Pacer can pull your steps and activity data directly from a Garmin watch or fitness tracker.

This integration uses Garmin Connect as the bridge between your wearable and Pacer. When the connection is working, steps and distance recorded on your Garmin should appear in Pacer within a few seconds.

If you notice that your steps are not updating or Pacer shows a lower step count than Garmin, the problem is usually related to an incomplete connection or stale data in Garmin Connect.

Who can sync Garmin data?

Pacer’s Garmin integration is a premium feature. Only Pacer Premium subscribers or participants in a Virtual Adventure or Pacer for Teams challenge can connect Garmin devices.

Below are steps you can take to make Garmin data sync properly in Pacer.

1. Check that Garmin Connect is syncing correctly

Before troubleshooting Pacer, verify that your Garmin wearable is syncing with the Garmin Connect mobile app. Pacer cannot fetch data directly from the watch—it reads data from Garmin’s servers via Connect.

• Open the Garmin Connect app on your phone and make sure your wearable syncs without errors. 
• If the sync bar stalls in Garmin Connect, restart your phone and try again. 
• Make sure you’re signed in with the same Garmin account you intend to link to Pacer.

Only once your activity data appears in Garmin Connect can Pacer access it.

2. Update Pacer and Garmin Connect

Keeping your apps up to date ensures you have the latest bug fixes and integration support.

1. Update Pacer – Visit the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android) and install the latest version of Pacer. 
2. Update Garmin Connect – Update the Garmin Connect app to the latest version. 
3. Restart your phone – Turning your phone off and back on clears cached data and restarts background services.

After restarting, open Garmin Connect, let it sync with your wearable, then open Pacer and verify whether the data appears.

3. Re‑authorize the Garmin connection in Pacer

If updating doesn’t help, reconnecting Garmin in Pacer often resolves persistent sync issues.

1. Open Pacer and tap your profile icon on the Home screen.
2. Tap Settings (gear icon). 
3. Scroll to Data & Syncing and select Apps & Devices. 
4. Tap Garmin and slide Use Garmin as Primary Data Source to On. 
5. You’ll be redirected to Garmin’s website. Log in with your Garmin credentials and accept the data‑sharing agreement. 
6. Confirm that Garmin remains listed as the primary data source.

After re‑authorizing, return to Pacer’s home screen. You can tap the refresh button in the Garmin syncing area to trigger an immediate sync.

4. Ensure Garmin is the primary data source

If Pacer is linked to multiple sources (e.g. Apple Health/Google Fit and Garmin), it will only use one primary data source for steps. Check which source is active:

• In the Steps Data Source screen, confirm that Garmin is marked On or In Use. 
• If Apple Health, Google Fit, or another device is selected as the primary source, Garmin data will not populate Pacer’s step count. 
• Switch the toggle to Garmin and re‑authorize if necessary.

5. Sync your Garmin wearable, then open Pacer

To ensure the latest data flows from Garmin to Pacer:

1. Sync your wearable with Garmin Connect immediately after finishing an activity. 
2. Open Pacer; the app reads data from Garmin Connect during launch or when you manually refresh. 
3. Check the last sync time in the Pacer/Garmin syncing area. If it’s outdated, tap the refresh button to force a sync. 
4. Avoid moving around while waiting; new steps recorded after the sync may cause counts to differ slightly.

Syncing usually takes 10–15 seconds, but it may take longer depending on your network connection.

6. Known limitations when using Garmin as a data source

When you set Garmin as your primary source, note the following limitations described by Pacer:

• Data starts from the link date – Only steps and activities recorded after you link Garmin to Pacer will sync. Historical data cannot be imported. 
• Manual entries don’t count – Activities manually logged in Garmin Connect do not contribute to Pacer challenges or group rankings. 
• Limited data fields – Some charts, such as the 24‑hour activity chart, are disabled because Garmin does not provide that level of detail to third‑party apps. 
• Outdoor activities recorded in Pacer – If you designate Garmin as the primary source, GPS activities recorded directly in Pacer will not count toward virtual events. Use your Garmin watch for outdoor activities instead.

Understanding these limitations helps avoid confusion when comparing step counts between Pacer and your Garmin device.

7. Still not syncing? Additional troubleshooting

If Garmin data still fails to appear in Pacer after following the steps above, try the following:

1. Deactivate and re‑activate the Garmin connection – In Settings, turn off the Use Garmin as Primary Data Source toggle, wait a few seconds, then turn it on again. 
2. Check your Garmin account email – Make sure you’re logging in with the same Garmin account used in Garmin Connect. A mismatch can prevent Pacer from reading your data. 
3. Check for service outages – Rarely, Garmin’s servers or Pacer’s servers may be down. Try again later or review Garmin’s support channels for notices. 
4. Contact Pacer Support – If none of these steps resolve the issue, open Pacer’s Settings → Feedback portal to send a support request. Include your Pacer account email and Garmin device model when describing the problem.

By following the steps above and understanding the limitations of Garmin’s integration, you can usually resolve most syncing issues. If your data still doesn’t appear in Pacer, reach out to Pacer’s support team for personalized assistance.