Garmin gives users their own Connect API access

Getting your own data out of Garmin Connect is about to become a whole lot easier. And really, it’s something Garmin probably should have sorted out years ago. Until now, getting official access to all those health and workout stats was mostly reserved for businesses and approved developers.

That’s finally changing. The company has introduced a new Personal API, which means regular users can access their own data without going through the usual approval process. If you’ve ever wanted to build your own fitness dashboard, dig deeper into your training numbers or get AI to analyse your workouts, this could come in handy.

Your Garmin data, without the usual hoops

With Garmin’s new developer programme, you can now get your own API key straight from Garmin Connect. That means direct access to your workout files, health stats and other information your watch collects, without having to apply as a business developer.

So what could you actually do with it? Well, you could put together your own dashboard to see how sleep affects your training, look at heart rate trends over time or even use AI to make sense of your fitness history. There’s plenty of room to experiment.

The catch is that you’ll need to know your way around a bit of coding. Garmin isn’t adding any new tools to the Connect app itself. It’s simply making it easier for people to build their own.

We’ve previously covered ways to export and analyse Garmin data. This takes things a step further because you no longer have to rely on manual downloads or unofficial workarounds to get at your information.

But some workout metrics are still missing

Here’s the slightly odd part. Just as Garmin is making personal data easier to access, some third-party training platforms are receiving less information through their existing connections.

Runalyze, for example, recently reported that Garmin’s automatically delivered FIT files no longer include certain metrics. These include VO2 max estimates, recovery time, performance condition and some other Garmin-specific information.

The data hasn’t disappeared from Garmin Connect itself. Download the original FIT file manually and those metrics are still there. Garmin says it has been removing undocumented fields from files delivered to third parties, which explains the difference.

Runalyze has already introduced a workaround that lets users merge manually exported FIT files into existing activities. It works, but having to download and upload individual workouts isn’t particularly convenient.

There’s also the wider issue of how Garmin data moves between different services. We recently covered the shutdown of Intervals Pro, an AI coaching tool that closed amid uncertainty over restrictions on passing Garmin-sourced information between platforms.

The new Personal API doesn’t automatically resolve those commercial integration issues. Garmin has also reopened its business developer programme, with separate access options for smaller companies and larger platforms.

The practical implications for Garmin owners

For most Garmin owners, nothing really changes. Your watch will keep syncing as usual, and you won’t suddenly see a bunch of new features popping up in Garmin Connect. This is more about what you can do with your data outside the app.

And there’s plenty you could do with it. Garmin watches collect a huge amount of information, but Garmin Connect doesn’t always give you the best ways to explore it. Having more options is definitely a good thing.

The question is how much of that data Garmin will actually let people access. Opening things up is a step in the right direction, but the recent changes to FIT files suggest there are still some limits to what you can get your hands on.