Android APP (using SDK) to share realtime HR from watch

Thanks for confirming that.

I think you can do it.

Former Member said:

Hi,
new to this, so asking basic questions if you don't mind.

It shall be possible to make an android app that access regularly (or event triggered) the watch to detect HR values. I wonder if this is possible with the Android SDK and if the watch needs to be equipped with a custom IQ app or can the Android app access the HR sensor programmatically directly ?

Thanks for any thoughts and tips.

M

With Garmin devices specifically, you cannot directly access the watch’s HR sensor from an Android app via the Android SDK alone. Garmin watches don’t expose their sensors over Bluetooth in a way that a standard Android app can query continuously.

You have two main options:

1. Use a Connect IQ app on the watch

   • You can develop a small Connect IQ app (widget, data field, or background service) to read the HR sensor on the watch and then send the data to your Android app via the Connect IQ SDK and Companion API.

   • This is the most common way to get real-time or event-driven HR data.

2. Use Garmin’s Health API (Cloud-based)

   • If you only need HR data after an activity or periodically synced data, you can use the Garmin Health API. This requires user authorization and provides HR data from Garmin’s cloud, not directly from the watch in real time.

Without a Connect IQ component, your Android app won’t be able to poll the HR sensor directly from the watch.

Docs to check out:

• Connect IQ SDK

• Companion App communication

• Garmin Health API

Hope this helps you get started!