 and 3; Venu 2, 2 Plus, 3, 4, Venu Sq 2, and Venu X1; vívoactive 5 and 6; and vívosmart 5.
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- Captures running dynamics, such as vertical oscillation, ground contact time, stride length, vertical ratio and more to help improve your form (requires a compatible Garmin device)
- Computes pace and distance for treadmill or indoor track workouts
That list is not a substitute for checking your own model. Garmin’s regional support pages and manuals can differ, and new generations change the list over time. Use Garmin’s heart-rate broadcasting compatibility page, then confirm the feature in the owner’s manual for your exact watch.
Turn on Broadcast Heart Rate
There are two common ways to start broadcasting. Labels and button names differ, so treat these as patterns rather than a universal Garmin menu path.
Method 1: Use the controls menu
- From the watch face, open the controls menu.
- Select Broadcast Heart Rate.
- Press the model’s confirmation or start button.
- Leave the broadcast screen active while you pair the receiving device.
For example, on a Forerunner 165, hold LIGHT, choose Broadcast Heart Rate, and press START. Garmin documents the feature in the Forerunner 165 manual.
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Method 2: Use the settings menu
Many button-operated watches use a path similar to:
Hold MENU > Sensors & Accessories > Wrist Heart Rate > Broadcast Heart Rate
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On touchscreen-oriented models such as the Venu 3 and vívoactive 5, the path is similar to:
Settings > Watch Sensors > Wrist Heart Rate > Broadcast Heart Rate
The final confirmation button may be START, GPS, or another model-specific control. Garmin’s manuals for the Venu 3 and vívoactive 5 show the touchscreen-style arrangement.
Pair the receiving device
Start broadcasting on the watch before searching on the receiver. Keep the two devices within roughly 10 feet (3 meters) during pairing.
- Open Sensors & Accessories, Sensors, or Accessories on the receiving device.
- Choose Add New or Add Sensor.
- Select Heart Rate or External Heart Rate.
- Choose the broadcasting Garmin watch when it appears.
- Confirm the pairing.
- Start an activity and check that heart rate appears on the activity screen.
On an Edge, the general route is usually under its sensors menu, but wording varies by model. Garmin’s external heart-rate pairing guidance explains the general process.
Pairing a phone app, treadmill, or third-party device
Choose the receiving app or equipment’s option for adding a heart-rate sensor—not a generic “pair Garmin watch” or wearable connection. The app or equipment must support live heart-rate sensor broadcasts over the protocol it uses.
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Garmin says a watch capable of broadcasting over Bluetooth also broadcasts over ANT+ when broadcasting is enabled. However, support is not guaranteed simply because the recipient has Bluetooth. Garmin watch broadcasts do not support secure connections, and Garmin directs users to the third-party app or equipment manufacturer for compatibility and pairing instructions.
Manual broadcasting versus automatic activity broadcasting
Manual broadcasting is the simplest option for initial pairing or occasional use. You open the broadcast function, keep it active, and stop it when finished.
Some watches also let you enable broadcasting inside an activity:
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- Press START and select an activity.
- Open the activity settings.
- Select Broadcast Heart Rate.
- Start the activity.
The watch then broadcasts in the background while the activity runs. Garmin notes that some watches may not show a persistent broadcast indicator during the activity. Ending the activity stops the activity-based broadcast. This option is model-specific; the Forerunner 965 manual documents this behavior.
ANT+ or Bluetooth: which should you use?
| Situation | Best starting point | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Garmin Edge or several compatible devices | ANT+ | It is broadly supported in Garmin’s ecosystem and is designed for concurrent sensor connections. |
| Phone, tablet, or many gym apps | Bluetooth Low Energy | These recipients commonly look for BLE heart-rate sensors. |
| Older Garmin equipment | ANT+ | Legacy Garmin products may not support newer Bluetooth behavior. |
| Recipient requires secure Bluetooth | Check compatibility first | Garmin says watch heart-rate broadcasts do not support secure connections. |
| Swimming | Dedicated compatible strap | Live heart-rate transmission does not pass through water. |
ANT+ is often the better choice when one heart-rate source must serve an Edge and another device. Garmin describes ANT+ as an open connection that can allow one sensor to connect to multiple devices. BLE behavior varies by device and sensor. Garmin gives general figures of up to nine ANT+ sensors for Edge computers, up to eight for Garmin watches, and typically three concurrent BLE sensors, but these are not guarantees for every model or firmware version. See Garmin’s ANT+ and Bluetooth guidance.
How to confirm that broadcasting works
Do not rely only on the watch displaying its own heart rate. Confirm the receiving device is actually using the broadcast:
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- The receiver lists the watch as a connected heart-rate sensor.
- A heart-rate field appears on the receiver’s activity screen.
- The value changes when your effort changes.
- The saved activity contains heart-rate data.
- No chest strap or other sensor is selected as the active source instead.
Remember that pairing the watch as a sensor does not necessarily make it the device recording the activity. An Edge, watch, or third-party app may independently record the workout. If two Garmin devices record the same session, you may need to choose which activity file to retain in Garmin Connect.
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How to stop broadcasting
For manual broadcasting, use the stop control shown on the broadcast screen. A Forerunner 165 uses STOP; an Instinct 3 uses GPS. For activity-based broadcasting, stop or end the activity.
If the watch still appears as an available sensor, disable the broadcast function explicitly or restart the receiving device. Leaving broadcasting active consumes additional battery.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting
The receiving device cannot find the watch
- Stop broadcasting on the watch.
- Remove old heart-rate sensor entries from the receiver.
- Restart both devices.
- Start Broadcast Heart Rate again.
- Keep the devices within about 10 feet (3 meters).
- Add the watch as a new external heart-rate sensor.
- Install available device and software updates.
Also check that the watch model supports broadcasting and that the receiver is searching for Heart Rate, rather than another sensor category. Garmin recommends restarting, updating, and removing and re-adding a sensor when pairing fails.
The watch pairs but no heart rate appears
- Wear the watch snugly above the wrist bone and wait for a stable optical reading.
- Check the receiver’s sensor list and select the watch as the active heart-rate source.
- Delete the pairing and repeat the process with broadcasting already running.
- Try ANT+ if both devices support it.
- Check whether the app accepts watch-based heart-rate sensor broadcasts.
- Remember that a secure-Bluetooth-only recipient may not work with Garmin’s watch broadcast.
The signal drops out
Keep the watch and receiver close, maintain firm skin contact, and test without other paired sensors if possible. If several devices need the same reading, try ANT+ rather than assuming BLE will support every connection simultaneously.
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It works on an Edge but not on a phone
This usually points to a protocol or app-compatibility difference, not necessarily a fault with the watch. Confirm that the phone app supports external BLE heart-rate sensors and that it is searching for a heart-rate sensor. Garmin Connect synchronization does not automatically give another app live sensor data.
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- Understand how much you slow down when your foot hits the ground with step speed loss, and improve your running form with additional running dynamics, including stride length, vertical oscillation and ground contact time balance (requires compatible smartwatch)
- During activities where you can’t wear a watch, such as team sports, HRM 600 will record the workout and sync data, including heart rate, calories, speed, distance and more, directly to the Garmin Connect smartphone app
- Tracks daily metrics, including estimated steps, heart rate, calories burned and more, and syncs that data directly to the Garmin Connect smartphone app
Swimming, diving, and legacy hardware
Heart-rate data does not transmit through water. Some compatible straps store heart-rate data and forward it after swimming, but that is not live underwater broadcasting. Some Garmin dive activities also disable broadcasting.
Older devices can have additional limitations. Garmin identifies Edge 305, Edge 705, Forerunner 305, Forerunner 405, Forerunner 405CX, and Forerunner 410 as incompatible with newer heart-rate monitors. If you use legacy hardware, check the compatibility guidance before buying a newer sensor.
When a chest strap is the better choice
Use the watch as the broadcaster when you already own a compatible model, convenience matters, and the receiver supports its broadcast protocol. It is a useful no-extra-purchase solution for many Edge and indoor-training setups.
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Garmin’s listed Bluetooth-broadcasting strap options include the HRM-Dual, HRM-Fit, HRM-Pro, HRM-Pro Plus, HRM 200, and HRM 600. Match a strap to the recipient’s ANT+/BLE support, simultaneous-connection needs, swimming requirements, and compatibility with older Garmin hardware. A strap is not automatically a better purchase simply because it is Garmin-branded.
Sources and model-specific instructions
For the most accurate menu labels, consult the manual for your exact watch. Garmin’s general compatibility and support information is available through its heart-rate broadcasting support page. Broadcasting support, button assignments, activity behavior, battery impact, and restrictions can vary by model and software version.
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