Can Garmin watches now sync in the background on iPhone? Yes. Thanks to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Garmin watches in the EU can now sync steps, sleep, and heart rate data automatically, even when the Garmin Connect app is closed. This removes a long-standing limitation that previously favoured the Apple Watch.
For years, Garmin users on iPhone had to manually open the Garmin Connect app just to sync their data. Steps, sleep, and heart rate wouldn’t transfer unless the app was running in the background — a long-standing frustration for EU users in particular.
That annoyance is now starting to disappear.
Garmin watches in the EU are beginning to sync with iPhones even when the Garmin Connect app isn’t open, and the change appears to be a direct result of Apple complying with new European interoperability rules.
Why Garmin iPhone Syncing Is Suddenly Easier in the EU
The improvement is tied to the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a new EU regulation designed to prevent big tech companies from locking competitors out of core system features.
As part of its compliance, Apple has been forced to adjust how iOS handles:
- Bluetooth connections
- Background data transfers
- Access to system-level communication tools
These are the same tools Apple’s own devices — including the Apple Watch — have long enjoyed. Garmin now appears to be benefiting from this shift.
Garmin Watches Can Now Sync in the Background
Until recently, Garmin iPhone users had to:
- Open Garmin Connect manually
- Keep the app active in the background
- Hope iOS didn’t suspend it
Now, in EU countries, Garmin watches are increasingly syncing data automatically, even when the app isn’t actively running.
That means:
- Steps sync without manual checks
- Sleep data uploads overnight
- Heart rate and activity logs transfer passively
For many users, this removes one of the biggest usability gaps between Garmin watches and the Apple Watch on iOS.
Apple Is Treating Garmin More Like a First-Party Device
When pairing a Garmin watch on iPhone in the EU, some users now see a new system-level settings page where the device appears as a recognized accessory.
This expanded Bluetooth view includes:
- Full background sync permissions
- System-level notification access
- Deeper app integration controls
These settings are part of Apple’s recent iOS changes introduced to meet EU requirements and work alongside the existing Garmin Connect permissions screen.
In practice, iOS now handles Garmin watches much more like it does Apple’s own hardware.
There Are Still Some Limitations
Despite the improvement, iOS battery management remains strict. Not all background activity is unlimited, and behavior may still vary depending on:
- iOS version
- Garmin model
- Power-saving settings
However, early reports suggest that the need to manually open Garmin Connect just to force a sync is becoming a thing of the past — at least for EU users.
Why This Change Matters
This update isn’t just about Garmin.
It signals a broader shift in how Apple is required to support third-party wearables on iOS in Europe. If these changes expand further, it could finally level the playing field for fitness watches and health trackers that don’t carry the Apple logo.
For now, Garmin users in the EU are the clear winners.
