Garmin S20 not saving rounds to iOS app

Hello, I am having problems with my Garmin S20 not saving or uploading rounds to the ios Garmin connect app. Which in turn sends nothing to the Golf app. Would you know it, the last round to save was on Nov. 5. Recommendations?


  • My recommendation is to connect your Approach S20 to a Windows or Mac home computer using the USB cable > Then open the Approach S20/Garmin (:) device drive to view the GARMIN folder > Within the GARMIN folder, open the SCORE/SCORECARD folder and check to see if there are any .FIT files located within that show a creation date for the dates you recorded the scorecards on. 

    If the Scorecard folder contains .FIT files with creation dates matching the missing rounds, then I recommend installing Garmin Express to your computer > Add your S20 as a device to the program > Sync and install the updates that will be showing available for your device. After syncing and updating through Garmin Express, check your scorecards to see if the missing rounds are now showing. 

    *If you notice the Scorecard folder on your device does not show any .FIT files matching the creation dates for the missing rounds...or if the files with matching dates do not transfer after syncing/updating through Garmin Express...then the rounds will not be able to get transferred. In this instance, I recommend deleting any .FIT files showing within the Scorecard folder (especially if there are a bunch of files within the folder) > Then your watch should record scorecards properly going forward. 

    After following the steps above, if further assistance is needed...please contact Garmin Support to speak with a golf specialist so further solutions can be determined for your concern. 

  • I will try this. I'm not optimistic. The watch shows no updates. I will be calling Garmin asking for a nice coupon on a new watch for phasing out older devices. 

  • Opening the Settings menu on your watch to view the "Software Update" section is not how updates are provided to the Approach S20. If an update has been sent over already to your watch, and "Install Later" was selected instead of selecting "Install Now"... the Settings > Software Update menu would show an update available to install on your device. 

    *Please Note: The Approach S20 is still supported by Garmin, and there is nothing (other than too many scorecard files built up in the Scorecard folder of the watch)...that would prevent any recent scorecards from syncing over to your account (assuming score was entered on the device, and you selected "End Round" > Then selected the option to Save the round. 

    The steps I have outlined above for you will either resolve your concern resulting in the missing scorecards then transferring...or will prevent the concern from occurring going forward. 

    Prior to my first response above, I check the S20 registered on the account, and based the steps in my initial recommendation based on the current map versions showing. The only way to install course map updates to the Approach S20 is through the Garmin Express program, via USB connection to a Mac or Windows computer. 

    - Thanks