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Pairing a Garmin Watch With the Garmin Explore App

With the Garmin Explore™ app you can download free maps to your smartphone and sync waypoints, tracks, routes, and GPS activities with a compatible watch. By pairing your Garmin watch with the Garmin Connect™ app before pairing with the Garmin Explore app, you will have access to advanced health metrics and additional activity details. Use the steps below to pair directly with the Garmin Connect app and the Garmin Explore app, or to pair with the Garmin Explore app only.

NOTE: The Garmin Connect app must be on version 4.11 or later.

Pairing to The Garmin Explore App Through Garmin Connect App

If you have already paired with the Garmin Connect app, select option 2 below.

1. Pair With the Garmin Connect App

Before pairing, first download and install the Garmin Connect app from the app store on your smartphone.

  1. Place the watch in pairing mode.

  2. Open the Garmin Connect app and sign in with your Garmin account. If you do not have an account already, create a new account.

  3. Wait for the app to find the watch.

  4. Select Connect it.

  5. Follow the on screen instructions to complete pairing and syncing.

If the app does not find the watch:

  1. When prompted, select Browse all compatible devices.

  2. Select your watch series or category.

  3. Select your specific watch model.

  4. Select Connect It.

2. Pair With the Garmin Explore App

Before pairing, download and install the Garmin Explore app from the app store on your smartphone.

  1. Open the Garmin Explore app and sign in using the same Garmin account used for Garmin Connect.

  2. Select Watch and Handheld Icon Devices.

  3. Select either + Pair a New Device or Plus Symbol.

    The app will then begin searching for devices.

  4. Once your watch is found, select Connect It and follow the prompts to complete the setup.

The watch should now be paired with the Garmin Explore app.

Pairing With Garmin Explore App Without Pairing With Garmin Connect App

NOTE: The Garmin Explore app requires version 2.5.7 or above, on Android, to complete the steps below. For iOS, 2.60 or above is required.
The Garmin Explore app is used for trip planning and review. The Garmin Explore app does not contain health metrics, and does not display activities that do not contain GPS data. For access to these items, your watch should be paired with the Garmin Connect app. Use the steps listed in the section above to pair with the Garmin Explore and Garmin Connect apps.

Pair With the Garmin Explore App

  1. Place the watch in pairing mode.

  2. Open the Garmin Explore app and sign in with your Garmin account. If you do not have an account already, create a new account.

  3. Select Add Device if prompted, otherwise you can select Watch and Handheld Icon Devices, then either + Pair a New Device or Plus Symbol.

    The app will then begin searching for devices.

  4. Once your watch is found, select Connect It and follow the prompts to complete the setup.

Follow the onscreen prompts to complete the pairing with the Garmin Explore app. 

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