Side loading is not supported any more

I've been using GE since back in the days you used an ANT stick to sync with a device, and to be honest, I find it more stable and reliable than the mobile app.

jim_m_58 said:

Having GE installed doesn't seem like too much of a burden for me.  If I give someone a sideload only to other folks I know use GE, and even then, It's been a few months since I sent one.

People are still complaining about glances being reordered and settings being changed when downloading maps or syncing via Garmin Express.

GE is great as long as you don't use it.

peterdedecker said:

The best way would be if the delete through garmin apps is not needed at all to install a new version. If the sideload would be overwritten properly nearly nobody would use garmin express or garmin connect iq to delete the sideload. 

Except there's still a hardcoded limit to the number of CIQ apps that can be installed, so especially if you're a developer (or just someone who likes to sideload apps that aren't available for your device), you want the ability to delete stuff.

flocsy🤠 said:

That would give too much credit to Garmin's strategists IMHO. I think it's more likely it got screwed in some build, nobody noticed in-house, and by the time the Garmin developers got reports about it they've been told not to waste their time on fixing it.

Yeah this is probably the kind of bug where the fix itself would take 5 minutes, but the surrounding discussion about whether to fix it or not would be hours or days.

jim_m_58 said:

I've been using GE since back in the days you used an ANT stick to sync with a device, and to be honest, I find it more stable and reliable than the mobile app.

Regardless, most normal Garmin users will never install Garmin Express.

Most normal Garmin users will never use a sideload.

jim_m_58 said:

Most normal Garmin users will never use a sideload.

Fair. Most normal users don't care about CIQ, either.

Even as a dev, I would never use GE except when I'm forced to. (Deleting sideloads, and in some rare cases, maybe downloading a big map that's taking too long over wi-fi.)

see also: forums.garmin.com/.../bug-regression-can-t-delete-side-loaded-apps-from-connect-iq

peterdedecker said:

I'd say The fact that the overwrite of the sideload has become so difficult is pretty annoying though.  (Seperate delete needed, Connect cable twice... )

Are you all using Windows? If so, this might be the one (and only) advantage for those of us developing under MacOS. For me, I have to use Android File Transfer to copy my sideloads over, but when I do, it overwrites the previous sideload everytime without fail. No need to use GE to delete and no other extra steps. 

Another email from Garmin product team:

"Side loading apps maybe a tool you are using as a developer, but it is not meant to be used by everyone, so it is not surprising that the IQ app is not working to remove the app, since it was not used to upload it in the first place. I am not sure if there was some kind of accountment or change or not, as a product support agent I am not sure when or if they make updates for developers. You might try looking for more info here. https://developer.garmin.com/ or get more support here https://www.garmin.com/en-US/forms/developercontactus/"

So here it is, now officially: the left hand doesn't know what the right hand does...

For CIQ developer related stuff, you want to post in the CIQ Bug Reports forum and not use the General Garmin Support. 

For the CIQ mobile app, you can post in one of those forums, but CIQ bug reports may still be the best option.