Make sure your workouts count everywhere you track them
You bought the smartwatch. You installed the app. But… your runs still aren’t syncing to Strava, or your calories aren’t showing up in Apple Health. Don’t worry — syncing across fitness platforms is confusing but fixable.
This guide walks you through the exact steps to get your smartwatch, fitness app, and health platform speaking the same language.
🔄 1. Understand the Sync Triangle
There are three key layers in most fitness tech setups:
- Your smartwatch or fitness tracker (Apple Watch, Garmin, Fitbit, etc.)
- The manufacturer’s companion app (Garmin Connect, Fitbit App, etc.)
- Your preferred fitness/tracking app (Strava, Apple Health, Google Fit, MyFitnessPal)
Most watches do not sync directly with apps like Strava — they go through the brand’s official app first.
⌚ 2. Apple Watch
Main app: Apple Health (and often Apple Fitness)
Syncing with:
- Strava:
- Open the Strava app → Settings → Link Other Services → Connect to Health
- Enable data sharing (Workouts, Active Energy, etc.)
- Nike Run Club:
- Automatically integrates with Apple Watch + Health
- Go to iPhone Settings → Health → Data Access → Allow NRC
- MyFitnessPal:
- Go to MyFitnessPal App → More → Apps & Devices → Connect Apple Health
- Syncs calories, workouts, and steps
⌚ 3. Garmin Devices
Main app: Garmin Connect
Syncing with:
- Strava:
- Go to Garmin Connect → More → Connected Apps → Strava → Connect
- Authorize Strava login
- TrainingPeaks:
- Same as above → Connect via Connected Apps
- Training sessions auto-sync both ways
- Apple Health (iPhone users only):
- Install HealthFit or Garmin to Apple Health Sync third-party apps to bridge data
⌚ 4. Fitbit Devices
Main app: Fitbit App (now owned by Google)
Syncing with:
- Strava:
- Go to Fitbit App → Account → Third Party Apps → Strava → Connect
- Note: syncing is one-way (Fitbit → Strava)
- Google Fit:
- Native sync if using Pixel or Wear OS watches
- Fitbit to Google Fit sync is limited (third-party tools like FitToFit may help)
- MyFitnessPal:
- Open MFP → Apps & Devices → Find Fitbit → Connect
- Syncs calorie and step data
⌚ 5. Wear OS / Android Watches
Main app: Google Fit
Syncing with:
- Strava:
- Download Strava directly on your Wear OS watch
- Log in and authorize access to Google Fit
- Nike Run Club:
- Install NRC on your phone + connect via Google Fit
- Syncs workouts and activity stats
- Samsung Health:
- Use Health Sync app to bridge Samsung Health → Google Fit or Strava
⚠️ Common Sync Problems & Fixes
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Workouts not showing in Strava | Re-authorize connection in Garmin Connect / Apple Health |
| Duplicate entries in Apple Health | Disable overlapping sources in Health app → Sources |
| Calories not syncing to MyFitnessPal | Reconnect apps and manually resync last 24h |
| Google Fit not updating | Clear cache + storage of Google Fit app, re-log |
🧠 Pro Tips
- Always open both apps (watch app + third-party app) after workouts to prompt sync
- Use only one central data source for steps and calories (e.g. Apple Health OR Fitbit) to avoid duplicates
- Allow “Background App Refresh” and “Location Access” for all fitness apps
🛠️ Helpful Tools
- HealthFit (iOS): Clean .FIT/.TCX exports from Apple Watch to Strava
- Health Sync (Android): Bridge between Google Fit, Samsung Health, Fitbit, and Strava
- SyncMyTracks (Android): Clone workouts across services like Garmin, Suunto, Polar, Endomondo
Conclusion
Syncing your fitness data isn’t always intuitive, but once set up properly, it lets you track and analyze your health across every platform that matters to you. Whether you’re training for your first 5K or just counting steps, keeping your data connected means better insights — and better results.