Garmin brings back Android DND sync with a switch this time
The Do Not Disturb sync between Android phones and Garmin watches is back in Garmin Connect 5.22, but this time it comes with a proper on off switch. You can now decide whether your watch should follow your phone’s DND status or ignore it completely.
What actually changed in version 5.22
Garmin first introduced DND syncing in Connect 5.18. When your Android phone went into Do Not Disturb, your watch followed along and stayed silent. For many people, this was exactly how things should have worked all along.
Then 5.19 arrived and the behaviour disappeared. The watch went back to acting independently, even if your phone was set to silence everything. Garmin never gave a detailed explanation, but the reversal made sense. Some users relied on their watch to stay noisy while their phone stayed quiet.
In 5.22, Garmin lands on the obvious compromise. DND syncing is now optional. To access it, open the Garmin Connect app on your Android phone and head to Settings, then Notifications, App Notifications, and finally Follow Do Not Disturb Behavior. Flip the switch if you want the sync, or leave it off for separate control. It’s as simple as that.
Why this took so long on Android
For years, Android users have lived with a strange inconsistency. On iPhone, Garmin watches have mirrored system Do Not Disturb without any fuss. On Android, they never did. Even if your phone was fully silenced, your watch would still buzz your wrist for every notification.
Most people treated this as a bug. Forum posts asking for a fix go back well over half a decade. The expectation was simple. If the phone is quiet, the watch should be quiet too.
Once Garmin flipped the switch, the reaction showed why the situation was more nuanced than it looked. When 5.18 rolled out, a different group of users got frustrated. They liked having independent control. Phone in DND for meetings, watch still active for urgent messages or workouts. The sudden change broke that setup overnight.
The response was loud enough that Garmin pulled the feature in 5.19. That version restored the old behaviour entirely. At the time, it felt like a step backwards, especially given how long the original complaint had been around. What users actually wanted was choice. 5.22 finally delivers that.
Our takeaway
This move seems like a smart response to user input. It gives flexibility without forcing a one-size-fits-all approach.
If you rely on your watch for discreet alerts during work or sleep, the sync could make things smoother, aligning your devices more like how Apple handles it. But if you like the watch buzzing regardless, just keep the toggle off and carry on as before. Either way, it’s good to see Garmin listening after the initial rollout hiccups.
The update is rolling out globally now, so check your app store if you haven’t seen it yet
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