Garmin 235 and Windows 10 questions

1) With a Desktop or Laptop computer you will need to use Garmin Express to "sync" your watch with the computer. Note, simply having this program installed on a Windows 10 Computer will allow your watch to sync by simply connecting it thru a USB port but if you want to update the Firmware for your watch you will need to start Garmin Express to do that. BTW, simply having your watch connected and starting Gamin Express, then logging in for your device, will start the Firmware Update process if there is a new update available.

I'll also note that if you don't know what Firmware is, that is best described as the Operating System Software for your watch, sort of like Windows 10 is the Operating System for your computer but Firmware is much much more basic. Naturally there may be times when a particular Firmware update introduces a new Bug so it's advisable to wait a week or two and see what the early adopters have to say about a particular update before doing it. BTW, you can find early adopters right here. The current Firmware (5.40) seems to be pretty bug free but there are some of us who feel Garmin should introduce a Firmware Update that allows the user to decide on the Polling Interval for the Wrist Heart Rate monitor.

2) WIFI is NOT the same as Bluetooth. Bluetooth is a specific communications protocol for connecting mobile devices to each other. WIFI is a communications protocol to connect a mobile device or computer to the Internet. What the WIFI in your computer does is provide a WIFI "hotspot" in your home that allows your laptop, phone, tablet, or other mobile device to connect to the Internet using your hard wired internet connection. You can also use a Cell Phone to create a WIFI "hotspot" but when you do that DATA Limitations or Charges may apply depending on your contract with the provider. Basically using a phone to provide WIFI can get expensive so I prefer and old fashioned Hard Wire connection for this.

Now in regards to your watch and Bluetooth. If you have a Smart Phone you can download Garmin Connect Mobile and install it on your phone. Then by setting up the Bluetooth on both the phone and your watch you can then enable the two devices to communicate. You will also see that when the Connect Mobile application is running it will also sync your watch to Garmin Connect. However, to reduce the DATA impact of doing this using a Cellular connection I also have my Iphone set up to use the WIFI hotspots at my work, home, and gym. That way I'm not transmitting this DATA over my cellular connection. Basically anytime it's possible I use a trusted WIFI connection for anything that is related to the Internet, by doing this I keep from incurring overages on my allowed DATA limit and the associated costs for these overages.

Sorry if I misspoke since I do know what WiFi, Bluetooth and Firmware are. What I meant to ask is if there is a way to sync to my computer without using the USB?

Yes, via your phone - not your computer

The 235 syncs wirelessly to the Garmin Connect website when it's connected to your mobile phone - with the Garmin Connect Mobile app installed - using bluetooth. It does, however, not support WIFI (only a few Garmin models do, and the 235 is not one of them). So if you have a smart phone (AFAIK iOS, Android and Windows phone are all supported), download the Garmin Connect Mobile app, provide your Garmin account details, pair the 235 to the phone using bluetooth - and they will sync automatically. (That is to say - they should; sometimes you may have to manually re-connect them or even re-pair them, due to bugs/shortcommings, but that's a different story).

Jackielinnet

The 235 syncs wirelessly to the Garmin Connect website when it's connected to your mobile phone - with the Garmin Connect Mobile app installed - using bluetooth. It does, however, not support WIFI (only a few Garmin models do, and the 235 is not one of them). So if you have a smart phone (AFAIK iOS, Android and Windows phone are all supported), download the Garmin Connect Mobile app, provide your Garmin account details, pair the 235 to the phone using bluetooth - and they will sync automatically. (That is to say - they should; sometimes you may have to manually re-connect them or even re-pair them, due to bugs/shortcommings, but that's a different story).

I tried that but the problem is I just want to sync and not be given all my gmail messages etc.. since I check that every day already. I guess I will just have to use USB from now on.

Notifications can be disabled separately

If you (on the watch) go to Menu -> Settings -> Bluetooth -> Smart Notifications you can turn the notifications (e-mails, texts, et c) off.

You can download the mobile application via Windows App store on your windows10 computer - has the same look and feel as the mobile app (same as IPAD app probably). I think that should allow for the same bluetooth syncing - like via your phone.

I have the app at home on my laptop (installed on accident when wanting the desktop prg) - but have never tried it with bluetooth based syncing.

I did see that you can turn off notifications and forgot to do that and now I have. Also I will check the auto sync on Windows 10. I have a Garmin Nuvi already and when I upgraded to Windows 10 when it came out and tried to run Garmin connect it told me to use the app so I already have it on my computer. It says last synced 6:43 P.M. and it is now 7:45 P.M. and at 6:43 that is when I used the USB cable. Now I just went to settings on my watch and it says waiting to pair. It seems like I can't pair it to Windows 10 (when I go to pair the arc just spins around). It is paired to my Samsung tablet which paired quickly. Anyhow thanks for all the advice everyone.

You cannot use this watch with wireless bluetooth on a computer as I found out this is not compatible with the ANT stick.