How Do I Change the Elevation Source in Garmin Connect?

Your Garmin Connect™ account allows you to adjust the elevation source for your activities. The default source depends on your device:

• Devices with a barometric altimeter: Use the elevation data recorded by the device itself.

• Devices without a barometric altimeter: Use professional survey data to estimate elevation.

Why Manually Switch the Elevation Source in Garmin Connect?

Even if your Garmin device has a built-in barometric altimeter, there are instances where using professional survey data may provide a more accurate elevation profile. Consider switching if you encounter the following:

• A Blocked Sensor Port: The small port leading to the barometric sensor can become clogged with debris, leading to inaccurate readings.

• Significant Weather Changes: Recording an activity during a strong incoming or departing low or high-pressure weather system can skew your elevation readings. While the overall elevation gain and loss are often unaffected, your starting and ending elevations may be recorded as too high or too low.

• Windy Conditions: High winds can directly impact the barometric pressure sensor, causing inaccurate readings. For future activities in windy conditions, you can improve accuracy by wearing a sleeve or jacket cuff over your watch.

While your device's sensor is highly effective for measuring elevation changes, environmental factors or physical obstructions can occasionally lead to inaccuracies that professional survey data can help correct.

How Do I Change the Elevation Source?

NOTE: The ability to change your Elevation Source is not available in the Garmin Connect app. It is only available by viewing Garmin Connect from a web browser.

1. From a web browser, sign in to your Garmin Connect account.

2. Select Activities in the expanded navigation bar on the left.

3. Select All Activities.

4. Click on the name of a saved activity.

5. Select the gear wheel in the upper right corner.

6. Select Change Elevation Source.
   

7. Choose your Elevation Source.

8. Select Save.

Changing this setting within an activity will only affect the current activity and will not change how Elevation Source settings are applied for future activities.

Why Are the Elevation Values Different Between Garmin Connect and a Third-Party Website?

When using a Garmin device without a built-in barometric altimeter, you may observe differences in elevation data between your Garmin Connect account and third-party platforms (e.g., Strava). This discrepancy can arise if other platforms are using a distinct dataset and methodology to calculate elevation.