Garmin watches have become increasingly reliable when it comes to heart rate tracking accuracy, but pairing an external heart rate monitor is another option.
Whether it's because you prefer the lower latency of a chest strap compared to the Garmin sensor on your wrist, or it provides richer insights than your device, adding an external HRM to your list of paired devices is easy.
Follow the steps below to get started:
1. Begin from the Garmin watch's menu
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Bring up the menu on your Garmin watch by holding down the 'Up/Menu' button for a couple of seconds.
2. Find 'Sensors & Accessories'
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From here, scroll down into the 'Settings' section and find 'Sensors & Accessories' before pushing the 'Start/Stop' button to select it.
3. Select 'Add New'
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The option to 'Add New' should be just under the option to 'Auto Discover', which we recommend having turned on if you don't already. Select 'Add New' to continue.
4. Set your external device to pairing mode
Before completing the next step on your Garmin watch, ensure your external device is both turned on and in pairing mode. This will naturally vary depending on the brand of heart rate monitor you're trying to pair.
5. Select 'External Heart Rate'
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Use the 'Down' button to find 'External Heart rate' and use the 'Start/Stop' button to select it.
6. Confirm your device
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The watch will then begin searching for your external device.
Once it discovers it, you'll see its Bluetooth name appear, at which point you can push the button that corresponds to the green tick on the screen to complete the pairing.
Using a paired HRM for activity tracking
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Once you've managed to establish the connection to your Garmin watch, you'll then want to know how to quickly connect to it when you're about to start activity tracking.
Luckily, this is fairly painless. Simply ensure your device is turned on and ready to be paired.
If your Garmin watch has 'Auto Discover' turned on (head back to Step 3 to do so), it's likely to pop up just before you select an activity.
You can also connect the pair manually by heading back to 'Sensors & Accessories' and finding your device.
How we test
Conor moved to Wareable Media Group in 2017, initially covering all the latest developments in smartwatches, fitness trackers, and VR. He made a name for himself writing about trying out translation earbuds on a first date and cycling with a wearable airbag, as well as covering the industry’s latest releases.
Following a stint as Reviews Editor at Pocket-lint, Conor returned to Wareable Media Group in 2022 as Editor-at-Large. Conor has become a wearables expert, and helps people get more from their wearable tech, via Wareable's considerable how-to-based guides.
He has also contributed to British GQ, Wired, Metro, The Independent, and The Mirror.