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brand new Garmin 920XT won't sync with Garmin Connect -- fail.

Former Member
Former Member over 10 years ago
I purchased the Garmin 920XT training watch recently. After about a week, it no longer synchronizes with the Garmin Connect website (last activity to sync was 11/26).

Please read: this appears to be Garmin Connect issue (see troubleshooting steps taken to narrow issue down to the Connect website).

Here's what I've tried:

1. Garmin Express (on a new, Windows Surface Pro 3, running Win 8.1) -- every day, I get an increasing number of sync errors with the message: "There was a problem communicating with the Garmin Servers. Please try again later." I'm now at "34 items to sync" (all failed) ranging from hiking Activities to Wellness files. fail.

2. Garmin Express (on a Mac running Windows XP via Parallels) -- doesn't recognize the 920xt when plugged in via USB and I can't find drivers to manually download. fail.

3. Bluetooth sync (Samsung Galaxy Note 2) -- "Transfer Failed". fail.

4. Wi-Fi -- "Transfer Failed (1 File Failed)". fail. **see note

5., 6., and 7. Garmin Connect website using multiple pc's, mac's, and browsers -- going to "Activities" and "Import" to upload the hiking activity's FIT file (after downloading the FIT file from the 920xt watch) result in "undefined" error. fail.

8. Correcting the "FIT" file with the Garmin file fixer tool (can't seem to find the link offhand), same as the above. fail.

9. Manually editing the "FIT" file -- fail.

10. Whatever other methods I tried and have forgotten. fail.

**note: there is more than just one activity/file missing


Surprisingly, here is what does work: using SportTracks. I can actually manually import the hiking FIT file into the SportTracks (both PC app and website). There is absolutely nothing wrong with the file and the data and route show up perfectly in SportTracks. To me, this means the issues is with Garmin Connect.


So, how do I get Garmin Connect to work?
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 10 years ago
    I'm having the same problem. I can't get the Garmin 920 to synch with Garmin Connect. It did work perfectly at first. I got the ap on my phone and somehow everything just magically synched with my fitness pal, my phone and my laptop. I didn't fully understand it but I was thrilled. Now --it all stopped. Not on my fitness pal. The watch says transfer failed. And the laptop has no workouts. Have just spent an hour trying to reload garmin express, garmin plug in-- and I'm still at square one. My workout was so much easier than trying to solve this problem! sigh.
  • 0 over 10 years ago
    920XT won't sync

    Same problem here. Neither steps nor run activity would sync. Tried manual file upload but that did not work either. Then thought something was wrong with the .fit file (had that problem before) and tried to repair it. Did not get an error and repaired file would not upload either.

    Now tried a manual upload to Strava and it worked with no problem. All data is there is nothing looks corrupt.

    My conclusion is that there is something wrong with the Garmin Connect service ("server error" reported during sync). Maybe when Kansas (or wherever the server admin sits) get back from the weekend tomorrow they will fix it.

    Wouldn't bother me if I knew the servers had a problem. But this way you first try all kinds of things and waste your time fixing something that is not an error on your side.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 10 years ago
    Ditto. Worked well the first few times but since Jan 3 nothing syncs. Hoping it's a server problem, otherwise it's going back to Garmin.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 10 years ago
    Garmin is actively working on this issue. Probably New Years Resolution overload issues. Come February when the weak give up it will run smooth.
  • 0 over 10 years ago
    Posted elsewhere:

    Garmin connect has been having issues all day. The site was down for a while, and no one can sync (any garmin device) right now. I'm sure Garmin is working on it. LOTS of people just got new devices over the holidays, which adds to the load, and many new users want to sync pretty often. Once people get used to things, the "sync requests" will slow down, and things will get more stable. (The Garmin Trackers hold about 30 days of data, so even if you go a few days without syncing, it's not a big deal)

    As a side note, Polar Flow (the GC equivalent for Polar Devices) and Misfit (the Misfit Shine and Flash) seem to be having similar issues today. Everyone is experimenting with their new trackers before they go back to work on Monday!
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 10 years ago
    Sorry, but I am having the same problem before the holidays. Every activity made in rowing mode (other), with more than 1km did not sync by USB, Wi-fi, bluetooth and manual, the fit file was read on Training Peaks.
  • 0 over 10 years ago
    I had the same problem after creating and using a custom activity profile for XC skiing. Garmin Connect syncs repeatedly failed in the app and via Garmin Express on a Mac. I could manually import the activity to Strava with the 920 attached to the Mac (which is ultimately what I care about). After reading this forum, I deleted the questionable activities from the History on the 920. This has solved my problem and this morning's swim and all other data is now successfully transferring in the app via Bluetooth. This solution works for me because I only care about the data eventually getting to Strava and only use Garmin Connect as an intermediary. Hope this helps some of you.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 10 years ago
    I had the same problem after creating and using a custom activity profile for XC skiing. Garmin Connect syncs repeatedly failed in the app and via Garmin Express on a Mac. I could manually import the activity to Strava with the 920 attached to the Mac (which is ultimately what I care about). After reading this forum, I deleted the questionable activities from the History on the 920. This has solved my problem and this morning's swim and all other data is now successfully transferring in the app via Bluetooth. This solution works for me because I only care about the data eventually getting to Strava and only use Garmin Connect as an intermediary. Hope this helps some of you.


    If you delete 920 from Garmin Express and login again will solve the problem with normal activities and updates.
  • 0 over 10 years ago
    If you delete 920 from Garmin Express and login again will solve the problem with normal activities and updates.


    Tried that to, but still the same.
    Garmin need`s to come with an update soon to fix a lot of bug`s..!!!
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 10 years ago
    $500 dollars for a watch, I'm not satisfied that I should have to wait for Garmin to fix this. They knew how many watches they would sell by Christmas time. I'm sure there are a whole lot of bean counters sitting in a room projecting sales. I can't believe that no one told the IT department that there would XXXXXXX more users possibly logging in after the holidays. Companies care about selling their product first and then deal with issues along the way, not fair to us the consumer who shells out our hard earned money.