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Garmin Instinct Solar not syncing with Garmin Explore app

Former Member
Former Member over 2 years ago

Hi guys,

I got a Garmin Instinct Solar and it's been really great so far. It works no problem with the Garmin Connect app. But if I try to sync it with Garmin Explore app, it just won't do it. It keeps saying that it failed. I removed the watch and re added it to the app, I tried deleting the app and reinstalling it, still no change. Any ideas? I'd like to try to use it but maybe instead I should use the website version to create my courses. I'm running out of ideas here with the Explore app. Thanks.

  • +1 over 2 years ago

    I am sorry there is an issue. Currently, activities that have synced to your Connect  Mobile APP first will not retroactively sync or transfer to  your Explore APP. We are working on ways of improving this and suggest this workaround.

    Workaround:

    Before you start an activity, open the Explore APP and ensure your watch is Connected and Synced on the Devices tab of the app

    - Start the activity on your watch.

    - At this point, your phone can be put away and/or disconnected from your watch.

    - When finished with the activity, Save your activity.

    - Open the Explore APP and ensure your watch syncs successfully on the Devices tab.

    - View the activity in Explore APP.

    For any previous activities that haven't synced to Explore app, you can log into connect.garmin.com, export your activities, then import them into either the Garmin Explore website or the Garmin Explore app.

    This Support Center article has steps to export from Connect: How Do I Export Data Out of Garmin Connect?

    This Support Center article has steps to import to Explore: Importing GPX Files in the Garmin Explore App

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 2 years ago in reply to Garmin - Chris

    What’s really the difference between the two apps when it comes to creating courses? The Explore app is off line I’m guessing? You can download maps and create courses anywhere at anytime? I can create courses in the Connect app as well and that works and syncs no problem. I was dealing with tech support, submitted log files and they said my watch was faulty and needs replacing. I don’t see how that would be a watch issue but that’s what they said. But I’m not going  to bother because like I mentioned I can create courses through the Connect app but I guess I just can’t do it if I have no signal on my phone? Is that the main difference? 

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Former Member

    If you can use the Connect Mobile APP or Connect web to create a new course and sync to your watch ahead of time, it has improved functionality since it helps your course snap to the roads creating it.

    If I am hiking rural, I often make new courses on our Explore website first and sync them over. On the Explore APP side, I frequently use the Explore APP to see a larger map on my iPhone (vs. zooming in on my watch) when hiking. It is nice being able to download multiple versions of maps, at no cost, then seeing my location offline using my phone anytime.

    Addressing your questions. A benefit of the Explore APP is it allows a course or new saved location/waypoint to be made regardless if your phone has cellular data and is within range of a cell tower. Your smartphone is your computer and your Explore APP is using Bluetooth to send them to your watch.

    Regarding mapping, If you like the idea of having multiple maps you can view offline on your smartphone, download mapping where you need it in your Explore APP to use later with your watch.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 2 years ago in reply to Garmin - Chris

    Ok thanks for the info. I don’t think I’ll be using the explore app. So I won’t bother exchanging the watch and going through the hassle especially if it takes 5-10 days and I already have a screen protector on it that I would lose.