Connect IQ App Development Discussion - Recent Threads

RE: Face It – option to hide data field icons

7084242 — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:56:44 GMT

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Face It – option to hide data field icons

4487734 — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 16:28:07 GMT

Add an option to hide the icon/symbol displayed next to data fields such as temperature, battery, steps, etc., while keeping the actual value visible.

This would allow users to create much cleaner and more minimalist watch faces.

Screen physical size list

zmullett — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 10:17:24 GMT

Is there anywhere I can find a canonical list of screen physical sizes for each device? i.e. in inches or cm or whatever?

It doesn't seem to be present in the SDK content (with the exception of devices that have a "ppi" entry in simulator.json that would permit a calculation)

RE: Screen physical size list

7084242 — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:29:56 GMT

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RE: Can a Connect IQ app sound an alert from the background?

jim_m_58 — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:01:38 GMT

I doubt anything will changes with is. It hasn't in yeras.

In your background service, you could pass something in Background.exit() and then the next time the main runs, perform the specific action.

Recall that a background runs every 5 minutes at most, so there is already a delay involved.

Can a Connect IQ app sound an alert from the background?

E. Rodríguez — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:59:14 GMT

Hello Connect IQ developers,

Is there a supported way for a Connect IQ watch app to produce sound and vibration at a scheduled time while it is not in the foreground—for example, while the watch face is displayed?

Can this be done through public Connect IQ APIs, or are system notifications the only supported option? Any brief guidance or examples would be appreciated.

Thank you.

CIQ startup delay in widget loop

dbrobert — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 22:19:40 GMT

In SDK 1.x devices there was a noticeable delay before the initial page for widgets was loaded, which everyone seemed to complain about (myself included at one point). This was explained as allowing for the end user to scroll through the widgets (native and Connect IQ) without noticing any lag, specifically from CIQ widgets which take longer that native widgets to load and display the intial view. With the newer devices, there still seems to be a very slight delay, where the title and launcher icon are displayed but with my fēnix 5 I do not seem to be able (no matter how hard and fast I try) to scroll past any CIQ widgets before I see the initial view. In my case, I have a CIQ widget after steps and HR so it takes three down presses to get to it. If I rapidly press the down 5 times I end up on the CIQ widget and the remaining two down presses seem to just be lost. If I reorder the CIQ widget to the bottom of the list, the rapid 5 presses, while slightly delayed, results in the display of the proper widget (in my case last sport).

Has anyone else noticed this (and found it to be annoying)? And if so, what are you doing about it?

And finally, can I get feedback from Garmin on what, if anything, the plan is on this?

Cheers,
Douglas

RE: CIQ startup delay in widget loop

7084242 — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 11:52:53 GMT

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RE: Can a Connect IQ app sound an alert from the background?

E. Rodríguez — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 11:43:40 GMT

Thank you for taking the time to explain this concern. I understand why an unidentified sound or vibration from a background app could be confusing, particularly if several apps behaved that way.

Perhaps this could be addressed by requiring every alert to display a clear message identifying the app and the reason for the alert—much like Garmin’s own alarms and timers do. With appropriate safeguards and strict requirements for when and how alerts may be triggered, this capability could also enable some genuinely useful Connect IQ apps.

Do you think Garmin might consider a controlled mechanism or approval process for this kind of clearly identified background alert? I’d be grateful for any guidance on whether something like this is possible within Connect IQ’s current rules.

RE: Does startUserReview() work?

crispgarmin — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 11:31:06 GMT

[quote userid="2397532" url="~/developer/connect-iq/f/discussion/445328/does-startuserreview-work/2068580"]Showing your own prompt before the system prompt might lead to another psychological reaction we don't discuss here: "What the ***? Are you asking me again? I already agreed. Get out of here!"[/quote]

I agree this is an unintentional consequence and could be attributing to the secondary drop-out rate - thanks for pointing this out. I still think there maybe a (common) edge case where the user commits a star value they are happy with, and is then presented with the “add more info” option from Garmin… if they subsequently don’t follow-through or cancel the additional info is the original star-rating carried through to the review? I would expect it to (it was still a valid rating) even though there was a second-part cancel.

In terms of the other discussion point in relation to the value of reviews and engaging with users, I understand Jim and others view it could be invasive or negative. However, it is 2026… Google are often prompting me to review the cafe or campsite I just stayed at and they probably have a bigger HCI budget and input from a lot of research that supports this push engagement.

For small independent developers it offers two benefits also; firstly any engagement is good engagement (well, not anonymous negative reviews) and prompting “how ya doing” is OK… it opens a door to venting or praise and we (developers) getting end-user experience is more valuable than simulators or assuming interaction patterns.

It also creates a feedback loop in that the more engagement from the users, the more the developer feels they are delivering a service and more likely to engage more time in fix/refine/improve. The user doesn’t know this is needed but dropping a solution into a void of response can be demoralising so feedback makes for better solutions.

As alluded, I track user interaction with storage booleans to not re-prompt and only ask for engagement when the user has completed a significant number of interactions to try and avoid annoying pop-ups and getting feedback at a stage it’s not really relevent. Didn’t stop a 1-* “I’m still testing” feedback… but I’ll stick with my preference of 1% feedback leading to meaningful review stats, product improvement feedback and feel-good ongoing solution engagement from myself.

Does startUserReview() work?

crispgarmin — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 07:23:34 GMT

Hi,

I implemented startUserReview() when a user has spent some time and completed a reasonable level of interaction with the app and was expecting an uptick in reviews… but don’t see any.

I tested myself and see the on-watch “stars” review screen pop-up OK and then a bit of confusion when asked if I want to enter a comment: this invokes an additional on-phone CIQ connection page which I cancelled (not allowed to review our own solutions; it’s in the T’s and Cs)… so if someone complete a “stars” review, indicates to add more info but cancels that stage, should the “stars” review still be submitted without comment?

I see nothing coming through in the reviews.

So I added an info log to a release and I see that I have 10+ people per day responding to a confirmation prompt to review which will show the startUserReview() but still nothing added to my review tallies for days and days now.

So does startUserReview() really work beyond showing the “stars” UI? I appreciate there was a several-hour timeout on CIQ yesterday but the observed pattern/question stands.

Available Slots sometime not updated after uninstall Apps/Widget/WatchFace/Data Field

Former Member — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 06:13:36 GMT

Hi,

This issue have been there for quite long time since I purchased Fenix 3 HR. As the topic title, the available slots in Connect IQ Android is not updated correctly when uninstall Apps/Widget/Watch Face/Data Field most of the time.

I have utilize all 16 slots all the while and when I found new Apps/Widget/Watch Face/Data Field at store which I want to try out. I will uninstall from Connect IQ Android. After uninstall, I checked from Connect IQ > Manage Storage. It still showing 0 in Available Slots.

I have to power off Fenix 3 HR then on back only the available storage updated correctly.

This post hopefully can open the issue to Garmin team to investigate it because it is happen very long time already.

Fenix 3 HR (Firmware) : 4.90
Connect IQ Android : 4.15.1

RE: Available Slots sometime not updated after uninstall Apps/Widget/WatchFace/Data Field

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RE: Can a Connect IQ app sound an alert from the background?

jim_m_58 — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 10:42:00 GMT

There is a reason Garmin doesn't allow this. With just a tone or vibration, there is no clue what it relates to. Imagine if there were multiple apps that did this in the background, the user would have bi idea which app caused it.

"my watch beeps at random times for no reason"

RE: Can a Connect IQ app sound an alert from the background?

E. Rodríguez — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 10:00:28 GMT

Thanks for your suggestion and for taking the time to reply. I understand that Background.requestApplicationWake() can ask the user to open the app, but requiring confirmation would not meet this use case.

Could you please let me know whether Garmin offers any special permissions, an App Approval Exception, or another authorization that might allow an app to trigger a scheduled sound and vibration automatically while running in the background, without user confirmation?

I’d be grateful for any guidance on whether this is possible through an exceptional approval process, or if it is not supported.

RE: Prevent Touch Screen Lock during Activity Recording

8075430 — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 08:14:18 GMT

I have found the solution if someone is facing the same problem:
This works for the Garmin Forerunner 170:

Hold up (middle left button)
Go to Watch settings
Go to Focus Modes
Go to Activity
Go to Touch Lock (all the way at the bottom)
Turn it off

Now all the activities (except the Garmin ones) uses these settings, it is not possible to change it per app.

Prevent Touch Screen Lock during Activity Recording

2435745 — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 13:34:25 GMT

Hi!
I'm developing an app to log tennis scores during the game while also recording activity using ActivityRecording.createSession().
Since this makes the app an activity my Vivo Active 6 automatically locks the touch screen after a few seconds and I need to unlock it with the padlock sliding motion.

Is there a way to prevent the touch screen lock programatically from my app?
Or alternatively from a system level somewhere?

RE: Can a Connect IQ app sound an alert from the background?

jim_m_58 — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 01:06:05 GMT

No, but what you can try is Background.requestApplicationWake

RE: Does startUserReview() work?

jim_m_58 — Sun, 04 Oct 2026 16:46:22 GMT

Making up stuff isn't real helpful. Not all my apps are from 10 years back, and still have 100k downloads.

The thing is I've never begged for reviews.Yet I have a bunch of contact with users.

RE: ActivityRecording orphan session after app relaunch: how can ownership be identified or safely retired?

jim_m_58 — Sun, 04 Oct 2026 16:43:43 GMT

CIQ doesn't all "resume later" Your recording is trash and won't sync.

ActivityRecording orphan session after app relaunch: how can ownership be identified or safely retired?

Drussie — Sun, 04 Oct 2026 15:30:25 GMT

For SDK 9.2.0 on a fēnix 7X-class device, suppose a watch app persists “paused,” then loses its ActivityRecording.Session reference on process termination. Native ownership/completion is unknown.

Related context only: [CIQQA-4693](forums.garmin.com/.../app-terminated-on-wrist-off-during-an-activityrecording-session-leaves-the-session-orphaned-activity-list-blocked-watch-needs-a-reboot) reports native Resume / Save / Discard choices after reboot. Does Garmin support that recovery/retirement flow when the original ActivityRecording.Session handle is lost, an unclosed native recording may still exist, local app metadata survives, and ownership cannot be proven? Please specify safe preconditions and target guarantees. This report does not establish that a fēnix 7X is in the same state or that Resume/Save/Discard is safe in this scenario.

The [createSession documentation](developer.garmin.com/.../ActivityRecording.html describes create-or-return behavior. Before designing any recovery action, could Garmin clarify:

1. Can the app tell whether the returned Session is new or previously unclosed, including a stopped Session?
2. Is there a stable, non-mutating native ID to persist and compare after relaunch, with an ownership or FIT-file binding?
3. Is there an existing-only query/enumeration without createSession? Does timer OFF exclude unclosed native data?
4. What supported preservation/save/discard/retirement procedure is safe when the original handle is lost and ownership is unproved? What establishes target scope and completion after failure/interruption?
5. Can createSession used as a probe allocate, bind/adopt or otherwise affect native state?
6. What happens across Storage clear, reinstall/update or a same-UUID replacement build?
7. What checkpoint/recovery architecture handles native save succeeding while Storage confirmation fails?

Please specify device/firmware limits and authoritative guarantees. Current start time, profile ID, history or a false isRecording value should not be assumed to prove ownership/closure without a documented relationship.

No personal files or identifiers are needed. No recovery experiment is proposed.

ActivityRecording orphan session after app relaunch: how can ownership be identified or safely retired?

Drussie — Sun, 04 Oct 2026 15:07:46 GMT

Related context only: CIQQA-4693 reports native Resume / Save / Discard choices after reboot. Does Garmin support that recovery/retirement flow when the original ActivityRecording.Session handle is lost, an unclosed native recording may still exist, local app metadata survives, and ownership cannot be proven? Please specify safe preconditions and target guarantees. This report does not establish that a fēnix 7X is in the same state or that Resume/Save/Discard is safe in this scenario.

The createSession documentation describes create-or-return behavior. Before designing any recovery action, could Garmin clarify:

Can the app tell whether the returned Session is new or previously unclosed, including a stopped Session?
Is there a stable, non-mutating native ID to persist and compare after relaunch, with an ownership or FIT-file binding?
Is there an existing-only query/enumeration without createSession? Does timer OFF exclude unclosed native data?
What supported preservation/save/discard/retirement procedure is safe when the original handle is lost and ownership is unproved? What establishes target scope and completion after failure/interruption?
Can createSession used as a probe allocate, bind/adopt or otherwise affect native state?
What happens across Storage clear, reinstall/update or a same-UUID replacement build?
What checkpoint/recovery architecture handles native save succeeding while Storage confirmation fails?

No personal files or identifiers are needed. No recovery experiment is proposed.

RE: Prevent Touch Screen Lock during Activity Recording

8075430 — Sat, 03 Oct 2026 15:07:03 GMT

Hi,

Has someone luck fixing this?

I have bought the Forerunner 170 to test this.
The Touch Lock is off in general settings, but it instantly happens when starting my app.

Currently the user can choose between activity type generic or indoor running.
I have set the touch-lock off for the Run activity via the connect app, but still my app has touch-lock active.

It is quite annoying that only for the garmin activities it is possible to set touch-lock on/off.
Or maybe I am missing something?

RE: Does startUserReview() work?

2203083 — Sat, 03 Oct 2026 08:36:31 GMT

OK, sorry for assuming you were incorrectly using that enum.

Showing your own prompt before the system prompt might lead to another psychological reaction we don't discuss here: "What the ***? Are you asking me again? I already agreed. Get out of here!".

[quote userid="843114" url="~/developer/connect-iq/f/discussion/445328/does-startuserreview-work/2068533"]also see other apps logging 5* commented reviews with one-word review patterns[/quote]

This was discussed recently. Most likely, there's some sort of review manipulation going on here: either bots are at work, or a "free key in exchange for a five-star review" scheme is in place.

Both are expressly prohibited by the rules, but Garmin is simply ignoring these violations - just as it's ignored my numerous reports of issues, backed by clear evidence that 5-star reviews without any text for the same apps were left from the same set of accounts. They don't even react to outright offensive user review like "everyone who reads this is ...". I'm just fed up with this.

[quote userid="3042" url="~/developer/connect-iq/f/discussion/445328/does-startuserreview-work/2068468"]One with 750,000 downloads and 179 reviews[/quote]

While acknowledging your immense contribution to this forum, I think you were just lucky that you were able to jump on board when the store was empty and get recognition.

That bizarre reviews to downloads ratio tells me only one thing: you have an extremely high deletion rate. People see your apps at the top (where they got to precisely because of the lack of competition at the start), download and install them, but, not finding anything interesting in them, simply silently delete them.

And yes, I know you get enough donations to buy every new Garmin device that comes out almost every month, but that doesn't disprove the high uninstall rate theory.

RE: Does startUserReview() work?

crispgarmin — Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:09:19 GMT

[quote userid="2397532" url="~/developer/connect-iq/f/discussion/445328/does-startuserreview-work/2068516"]No, you can't know that.[/quote]

I can know that… to *my* prompt that I use in association with a call to makeTokenReviewRequest and callback… I can’t know how many decline once in the process but 10+ per day accepting the *my* review prompt resulting in no/few actual reviews publically logged allows a legitimate question to be raised.

With 120+ reviews at 4.6% I’m super pleased with logged responses but also see other apps logging 5* commented reviews with one-word review patterns very out-of-sync with other review patterns that give me little confidence in the process