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Where Does Garmin Express Store Files On Computer? (Couldn't find working answer)

Hi All!
I was wondering where Garmin Express stores the activity files on the Mac computer (OS X 10.11.6). I searched here & on the wide web, but the answers point to a folder my computer doesn't have, so maybe I'm reading old information (or my computer is missing something important). Even Garmin's Help search result pointed me to a folder I don't have.

Most of the search results I found (and Garmin's Help) send us to: ~user/Library/Application Support/Garmin/GarminConnect/Device-UnitID/Upload/FIT_TYPE_4

My Library/Application Support/Garmin has the following folders:
Base Camp, Express, Garmin Web Updater, Map Install and a file InstallationClient-ID
Inside Express, there are:
AppUpdates, Firmware, Logs, RegisteredDevices and a file titled IgnoredDevices.plist

I searched all sub folders for Upload or FIT_TYPE_4 with no luck.

A Finder & an Easy Find search for FIT showed nothing.

Do you all know where these files are on the computer?

Thanks Much!
Paul

0 Dr Phil over 7 years ago

Garmin Express does not store activity files on the computer, your device might. And that depends on your device. For devices that did store the files on a computer, the directory was usually hidden.

Show hidden files in Mac OS X

More recent devices mount a drive to the computer when connected. In there you will find the activity files, likely in a folder called ACTIVITY. What device do you have?

0 PJB+ over 7 years ago

Thank You Phillip for taking time to reply & for your good explanation. I appreciate your help.

The files are nowhere to be found on the Mac, even when showing & searching hidden files. Unless I missed something in my searches, they must only be sent to the Garmin server.
But there is a manual workaround...

Once I set the Vivoactive HR to "Mass Storage" mode, I could open the mounted disk icon that showed up on the Mac desktop and find the activity files under the Garmin - Activities folder.
Then, I was able to copy the files to the computer with "Copy - Paste".

Since the device shows up as a "mass storage" device on the computer, I probably can even add it to the list of files that my computer includes when automatically backing up to the 'cloud". Time machine won't grab it because the Vivoactive HR is formatted MS-DOD (Fat), but my offsite backup program might. (CrashPlan)
I'll have to experiment around a bit, but that should be an interesting adventure.
(Now what I can actually do with the FIT files is a whole different item to explore...)

Thanks Again Phillip & Enjoy This Day!
Paul