Step counter only updates with Connect open

I’d do a hard reset on the watch.  Garmin Connect doesn’t need to be open, the watch will hold about 30 days worth of data without needing to be synced. If you want them to sync in the background, make sure you give the app permission to run in the in the background.  The watch doesn’t need the app to collect it’s data but just won‘t update the app until you sync.

To do a hard reset, hold the A button down until the watch turns off (past any assistance notifications), about 10 seconds.  Wait a few seconds then press the A button to turn it back on.

The hard reset changes nothing. My app has background syncing on. It apparently does need the app to collect its data because it does not update on the watch on its own 

Seriously this makes no sense.  You’re saying if the app is closed your watch shows 0 steps for the day?  As long as activity tracking is turned on in the app it will track and hold all the data for HR, steps, sleep, respiration, stress.  Make sure you didn’t accidentally turn that off in the app under your device, activity tracking.  You can even turn off bluetooth and the watch should continue tracking everything.

If this is on, sounds like a faulty watch to me as this is not how they work.  I’d exchange it or contact support.garmin.com and do a chat.

Doubled checked everything is on like it should be & it seems like it is. It will update randomly but mostly it will show me the same step count as I’m walking around trying to check how many steps I’ve taken. Once in a while it will show me an updated number several minutes later but mainly updates after I open the app. So yes it does record data but only displays it with a massive delay. 
It really makes no sense to me either. I was hoping maybe I was just missing something simple but maybe it is just a glitchy watch. 

Mine started doing the same thing today.

All, 

If you have an iPhone, please make sure the app is running in the background if you want your steps to continually update on the app (Some Garmin Connect App Features Are Not Working On My iOS Device). You may also need to tug down on your My Day page to refresh the screen after it syncs over step data from your watch. 

Same. On Android. Restarted, latest firmware etc. Watch was working perfectly until about 4 days ago I started noticing the step counter wasn't tracking. It only updates steps on the watch face when I click the "sync" icon in the connect app.