My Chest Heart Rate Monitor Will Not Pair or Display Data with My Device

If you are having difficulty getting a Garmin chest heart rate monitor (HRM) strap to connect to your Garmin device and display heart rate data, try the following tips:

NOTE: Heart rate monitors that come bundled with a device are already paired at the factory. 

Run the Strap Under Water Before Putting It On

You must wet the electrodes on the back of the HRM strap with water. This will help establish an electrical connection between your body and the strap. Please see Related Content below for information on proper cleaning and care for your HRM strap.

Make Sure You Are Wearing the Strap When Attempting to Pair It

The HRM strap must be worn while pairing. Make sure the logo on the front of the strap is right-side up, directly on the skin just beneath the breastbone as shown below:

If you are in a cold environment try warming up a bit and then try the pairing process again.

Keep the Strap Close to the Device You Are Pairing It With

Bring the HRM strap within 10 feet (3 meters) of the device you are pairing it with.

Stay Away From Others

If you are attempting to pair the strap around others who have a heart rate strap, move far away from them in order for your device to pick up your strap and not one someone else is wearing. 

Try Restarting the Device You Are Connecting the Strap To

Restarting the device can sometimes resolve a pairing problem. If you are unsure of how to restart your device, refer to your owner's manual.

Update the Strap by Updating the Paired Garmin Device

When your HRM unit is due for a software update, this will be pushed to the strap by the paired Garmin device. To ensure this is a seamless process, your paired Garmin device will also need to be running the most up to date software. Review Installing the Latest Software On Your Fitness Device for instructions. Now that the paired Garmin device is up to date, the next time your device connects to your HRM, it will ask if you want to update the HRM software. The update will take 5-10 minutes, and you can choose to do the update when prompted by the Garmin device or install the update later. If you choose to install the update later, select the Sensors and Accessories from your paired device's settings menu while wearing your HRM, and then select your HRM.

For Previously Paired Straps, Try Pairing the Strap as a New Sensor

NOTE: If you have not yet removed the chest strap from your sensors list, you will first need to go to your settings menu on the device, select sensors, select heart rate, select the chest strap that was previously paired, remove.

Attempt to add the HRM strap as a new sensor to the device. This is done from the device's settings menu by selecting the option to search for all sensors. Refer to your owner's manual for specific instructions.

Try Replacing the Battery in the Strap

When replacing the battery, ensure that the red o-ring is in place, the battery door is installed correctly, and be careful not to overtighten the screws. Installing the battery door upside down or overtightening the screws can result in damage to the screw holes and compromise the battery compartment if exposed to moisture. If the red o-ring is damaged or is not properly in place, this can also compromise the battery compartment if exposed to moisture. Video instructions on how to replace the battery are provided below: