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Improve the Distance Accuracy of My Activity Tracker
If you are experiencing an accuracy issue with the step mileage on your device, using the Custom Step Length feature in Garmin Connect can help. You can adjust this setting by using Garmin Connect Web or Garmin Connect Mobile. Setting the Custom Step Length will require you to walk or run* a known distance and keep track of the number of steps it took to complete that distance. The minimum distance is 400 meters. However, going a longer distance will achieve the most accurate reading. Garmin recommends walking a lap (400 meters) or two (800 meters) around using the inside lane of a local middle or high school track.
To setup using Garmin Connect Web:
- Sign into Garmin Connect
- Select the device icon
located at the top right hand corner of the screen
- Select your device from the list
- Select User Settings
- Under Custom Stride Length toggle Walking or Running* button to to turn it on
- Enter the known distance from your run or walk
- Enter number of steps it took to cover that distance
- Scroll down and select Save Settings
- Sync your device with Garmin Express or with the Garmin Connect Mobile app if you have it paired to your Smartphone.
To setup using Garmin Connect Mobile:
- Open Garmin Connect Mobile
- Open the app menu:
- Android or Windows - Touch the menu icon (3 horizontal lines in upper left corner)
- iOS – Touch the More icon (bottom right)
- Touch Garmin Devices
- Touch the device name
- Touch User Settings
- Touch Custom Step Length
- Toggle Walking or Running* on
- Touch Measured Distance and enter the known distance you traveled
- Touch Total Steps and enter the number of steps it took to cover that distance
- Select Back icon < to return to the Main Menu
- Sync your device with your phone using the app
*Note: Devices that use GPS do not have an option in Garmin Connect to set a Custom Step Length for running. The GPS feature is used to calibrate the step length for running activities.