Which Garmin watches can't work with RunBeat?
An iPhone has no ANT+ radio, so a Garmin watch that broadcasts over ANT+ only cannot connect to any iPhone app. No setting, app, or firmware update changes that. It's a hardware limit, not a RunBeat one.
These are the confirmed ANT+ only models:
- Forerunner 45 and 45 Plus
- Forerunner 230 and 235
- Forerunner 645 and 645 Music
- Forerunner 935
- fenix 3
- fenix 5 and 5S
- fenix 5 Plus (all sizes)
- vívoactive 3 and 3 Music
- vívoactive HR
- Venu (first generation)
- Instinct (first generation)
The epix (Gen 1) and Lily 2 have no heart rate broadcast feature at all.
Will a chest strap fix an ANT+ only Garmin watch?
Yes. Any Bluetooth chest strap works with RunBeat, including Garmin's own HRM-Dual, HRM-Pro, HRM 200, and HRM 600. Wear the strap, then pair it in RunBeat under HR Monitor.
RunBeat reads any monitor that supports the standard Bluetooth heart rate profile, so you're not limited to Garmin straps. Polar, Wahoo, COROS, Scosche, and COOSPO all work.
If your HRM 200 or HRM 600 won't pair, check its connection type. Secure is encrypted and may not pair with third-party apps. Set it to Open, which is what Garmin recommends for connecting to apps. You'll find it in Garmin Connect under the strap's settings.
Garmin chest strap setup
Still not showing up?
- Check the watch, not Garmin Connect. Broadcast Heart Rate is a watch setting and toggling it in the phone app does nothing
- Close other apps that may be holding the connection, such as Zwift, Peloton, or another training app
- Keep the watch on your wrist and stay within about 30 feet of your iPhone
- If nothing appears after a minute, your watch is almost certainly ANT+ only. Pair a Bluetooth chest strap instead