I loved my Oura ring and Garmin watch. But the different numbers on their apps left me confused. So, I tried to sync them, but they don’t sync directly. Frankly speaking, getting through the workarounds was actually a struggle for me.
If you’ve found yourself in this predicament like I have, here is the good news. I’ve found a way to sync Oura and Garmin data using third-party apps on my iPhone and Android. Let me show you how I did it and what you need to do.
How to Sync Oura Ring and Garmin Without Direct Integration?
Oura Ring and Garmin can sync using genuine third-party apps like Apple Health, Apple Watch companion app, and Strava. These apps act as middlemen, allowing users to link data from both devices into one convenient spot.
Now, the app you need will depend on whether you’re team iOS or team Android. If you want to keep it common, then Strava is a good option.
I have tested all three apps (Apple Health, Apple Watch companion app, and Strava) on my iPhone. I lean towards Apple Health. It is more user-friendly, simpler, and has a clean UI. But on my Android, Strava was the only viable option for working with Garmin Connect.
Though it is smooth and reliable, it was disappointing that I couldn’t connect Garmin with Google Health Connect. I already rely on it to sync my Oura with Samsung Health data. It would have been much easier to connect Garmin with Oura through it, rather than having to use another app.
How to Sync Oura Ring with Garmin on iPhone?
If you prefer Strava, you can easily sync by opening your Garmin app, going to its Settings menu, then Connected Apps, selecting Strava, and proceeding with the permission prompt and the on-screen instructions.
As I don’t prefer using Strava on iOS, I’ll show you how I did it using Apple Health. But before diving into the steps, I made sure that I had the latest versions of the Oura app, Garmin Connect, and the Apple Health app on my iPhone.
I initially used mobile data on my iPhone and Wi-Fi for the Garmin Watch, but it didn’t work well. Once I connected both to the same Wi-Fi, it worked fine.
Now, here is how I did it:
Step 01: Connecting Oura App to Apple Health
- Launch the Oura App on iPhone.
- Tap on the Menu icon located in the top left corner of the screen.
- Tap the Settings option.
- Scroll to Data Sharing.
- Under Data Sharing, tap Apple Health.
- Toggle the switch next to Connect to Health to enable data sharing.
- You can also turn on the “Save Mindful Minutes to Health” option on the same screen.
Step 03: Connecting Garmin Connect to Apple Health
- Launch the Garmin Connect app on iPhone.
- Click on the More icon at the bottom right corner of the screen.
- Select the Settings option.
- Look for the option Connected Apps and tap on it.
- Tap the Apple Health option from the list.
- Now, tap the Connect with Apple Health button.
- Toggle Allow All on or select your choices from both the Allowed to Read and Allowed to Write sections one by one.
- To complete the process, tap Allow in the top right corner.
Step 03: Syncing Oura Ring and Garmin Data Using Apple Health
- Open the Apple Health app on your iPhone.
- Tap on your Profile icon located in the top right corner of the screen.
- Scroll down to the Privacy section.
- Select Apps and Services from the menu.
- Now, you’ll see a list of apps that have access to your Apple Health data. Scroll through and find the Oura app and Garmin’s Connect.
- Just tap on the apps one by one. It doesn’t matter which one you start with, so pick whichever you like first.
- Here, you’ll see a list of specific data types (e.g., sleep, activity, heart rate) that these apps can access and share with Apple Health.
- Turn the toggle switch on for the data types you want to sync. It will now allow Apple Health to manage your fitness data.
Congrats! It took me a couple of minutes to get the initial sync done, so be patient. Once it is complete, you should be able to see your Oura data alongside your Garmin activity data on either of the apps.
Remember, Apple Health syncing is available for Gen3 members with active membership and all Gen2 users.
How to Sync Oura Ring with Garmin on Android?
Knowing that linking the ring and the watch would likely mirror the steps on the iPhone, I took proactive steps. I updated both the Oura app and Garmin Connect to their latest versions.
Learning from my iPhone experience, I also connected the Garmin watch and my phone to the same Wi-Fi network beforehand. In addition to the iPhone similarities, I installed Strava to facilitate synchronization.
Here’s what I did that you should follow:
Step 01: Connecting Oura App to Strava
- Open the Oura app on your Android phone.
- Tap on the Menu icon located in the top left corner of the Home tab.
- Navigate to the Settings option.
- Scroll to the Data Sharing section.
- Under Data Sharing, tap the App Integration option.
- If the Strava app is properly installed, it will appear right under Available Apps. Tap on it.
- Tap on Continue. You might be prompted to log in to your Strava account.
- Once logged in, select the data between Oura and Strava that you want to import or export.
- Tap Authorize to grant Strava permission to access your Oura data.
- In my case, the Import and Export data toggles were already on by default. But if they are off for you, you might need to turn them on manually.
Step 02: Connecting Garmin Connect to Strava
- Open the Garmin Connect app on your Android phone.
- Tap on the profile icon in the top left corner.
- Select Settings.
- Go to Connected apps.
- Find Strava in the list of apps and tap on it.
- Tap on Agree to allow Strava to access your Garmin Connect data.
- You might be prompted to log in to your Strava account again. If so, enter your credentials and tap the Log In button.
- As it was my first interaction with Strava, I needed to accept Strava’s Cookies Policy. You may need to hit the I Accept button as well.
- Finally, tap Authorize to complete the connection.
That is it! Just like on my iPhone, I had to wait a bit for the first sync to finish. Meanwhile, I was waiting, and the apps managed to sync my data smoothly. After that, my tracking on Garmin Connect appeared on Strava, then on the Oura app, and back again. It all flowed effortlessly.
Garmin and Strava’s sync is also possible through a computer. Just install the Garmin Express and add your device. Then, visit Strava’s Device page. Find the Garmin option and link the two apps. Apart from getting new activities synced automatically, your past 90 days of activity will get synced, too.
Furthermore, Garmin and Strava can be linked via the web as well. If you have a Strava-segment compatible device, log in with your Garmin Connect ID on a web browser, go to Training and Planning, then Segments. Click Switch to Strava Segments and authorize Strava segments in Garmin Connect. It may take a few minutes initially.
What Gets Shared Between The Apps?
Let us take a look at what data types Oura and Garmin Connect can read or write through the bridging apps.
1. Apple Health and Garmin Connect Data Exchange
| Data Apple Health Can Read From Garmin Connect | Data Apple Health Can Write to Garmin Connect |
|---|---|
| Active Energy | The Garmin Connect app cannot read/receive data from Apple Health or the Apple Watch companion app. |
| Body Fat Percentage | |
| Body Mass Index | |
| Flights Climbed | |
| Heart Rate | |
| Resting Energy | |
| Sleep Analysis | |
| Steps | |
| Walking + Running Distance | |
| Water | |
| Weight | |
| Workouts |
2. Apple Health And The Oura App Data Exchange
| Data Apple Health Can Read From Oura | Data Apple Health Can Write on The Oura App |
|---|---|
| Active Energy: activity burn calories, excluding your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) | Date of Birth |
| Heart Rate (in one-minute intervals) | Height |
| Height | Sex |
| Mindful Minutes | Weight |
| Respiratory Rate (average nighttime) | Workout Routes |
| Workouts — Workout Calories — Workout Distance — Workout Duration — Workout Type | Workouts: — Workout Calories — Workout Distance — Workout Duration — Workout Type |
| Sleep: — Sleep Duration — Start Time — End Time — Sleep Stages | |
| Steps | |
| Weight | |
| Workouts (manually added, recorded through Workout Heart Rate, or added with Automatic Activity Detection) | |
| Resting Energy |
3. Strava And Garmin Connect Data Exchange
| Data Strava Can Read From Garmin Connect | Data Strava Can Write on Garmin Connect |
|---|---|
| Activities (Both manual and AAD) | Starred Strava courses |
| Current location | Starred Strava segments and routes |
| Heart Rate | *Activities created with Strava won’t sync to Garmin Connect. |
| Calories burned |
Also, you can use Strava Beacon to watch your Garmin LiveTrack sessions. You’ll need a Garmin device with the LiveTrack feature for this.
4. Strava and The Oura App Data Exchange
| Data Strava Can Read From The Oura App | Data Strava Can Write on The Oura App |
|---|---|
| Workouts recorded through the Workout Heart Rate feature | Workouts |
| Location | Workouts synced from other Devices |
| Activity Score | Activities |
| Readiness Score |
Frequently Asked Questions
Wrap Up
Phew, we did it! Even though the syncing process works well, I do have a couple of grips. I wish there were a way to direct syncing between the Oura app and Garmin Connect, and comprehensive data sharing would have been fantastic. But as they say, something is better than nothing.
I hope this guide has been helpful to you. Before you go, I’d love to know your experience and what changes you’d like to see in this syncing process. Drop me a comment below!
