Using Voice Notes on a Garmin Watch

On select Garmin® watches you can record voice notes. You can use these as quick personal reminders or even notes about locations during your activities. The video below will walk through how to use the Voice Note app on your compatible watch.

Recording a Voice Note

You can record voice notes by following the steps below.

1. Press START (upper right).

2. Select Voice Notes.

3. Press START (upper right) to record a new voice note.

4. Speak directly to the watch.

5. Press START (upper right) to stop the recording.

You can also access the Voice Notes app through the Controls Menu on the watch or a shortcut button, but will need to add the Voice Note option. Search your owner's manual for "Customizing the Controls Menu" or "Customizing the Shortcuts" for instructions on how to add those options. Voice notes are saved on the watch, and do not sync to a Garmin Connect™ account. 

Listening to a Voice Note

You can listen to previously recorded voice note and see any associated location data through the Voice Notes app by following the steps below.

1. Press START (upper right).

2. Select Voice Notes.

3. Press DOWN (lower left) to scroll to view your voice note library.

4. Select a saved voice note.

5. Perform one of the following actions:

   • Press START (upper right) to play the voice note.

   • Press MENU (middle left) to see options to Rename the note, Delete the note, or access Volume settings.

   • Scroll down to view any associated location data. While on the map for a location, press START (upper right) and select an option:

     • Zoom: to zoom in or out on the map.

     • Details: to see information about coordinates, elevation, and the time when the note was created.

     • Settings: to adjust the setting for when location data is recorded with a voice note.

Voice notes will play through the watch speaker or any headphones that you have paired to the watch, but the watch will only use its own internal microphone for recording voice notes. It does not connect to a microphone in paired headphones. Limiting background noise while recording the note will help the playback quality.

Adjusting Voice Notes Settings

You can also adjust the settings for voice notes, such as whether the location is saved with the note and the volume for playback. By default, voice notes recorded during GPS enabled activities will include location information, but this setting can be adjusted following the steps below.

1. Press START (upper right).

2. Select Voice Notes.

3. Press UP/MENU (middle left).

4. Select an option:

   • Location: allows you to adjust whether location data is recorded with the voice note always, only during GPS activities, or never (off). 

   • Volume: allows you to adjust the volume for playback. This will adjust the main System volume for the watch.

If location data is set to record for a voice note, the watch will connect to GPS, if it is not already connected such as during a GPS activity. GPS signal is best when the watch has an unobstructed view of the sky; if you are inside the location data may be inaccurate. Locations of voice notes do not record as a separate saved location or waypoint on the watch.