As far as I remember, you need to create an account when adding a device. Though, you can disable the upload of your data to the cloud (see User Settings » Privacy), if that is your concern. However, it seriously hinders most of the functionality. Garmin Connect does not store the data locally on your phone, so you would have to back up old Activity and Monitoring files manually.
Thanks, that answers my question. Indeed, I have concerns over my privacy and don't want to share my data with Garmin or any third-party, especially health data.
Now the Garmin Connect app wants to turn on location to pair my device with Bluetooth. There is no way that location is required to use Bluetooth. It seems I can't pair my device without doing that. Why is that?
Sorry, no idea. You can try turning it on temporarily and then disable when paired. It could be also that it is not at all because of the location permission that it does not pair.
As I recall location services to connect bluetooth became a new Android requirement about 4 or 5 years ago. It really screwed up syncing for a week or so until Garmin came out with an update to the Android Connect app.
I can connect my Bluetooth speakers without enabling location. Anyway, I wore the vivosmart the whole night while connected to the app the whole night and no data has been transefered to the app. In the morning, the app was again complaining that location was turned off as well as the network (I turn off data and WiFi at night).
That's too much for me and I will return the product.
