Auto Lap Feature on Garmin Outdoor Watches

The Auto Lap feature on most Garmin® watches automatically records a lap after reaching a specific distance during an activity. By default, Garmin outdoor watches are set to trigger a lap every one mile. Once the set distance is achieved, the watch alerts the user, notifying them that a lap has been completed.

Auto Lap by Position

Some Garmin watches offer the option to set Auto Lap based on position instead of distance. With Auto Lap by Position, the watch uses a specific location that you have selected with the watch using the Lap button (bottom right button) during an activity. This feature is especially useful for activities with multiple loops of varying lengths, but with a common starting point. For example, in a workout that includes repeated laps of a track or loop, Auto Lap by Position will help track each loop individually. To enable Auto Lap by Position refer to your owner's manual and search for "Activity Settings".

Auto Lap During a Workout

Many newer Garmin devices that support advanced workout downloads allow Auto Lap to remain active during these custom workouts. After uploading your activity to Garmin Connect™, you can review data for each interval and see detailed lap splits within each workout segment. For example, if your workout includes a 3-mile interval with Auto Lap set to 1 mile, you’ll see the total time for the entire 3-mile segment, along with individual lap times for each 1-mile split. You can expand each interval to view these lap metrics in detail.

NOTE: Devices released after October 2015, which are capable of downloading advanced workouts, typically support Auto Lap during workouts. If your device was manufactured before October 2015, the Auto Lap feature will be disabled during custom workouts.

For compatible devices, you can choose to disable Auto Lap during workouts. To do so, either turn off the feature or create an activity profile with Auto Lap disabled. Refer to your device’s owner’s manual and search "Activity Settings".