Switching to a new device

The way I've always done it (and it seems to work well for me), is I simply delete the old watch in Garmin Connect, and then add the new watch after that.

I think turning on Physio TrueUp is the best way to get as much of your fitness metrics sync'd from the old device to the new one, but personally I'm not really that familiar with how it works.

No, you can't really backup and restore the watch like that. You can copy files off the watch onto your PC, and you can fairly easily restore some of them onto the exact same type of watch, but if it's a different kind of watch (ie, copying files from a F6 onto a F7) then most of the files will be incompatible, other than maps and courses and recorded activity .fit files and such. Settings files and other data are unlikely to copy over correctly, and might mess up the new watch.

My suggestion: Just start the new watch as a "clean slate". Go through it and configure your settings the way you like them, configure your activities, etc. It'll be easier if you still have your old watch to use as a visual reference while you're setting up the new one. You can copy over your old recorded activity recording .fit files and course .fit files, custom map .img files you might have, etc, but I wouldn't copy anything else over.

Also, make sure you update the firmware on your new watch before you do anything.

It’s always best to set up a new watch from scratch. Work through all the menus and discover what’s new and interesting. As noted PhysioTrueUp will bring physiological metrics over. But apart from that set the watch up from scratch. I’d go further and suggest you use the watch without adding anything from external sources until you are confident it’s working as you want. 

I would say it doesn't matter if you first delete your old watch and then connect new one, or connect new one and then delete (you even don't need to delete the old one).

Important is:

- activate Physio True up

- set the new watch as "Preferred activity tracker"

I also agree with above advices - don't copy settings between two watches and set it manually from scratch. With copy of setting files you can get unnecessary issues.

I recently done a couple of switches without problems ( F6X - F7X solar - F6X - F7XSS) 

This is how I did it a few days ago when my F7 arrived.  No problems at all.

A good guide that works.
www.reddit.com/.../

I have done it and also explained it multiple times. To transfer everything that is transferable do this:

• sync 945 to Garmin Connect

• turn off 945

• turn on fenix 7ss

• pair it

• set it as a main activity tracker

• sync

• if you will ever use 945, you dont have to remove it, if you wont use it, you can remove it at this step.

• done

1) Physio True up enabled in your F6 (keeps physiological data in sync*)

2) Sync your F6 with GC

3) Pair & set up your F7

4) Set your F7 as preferred activity tracker

5) Discover and learn the F7 menu

6) Enjoy your new gadget

*The following data can be shared across compatible products and kept in sync with Physio TrueUp:

• VO2 max
• FTP and Power Zones
• Recovery Time
  • Recovery Time will only update when Physio TrueUp is enabled on all devices.
• Training Load
  • For accounts with both Edge cycling computers and watches, make sure to sync the Edge before starting any new activity on it. Failing to do this will cause the 7-Day Training Load to differ between the Edge, watches, and/or the Garmin Connect Training Status page.
• Training Load Focus
• Heat/Altitude Acclimation
• Race Predictor
• Last Activity/Sport Widget
• Last Run/Ride/Swim Widgets
• Weekly and Monthly totals
• Sleep¹

     ^{Source > support.garmin.com/.../}

THANKS TO YOU ALL ! 

I also used these steps to move from Fenix 5 plus to epix gen2.. But also enabled Physio Trueup on the new device to make sure devices would sync continuously. Then after couple of days using the new device and validation everything has been transferred you can safely remove the old device.

Is there anybody who switched from F7 with beta firmware to Fenix 7Pro? Does the F7Pro load previously saved backup (with recent beta firmware) from F7?