Skip to main content

Starting an Activity

When you start an activity, GPS turns on automatically (if required).

  1. From the watch face, press Line drawing of the watch with a top button callout.
  2. Select an option:

    • Select a pinned activity (Customizing Activities and Apps).

    • Select More activities symbol or Activities, and select an activity from your favorites list or an activity category.

  3. If the activity requires GPS signals, go outside to an area with a clear view of the sky, and wait until the watch is ready.

    The watch is ready after it establishes your heart rate, acquires GPS signals (if required), and connects to your wireless sensors (if required).

  4. Press Line drawing of the watch with a top button callout to start the activity timer.

    The watch records activity data only while the activity timer is running.

Tips for Recording Activities

  • Charge the watch before starting an activity (Charging the Watch).
  • For some activities, press Line drawing of the watch with a bottom button callout to record laps, start a new set or pose, or advance to the next workout step.

    You can select Undo lap symbol to discard a lap for certain activities (How can I undo a lap button press?).

  • Swipe up or down to view additional data screens.
  • During an activity, swipe right, and select Change Sport to transition to a different activity type.

    When your activity includes two or more sports, it is recorded as a multisport activity.

Stopping an Activity

Not all options are available for all activity types.

  1. Press Line drawing of the watch with a top button callout.
  2. Select an option:

    • To resume your activity, select Resume.

    • To save the activity and view the details, select Save, and select an option.

      NOTE: After you save the activity, you can enter self-evaluation data (Evaluating an Activity).

    • To suspend your activity and resume it at a later time, select Resume Later.

    • To mark a lap, select Lap.

      You can select Undo lap symbol to discard a lap for certain activities (How can I undo a lap button press?).

    • To navigate back to the starting point of your activity along the path you traveled, select Back to Start > TracBack.

      NOTE: This feature is available only for activities that use GPS.

    • To navigate back to the starting point of your activity by the most direct path, select Back to Start > Straight Line.

      NOTE: This feature is available only for activities that use GPS.

    • To measure the difference between your heart rate at the end of the activity and your heart rate two minutes later, select Recovery Heart Rate, and wait while the timer counts down (Recovery Heart Rate).

    • To discard the activity, select Discard, and press Line drawing of the watch with a top button callout.

    NOTE: After stopping the activity, the watch saves it automatically after 30 minutes.

Evaluating an Activity

NOTE: This feature is not available for all activities.

You can customize the self-evaluation setting for certain activities (Enabling Self Evaluation).

  1. After you complete an activity, select Save (Stopping an Activity).
  2. Select a number that corresponds with your perceived effort.
    NOTE: You can select Skip self evaluation symbol to skip the self evaluation.
  3. Select how you felt during the activity.

You can view evaluations in the Garmin Connect™ app.

Changing Sports During an Activity

You can begin an activity using one sport profile and manually switch to another sport without stopping the timer. For example, you can record 10 minutes of biking, 10 minutes of kayaking, and finish up with an indoor walk.
NOTE: This feature is not available for team sports or racket sports.
  1. From the watch face, swipe left.
  2. Select Activities.
  3. Select an activity.
  4. Press Line drawing of the watch with a top button callout to start the activity timer.
  5. When you are ready for the next sport, swipe right (timer is running), and select Change Sport.
  6. Select a sport.

    A countdown timer displays the remaining time until the next sport starts.

    TIP: Press Undo lap symbol to discard starting a new sport.
    NOTE: If you are switching from an indoor sport to an outdoor sport, allow the watch time to locate satellites.
  7. After you complete your sport, you can repeat steps 5-6 or press Line drawing of the watch with a top button callout to stop the activity timer.
  8. Select Save > Checkmark symbol.
  9. Select an option:

    • Scroll to view the time for each sport and performance measurements for the entire mixed sport activity.

    • Swipe left to view additional options, such as activity data for each sport, or to delete the entire activity.

GUID-2CF5620C-E585-4E0A-9CC3-9565533EEE4D v2
November 2025
© 2025 Garmin Ltd.