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Garmin watch heart rate on an iPhone

Updated

Short answer

Yes, on many recent Garmin watches. Switch on Broadcast Heart Rate and Beatcast reads the watch like a Bluetooth strap. The number shows on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island of your iPhone. DC Rainmaker's 2020 test found Bluetooth broadcasting on most 2019 and 2020 Garmin watches, while older ones broadcast ANT+ only, which an iPhone does not read directly.

Last checked: 12 October 2026.

What works, and what to expect

  • Works: Garmin watches with Bluetooth broadcasting, once Broadcast Heart Rate is on. Garmin's manuals say "broadcast heart rate" without naming the protocol, so check your model or try it.
  • Won't work: older Garmin watches that broadcast only over ANT+. Strava's support pages say ANT+ sensors are not supported directly on iPhone.
  • Off by default: a watch keeps the radio quiet until you ask.
  • To keep it steady: the receiving app must stay in range and broadcasting must stay on. If the link drops, switch broadcasting off and on again.

Where the setting is

It depends on the model. On a Forerunner 945, Garmin's manual says to open the heart rate widget, hold the menu control, go to Heart Rate Options, and choose Broadcast During Activity. The watch then sends heart rate in the background once you start an activity, and stops when you end it. On a Forerunner 965, go to Health & Wellness, Wrist Heart Rate, Broadcast Heart Rate, or hold LIGHT for the controls menu. A fenix 8 cannot broadcast during dive activities.

Garmin warns that broadcasting drains the battery faster, and that the watch shows no sign it is active. If your model asks for Bluetooth or ANT+, pick Bluetooth, which is what an iPhone reads.

Read it on your iPhone

  1. Start broadcasting on the watch.
  2. Open Beatcast and the sensor list. The watch appears as a heart rate sensor.
  3. Pick it and start a session.

If the watch does not appear, try closing Garmin Connect. Allow Bluetooth for the app when it asks. There is nothing to pair in iOS Settings.

One receiver at a time

Treat the watch as taking one Bluetooth receiver. A bike computer or a trainer that is already listening may block the phone. The two devices guide explains the idea, and the checklist takes the causes in order.

A wrist is a fair place to read from

In the studies cited, wrist optical sensors did better on steady, rhythmic efforts and worse when the hands grip and flex. A strap or arm band is the usual choice for lifting. See heart rate between sets.

What Beatcast does with it

The number goes to the Dynamic Island and the Lock Screen while a session runs, and it stays there while you use other apps. Sessions are kept with time in zone, with CSV and TCX export. You can leave the watch on its own screen and watch the phone.

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Questions

Does my Garmin watch broadcast Bluetooth?

Newer ones do, per DC Rainmaker's 2020 test. Check your manual for Broadcast Heart Rate. If it names only ANT+, an iPhone cannot read it.

Why does the app not see my watch?

Check that broadcasting is on, that an activity is running if your model needs one, and that nothing else holds it.

Will it drain the battery?

Garmin says yes, faster than normal.

Can I use a strap instead?

Yes. See the sensor table.

Good to know

Beatcast is not a medical device. It is built for training and general wellbeing, and it cannot detect, diagnose, treat or monitor any condition. If something about your heart worries you, talk to a doctor rather than to an app.

The Bluetooth word mark is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. Apple, iPhone, Dynamic Island and Lock Screen are trademarks of Apple Inc. Garmin, Garmin Connect and other names belong to their owners and are used only to say which sensors Beatcast can read. Beatcast is an independent product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or certified by any of them.

Got yours working? Report it in r/beatcast and it goes on the list.