News & Announcements

The Connect IQ 8.3.0 SDK is now available via the SDK manager. Here are some of the updates:

Developer Dashboard

The developer dashboard is moving to a new location. Please update your bookmarks appropriately.

Supported Activities

On devices with API level 5.2, data fields have a post-install flow that lets the user associate them with activities. If you want to filter the list of available activities, you can include an activity filter in the manifest. Here's an example that will filter the available activities to outdoor running activities:

<iq:activityFilter>
    <iq:activity sport="Toybox.Activity.SPORT_RUNNING" subsport="Toybox.Activity.SUB_SPORT_GENERIC" />
    <iq:activity sport="Toybox.Activity.SPORT_RUNNING" subsport="Toybox.Activity.SUB_SPORT_TRAIL" />
    <iq:activity sport="Toybox.Activity.SPORT_RUNNING" subsport="Toybox.Activity.SUB_SPORT_TRACK" />
</iq:activityFilter>

Here are some examples of supported activities:

Get the SDK

This will build a filter based on FIT sport and sub-sport identifiers. If the sub-sport is not provided, the filter will include all sub-sports of the specified sport type. To make your resource files more concise, you can also use the direct FIT identifier rather than the Activity.Sport and Activity.SubSport constants, which are just the enum values of the Activity.Sport and Activity.Subsport constants.

Get the Connect IQ 8.3 SDK today and update your data fields to use the new activity filter.

Connect IQ SDK 8.2.1 is now available from the Connect IQ SDK. This SDK supports new features available for System 8 devices.

New Data Field Setup Flow

System 8 devices received a new setup flow for data fields. Now at install, the user will be prompted to choose which activity profiles they want to associate with the data field.

System 8, SensorDelegate, and Install

If your app or data field supports an external BLE or ANT sensor, you can add a SensorDelegate to your app to allow it to pair using the native sensor pairing flow. If you do, the user will be asked to pair with your sensor after the app installs as part of the new install flow.

On System 8 devices, ANT or BLE sensors that search for sensors outside of the native pairing flow will be shown a security warning.

Side-Loading to System 8 Devices

For System 8 devices receiving the 2025 Q2 QMR, any app that is being side-loaded to the device must be built with Connect IQ SDK 7.4.3 or greater. In July, we will be setting the minimum SDK version to 8.1 for uploading apps to the store.

High-Frequency Sensors

Calling Sensor.registerSensorDataListener() will enable your application to receive accelerometer data via the callback that you provide. The type and amount of data provided is configured via the options dictionary parameter.  Two new options have been added to the API:

These options provide synchronization of the incoming sensor data, making it easier to ingest and process the samples.

Get the SDK

Get the Connect IQ 8.2.1 SDK today and update your apps to use these new features.

The Edge® MTB bike computer is purpose-built for mountain bikers. Its compact, rugged design features scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass to stand up to mud, grit and branches. Get superior position tracking while descending with 5 Hz GPS recording when using enduro or downhill ride profiles. Set timing gates throughout a course to track split times. Dig into trail details before you ride with preloaded Trailforks maps.  

The Edge MTB is now available from the Connect IQ SDK Manager. Update your apps today.

The vívoactive® 6 smartwatch is here. With a bright AMOLED display, up to 11 days of battery life, daily suggested workouts, Body Battery energy monitoring, sleep score and more, this GPS smartwatch is purpose-built with essential health and fitness features to help you understand your body better. 

A Note for Developers

The vívoactive 6 action view pattern has changed from the vívoactive 5. The indicator has changed from a chevron at the bottom of the screen to a notch on the right side. The user drags the indicator to make the action view appear. Add a call to View.setActionMenuIndicator() to support this functionality:

if (View has :setActionMenuIndicator) {
    setActionMenuIndicator({:enabled=>true});
}

BehaviorDelegate.onActionView() will trigger when your view has the action menu indicator enabled. See the personality library for updated code on support.

You will need Connect IQ SDK 8.1.1 and the vívoactive 6 device configuration from the Connect IQ SDK manager. Get them both and add support for your app today!

System 8 is here! We’ve added several tools and features to make it easier for you to create more exciting and powerful apps.

• New Visual Studio Code extension with real-time warnings and exceptions, autocompletion, find all references, folding ranges, and more. 
• Integrate with the native watch face editor on fēnix 8 series and tactix® 8 series. You can add support for the native watch face editor using the watch face configuration API.
• Extended code space that is paged in during runtime on demand. For supported devices, this provides 16 megabytes of code space beyond what is loaded into the heap.
• Support for the native pairing flow that allows you to have your Connect IQ app pair as part of the device’s sensor paring UI flow.
• A new notifications API to provide the user with additional information while in the background.

You can get the System 8 SDK and updated device configurations using the Connect IQ SDK manager. Make sure to get the latest Monkey C extension for Visual Studio Code as well.

In December, we announced important changes to the Connect IQ store regarding trader verification. As of today, apps that require payment will be hidden from the Connect IQ store until trader verification is completed. If any of your apps that require payment are now hidden from the store, please complete the trader verification process as soon as possible. Please note that document review may take several business days. During this time, your access to certain platform features will be restricted until the verification process is complete.

Welcome to System 8! We’ve added several tools and features to make it easier for you to create more exciting and powerful apps.

New Visual Studio Code Extension

This Monkey C extension offers several features, including:

• Real-Time Errors and Warnings – These will display when editing Monkey C, Jungle, Settings, MSS and Resource XML files. Any reported errors or warnings will display in the Problems tab.
• Autocompletion – When editing Monkey C, Jungle and MSS files, autocompletion suggestions will be based on the detected scope. In the Monkey C editor, you can autocomplete functions with argument and type information by autocompleting the function keyword in a class or module.
• References – You can find all references of a variable, symbol, function, class or module by right-clicking on it and selecting “Find all References” from the context menu. You can also search for a symbol in the document by summoning the command palette and typing @symbol name or search the entire workspace by summoning the command palette and typing #symbol name.
• Hovering – See type information about a variable, function name, class or module by hovering the mouse over the symbol in question.
• Go to Definition – You can jump to the definition of any variable, symbol, resource ID, function, class or module by selecting “Go to Definition” from the context menu.
• Folding Ranges – Comments, imports and regions of code can now be folded.

To use these features, your project needs to have a type check level of gradual or higher.

Watch Face Configurations

The fēnix 8 and newer wearables have an on-device watch face editor. The watch face editor allows users to take the one of the product faces, configure it and save the configuration as a new face in their watch face list.

You can add support for the native watch face editor using the watch face configuration API. Watch face configurations have three primary variables:

• Styles - A watch face is allowed to have stylistic variations, such as different font configurations or watch hands.
• Data - Watch faces may have multiple complications. Each complication can be configured independently.
• Data Color - Watch faces can define multiple selectable color options. Data colors allow the user to pick a color for data.
• Accent Color – Watch faces are allowed a color as a configurable accent.

The user is allowed to create up to four configurations of a Connect IQ watch face on the device.

Extended Code Space

Sometimes optimization is not enough for squeezing extra functionality into your app. For devices that support System 8, developers can take advantage of extended code space. Code in this extended space is paged in during runtime on demand. For supported devices, this provides 16 megabytes of code space beyond what is loaded into the heap.

Functions, classes and modules decorated with the :extendedCode annotation will be placed in the extended code space. When building supported products, the compiler will move those functions into extended code space.

Sensor Pairing

If your device application or data field communicates wirelessly with a sensor or peripheral using ANT, ANT plus, or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), then you will need to implement a pairing process. Connect IQ allows you to implement a Sensors.SensorDelegate that allows you to have your device pair as part of the device’s sensor paring UI flow. See the Sensors.SensorDelegate class in the API docs for details.

Notifications

There are instances where your app may want to provide the user with additional information while in the background. This may be from a temporal event, handling of a phone message or some other trigger.

The Notifications module, which requires the notification permission, allows background services to trigger actionable notifications on the device.

Try It Today

You can get the System 8 beta SDK and the system8preview device using the Connect IQ SDK manager. Make sure to get the latest Monkey C extension for Visual Studio Code, and sign up to be a beta tester to get the System 8 public beta for your device in the coming weeks.

To comply with the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA), all Connect IQ developers are required to submit specific information. Here's what you need to know:

Are You Asking for Money?

Does your app require or request a monetary exchange? This could be requiring payment for use, requiring a subscription to use or asking the user for tips or donations even if it isn’t required for use. If the answer to all these questions is “No,” then we do not require you to verify as a trader.

If at any point in the future that might change, please continue reading.

Verifying Your Identity

As part of the process, we need to confirm whether you qualify as a "trader" under the DSA.  If you collect any payments, including tips, for the use of your apps, then you meet the qualifications of a trader. You will be asked a series of questions to determine your status, including whether you operate as a business or an individual, and whether your activities on the platform are commercial in nature.

You will be asked to provide documents that verify your identity, such as a government-issued ID, proof of address, DUNS number or other relevant documentation.

You can also register as a trader by going through Connect IQ merchant onboarding. This will allow you to list apps for sale and be paid through the Connect IQ monetization system.

Failure to Comply

If you are not registered as a trader with the Connect IQ store, apps that require payment will be blocked from the Connect IQ store until verification is completed. Failing to list an app as requiring payment can result in suspension of your developer account.

Start the Process

Click here to begin your verification. Please note that document review may take several business days. During this time, your access to certain platform features will be restricted until the verification process is complete.

Attention monetized developers: sales reports are now available in the merchant account section of the developer dashboard. Use the  button to enter the date range being requested. You will receive an email when the sales report is ready.

Get your sales report today.

Be limitless. The fēnix^® 8 multisport GPS smartwatch is built for serious athletes and outdoor adventurers who want to push beyond their limits. It features a 1.3” solar charged display with scratch-resistant sapphire lens, durable titanium bezel and advanced strength training plans and targeted workouts to boost your body’s stamina and performance. Pair with your smartphone for on-wrist calling with the built-in speaker and mic. Plus, there’s a powerful built-in LED flashlight for after-dark visibility. Go strong with solar power that extends battery life up to 92 hours in GPS mode (assumes continuous use for entire period in 50,000 lux conditions).

You’re built to push limits — so is Enduro 3. This ultraperformance GPS smartwatch is built for the toughest challenges with a lightweight design that’s ready for heavy use. Take on the world with incredible battery life, including solar charging that lasts up to 320 hours in GPS mode (assumes continuous use for entire period in 50,000 lux conditions). Light up the dark with the built-in LED flashlight, and enjoy long-distance comfort, thanks to a lightweight UltraFit nylon band. While preloaded TopoActive maps are optimized for outdoor activities to help keep you on course. For ultra-endurance athletes who are ready to conquer their wildest dreams, Enduro 3 is the smartwatch for you.

The fēnix 8 series, fēnix E series, and Enduro 3 are now available in the Connect IQ SDK Manager. Update your apps today.