IMPORTANT: Some devices have a built in feature for back up and restore. To see if your device is compatible, search for "System Settings" in your owner's manual. If your device is compatible it is recommended to use that feature. See Using the Back Up and Restore Feature on Select Garmin Watches for more information.
In some cases, you may want to save the settings, profiles, and device totals from your Garmin® device in order to transfer them back to a Garmin device. These include:
Resetting a device back to its defaults - all settings and profiles will revert back to factory settings and device totals will be erased.
Receiving a replacement device through Garmin.
Backing up the files for peace of mind.
Garmin Fitness Devices that use the FIT file format produce files that contain your personal preferences. When a Garmin fitness device is connected to the computer, it will create a drive in (My) Computer [PC] or on the desktop [Mac]. By selecting the drive, a number of folders within the Garmin folder will appear. These folders represent the following:
NOTE: The file structure will vary depending on what model of Garmin device you have and may not include all of the folders listed.
Courses - contains courses.fit files that are your saved courses on the device.
Locations - contains Locations.fit file that stores saved location(s).
Records - contains Records.fit file that stores personal records you have achieved.
Settings – contains Settings.fit file which stores user profile, device settings and bike profiles.
Sports – contains each activity profile as a separate file. Each file will include all settings for each profile, i.e. data fields, alerts, and layouts.
Totals – contains Totals.fit file which stores device totals for time and distance.
Weight - contains Weight.fit files obtained from a Tanita platform.
NOTE: The Connect IQ™ apps cannot be backed up with the manual file backup and would need to be downloaded again from the Connect IQ Store.
Choose your computer system below to reveal instructions on how to back up this information.
Plug the device into a computer.
Press Windows key + E on the keyboard.
Select This PC (Windows 10 only).
Double-click the Garmin device drive:
Windows 10
Windows 7/8
Open the Garmin folder.
Open the Locations folder and copy and paste the Locations.fit file to the desktop or another easily found location1.
Return to the Garmin folder and repeat step 6 for all other folders mentioned above.
1 See Keyboard shortcuts in Windows for help with copying and pasting.
NOTE: Devices that use MTP Protocol do not show as a drive when connected to a Mac. It is recommended to use a Windows computer for these devices. To see if your device uses MTP, refer to Fitness and Outdoor Devices with Media Transfer Protocol.
Plug the device into the computer.
Open Finder.
Select Go in the menu bar.
Select Computer.
Double-click the Garmin device drive.
Open the Garmin folder.
Open the Locations folder and drag the Locations.fit file to the desktop or another easily found location1.
Return to the Garmin folder and repeat step 7 for all other folders mentioned above.
1 See Mac keyboard shortcuts for help with copying and pasting.
Choose your computer system below to reveal instructions on how to transfer settings and files you have backed up to your device.
Plug the device into a computer.
Go to files' location on the computer.
Select all of the files that you previously had copied from your device.
Hold Control (ctrl) key on the keyboard while selecting files to select multiple files.
Copy the selected files1.
Press Windows key + E on the keyboard.
Select This PC (Windows 10 only).
Double-click the Garmin device drive:
Windows 10
Windows 7/8
Open the Garmin folder.
Open the Newfiles folder and paste the files into the folder1.
The New Files folder will automatically put the files into the correct folders once your Garmin device is disconnected and powered on. This process will restore your personal settings and profile to the device.
1 See Keyboard shortcuts in Windows for help with copying and pasting.
NOTE: Devices that use MTP Protocol do not show as a drive when connected to a Mac. It is recommended to use a Windows computer for these devices. To see if your device uses MTP, refer to Fitness and Outdoor Devices with Media Transfer Protocol.
Plug the device into the computer.
Open Finder.
Select Go in the menu bar.
Select Computer.
Double-click the Garmin device drive.
Open the Garmin folder.
Locate the the Newfiles folder and paste or drag and drop the backed up files into this folder1.
The Newfiles folder will automatically put the files into the correct folders once your Garmin device is disconnected and powered on. This process will restore your personal settings and profile to the device.
1 See Mac keyboard shortcuts for help with copying and pasting.