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How Are Intensity Minutes Earned?
Intensity minutes are earned based on your current heart rate when compared to your average resting heart rate or the number of steps taken per minute. For example, you can earn intensity minutes once a brisk walk or run is detected. If no heart rate sensor is present, only moderate intensity minutes will be earned. Your age, weight, height, and resting heart rate calculated by your Garmin® devices also factor into intensity minutes and it is important that these metrics are set correctly to help best reflect your heart rate intensity. For information on setting up your personal settings, see Setting Up Your User Profile in your owner's manual.
For more information, see our Garmin Technology page on Intensity Minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Intensity Minutes Feature
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Some Garmin devices require you to reach or exceed 10 consecutive minutes where your step count or heart rate is elevated above the threshold considered moderate intensity. Once you reach and exceed that time threshold, the amount of credit will increase by 10 minutes and will continue to accrue if you remain in your moderate or vigorous zones. Performing a vigorous activity resulting in a higher heart rate can double your intensity minutes, allowing you to meet your weekly goal faster. Some newer devices do not have the 10 minute requirement and will detect any intensity minutes earned regardless of duration.
Types of Intensity
The level at which a person will receive credit for intensity minutes can vary based on a variety of factors. Below are some general guidelines on the type of intensity measured.
Moderate Intensity: You can hold a conversation but not sing while exercising.
Vigorous Intensity: You can only speak a few words between breaths while exercising. Vigorous intensity minutes will only be recorded when heart rate data is available.
Can I Earn Intensity Minutes From Activities Recorded on Other Garmin Device Not Listed Above?
If you are recording an activity on another Garmin device not listed above in either category (for example, recording on an Edge® 1030) while wearing a Forerunner® 955, it is possible to receive a small number of intensity minutes. However, if you own a device compatible with intensity minutes, you will get the most accurate intensity minutes measured if you record your activities on that device as well.
Can I Earn Intensity Minutes From Other Activity Types?
You can earn intensity minutes by completing a variety of exercises in order to meet your weekly goal. However, when doing anything outside of brisk walking or running such as cycling, weightlifting, or various calisthenics, recording using the activity tracking feature on the device is recommended to ensure the heart rate is being monitored consistently and allowing you to upload your workout and view your results in your Garmin Connect™ account.
Watches supporting swimming optical heart rate can give credit for intensity minutes when using the Pool Swim profile or Open Water Swim profile. All other watches will not give intensity minutes for swimming without wearing an HRM-Pro or HRM-Pro Plus and having it paired with the Garmin Connect app on your phone.
Can I Get Intensity Minutes From a Chest Heart Rate Monitor?
If you have a Garmin HRM-Fit, HRM-Pro, or HRM-Pro Plus, which is also paired to the Garmin Connect app on your phone, you will get intensity minutes for activities which would otherwise not earn intensity minutes.
For example, if you record your ride with a non-Intensity Minutes compatible Edge while wearing an HRM-Fit, HRM-Pro, or HRM-Pro Plus, and the monitor is also paired to the Garmin Connect app on your phone, you will get intensity minutes after syncing the monitor strap with the app. Only the HRM-Fit, HRM-Pro, and HRM-Pro Plus are capable with this feature.
NOTE: If you are using a device that requires the 10 minute threshold and a device that does not require the threshold for the same activity (for example; the HRM-Pro Plus and the Edge 1040) then it is expected that the intensity minutes can be adjusted after both devices sync to the Garmin Connect account.
Can I Get Intensity Minutes From Training Apps or Third-Party Activities?
Third-party recorded activities or activities from the Tacx Training™ Apps are not compatible with the Intensity Minutes feature. If you wear your Garmin device that does not require the
10 minute threshold
while recording activities using third-party apps (such as Zwift) or non-Intensity Minutes compatible devices and upload these to Garmin Connect, you may see a very small number of intensity minutes in your activity details page in Connect for these activities. This is normal, due to the heart rate still being recorded in the background on your device.
Can I Earn Intensity Minutes Based on my Chosen Heart Rate Zones?
Newer devices have an option to track intensity minutes based on heart rate zones. When using heart rate zones, you will earn intensity minutes when you reach or exceed the device requirements where your heart rate is at or above the heart rate zones you have set for moderate and vigorous intensity. To learn what your heart rate zones are, you will first need to see Changing Heart Rate Zones in Garmin Connect. Once you are familiar with your heart rate zones, you will need to update your device to track intensity minutes based on your heart rate zones using steps found here: Can I Earn Intensity Minutes Based on my Heart Rate Zones?
My Fitness Age Report is Recommending that I Increase My Vigorous Days. How Are Those Measured?
Getting a minimum of 5 vigorous intensity minutes at least 3 days per week can help lower your Fitness Age.
More days with vigorous activity can have a greater impact on your Fitness Age.
Remember to work in periods of rest to let your body recover.
A minimum of 5 continuous vigorous intensity minutes is required for a day to qualify as vigorous.
Major health organizations agree that getting a minimum of 75 vigorous intensity minutes each week is a great way to improve health, but spreading your weekly activity across multiple days is also important. This not only prevents fatigue, but reduces the risk of injury, as well.
Always consult your physician before beginning or modifying any exercise program. Do not perform vigorous exercise if you have a heart condition, unless advised otherwise by your physician.
Can I Change the Day of the Week My Intensity Minutes Begin?
You cannot change the day of the week your intensity minutes begin. They are accumulated weekly from Monday–Sunday. Changing the First Day of the Week setting in your Garmin Connect account settings only applies to your calendar and related features.