Bluetooth Headphone Compatibility for Garmin Music Watches

Garmin strives to maintain Bluetooth compatibility with the most popular brands of headphones on the market. When paired with your watch, these headphones allow for wireless listening of audio such as music, podcasts, and audio prompts on compatible products.

Are There Certain Models of Headphones That Garmin Recommends?

Your Garmin watch has been designed to work with most Bluetooth-compliant headphones. Not all headphone features will work with Garmin watches such as volume control, pause, or skip. Audio performance and Bluetooth range will vary across brands and models. See the next section for help if you are having audio issues.

The Audio is Cutting Out On My Bluetooth Headphones. What Can I Do?

If you are experiencing audio cut-out or the headphones disconnect while you use your Garmin watch, this could be due to the following factors:

The Distance Between the Watch and Headphones

The location of the Bluetooth receiver will vary across brands and models of headphones, in either or both earbuds or in the control module.

• Possible Solution: Try wearing the watch on the opposite wrist, which may help alleviate the issue of audio cutting out.

Being Indoors vs. Outdoors

When you are indoors, the Bluetooth signal can bounce off of the walls when data is traveling between your watch and headphones, creating better reception versus being outdoors.

Body Interference

With some models it may be possible to wear the headphones in a way that the Bluetooth receiver is not snug against your head. In general, not having the receiver tight against your head or body will improve Bluetooth reception.

Out-of-Date Software

Confirm your Bluetooth headset is running the latest available system software. Consult your headphone manufacturer for assistance if needed.

Confirm the Garmin watch is running the latest version of software by connecting it to a computer and installing Garmin Express™. Garmin Express will automatically check for and install any available updates once you have added the watch to the program.

Headphones Paired to Another Device

Headphones paired to a smartphone while you are trying to use them with a Garmin watch may result in moments where the phone takes over the connection of your headphones causing you to lose connection with your Garmin watch. To prevent this, disable the Bluetooth setting on your phone or only have your headphones paired with your Garmin Watch. 

Additional Factors

Headphones with a low battery charge could cause the connection to drop.

Some headphones have better receivers than others, and those with more sensitive receivers will work best with your Garmin watch.

For information regarding Bluetooth headphone compatibility for our APAC (Asian-Pacific) region watches, view: APAC Bluetooth® Headphone Compatibility for Garmin Wearables

The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Garmin is under license.