Garmin smartwatches have evolved into sophisticated devices packed with capabilities that extend far beyond basic timekeeping and activity tracking. Many users, however, barely scratch the surface of what these powerful wearables can do. The difference between a casual Garmin owner and a power user often comes down to knowledge of features tucked away in menus or activated through gestures that aren't immediately obvious.
These hidden functions can transform your Garmin experience, making your watch more intuitive, more useful, and better suited to your specific needs. This guide explores seven underrated Garmin features that could revolutionize how you use your device daily.
1. Palm Cover to Return to Watch Face
When navigating deep within your Garmin’s menu system, there’s a simple gesture that instantly returns you to the main watch face without repeatedly pressing the back button. By covering the entire screen with your palm for a moment, your watch immediately exits whatever menu you’re in and returns to the watch face.
This feature serves a dual purpose: it provides quick navigation back to your starting point and turns off the backlight, helping conserve battery power. It’s particularly helpful when you need to return to your main display without fumbling with multiple button presses, especially during workouts or outdoor activities.
2. Customizable Hot Keys and Shortcuts
Garmin allows you to set up personalized button shortcuts, also known as "hot keys," to quickly access frequently used functions. This feature dramatically improves efficiency by allowing you to program specific button combinations for quick actions.
For example, you can set a long press of the back button to bring up timers, activate a flashlight, or even mark a GPS location. Some users creatively use this to mark where they parked their car—an elegant solution to a common problem. To configure hot keys, navigate to System > Settings > Hot Keys or Shortcuts on your device.
3. Enhanced GPS Accuracy with Multiple Satellite Networks
Most Garmin users settle for the default GPS settings, unaware that they can significantly improve location tracking accuracy by enabling multiple satellite networks. Instead of relying solely on the American GPS system, you can also connect to GLONASS (Russian) and Galileo (European) networks for improved positioning.
This setting enhances tracking accuracy, particularly in dense forests, cities with tall buildings, or mountainous terrain. To activate this feature, press START/STOP, select an activity, then go to GPS settings and choose your preferred satellite combination. While this option consumes slightly more battery, it provides more reliable data for serious athletes and adventurers.
4. Incident Detection for Safety
Garmin’s Incident Detection feature is a potentially life-saving tool that automatically detects falls or sudden impacts and sends your real-time location to emergency contacts.
When triggered, the watch initiates a countdown timer—if you don’t respond, it assumes you’re in distress and automatically notifies your emergency contacts. This feature is particularly useful for runners, cyclists, and hikers who often train alone. To enable it, configure your contacts in the Garmin Connect app under Safety & Tracking settings.
5. Garmin Share for Direct Watch-to-Watch Transfers
Garmin Share allows you to transfer locations, routes, and workouts directly between compatible Garmin watches—without requiring a phone or internet connection.
This is incredibly useful when meeting friends for a trail run, hike, or bike ride. Instead of explaining a route, you can send it directly to another Garmin user. To share, access the item (such as a course or waypoint), look for the Share option, and select a nearby Garmin device.
6. Connect IQ Custom Data Fields
Garmin’s Connect IQ store offers specialized data fields that can significantly enhance your training insights. Instead of relying only on pre-installed options, you can download custom metrics for better performance tracking.
For example:
- Peter's (Racer) Pacer lets you correct race distances manually to adjust for GPS inaccuracies.
- Rolling Average Pace provides a smoother pace reading to help with consistent effort during training.
To use custom fields, download them from the Connect IQ store via the Garmin Connect app, then add them under Activity Settings > Data Screens on your watch.
7. Map Settings and Overlays for Enhanced Navigation
For Garmin watches with mapping functionality, adjusting map overlays can transform your navigation experience.
One of the best settings is Terrain + Elevation Overlay, which provides a real-time visual of hills and valleys along your route. This is especially useful for trail runners and hikers. Some watches also suggest popular running routes based on community data, helping you discover the best paths in unfamiliar areas.
To adjust these settings, start an activity, hold the menu button, and navigate to Map Settings to explore different overlays.
Conclusion
Your Garmin device contains dozens of features you might not be using—capabilities that can make your experience more convenient, efficient, and tailored to your lifestyle.
From simple shortcuts like the palm gesture to return to the watch face to sophisticated tools like incident detection and custom data fields, these seven features showcase how much power is packed into modern Garmin wearables. Take some time to explore these settings, tweak your device, and unlock the full potential of your smartwatch.