You open Runna after a solid morning run, expecting your Garmin data to show up. But nothing. The app sits there, empty, like your workout never happened. It’s frustrating, especially when you’ve been tracking your training progress closely.
This sync issue between Runna and Garmin is something many runners face. And the fix is usually simpler than you think.
In this post, you’ll learn what causes this sync failure, why it happens, and how to get your apps talking to each other again.
What Does This Sync Problem Actually Mean?
When Runna doesn’t sync with Garmin, your workout data stays stuck on one side. Your Garmin watch records your run, sends it to Garmin Connect, but Runna never receives it. This breaks the chain of communication between the two apps.
The connection between Runna and Garmin relies on something called an API. Think of it like a bridge that lets the apps share information. If that bridge has a crack or a block somewhere, your data can’t cross over. The result is missing workouts, incomplete training logs, and plans that don’t update properly.
Leaving this unfixed can mess with your training in a few ways:
- Missed workout tracking: Runna uses your completed runs to adjust future training sessions. Without synced data, your plan won’t adapt correctly.
- Inaccurate progress reports: Your weekly and monthly summaries will have gaps, making it hard to see how far you’ve come.
- Duplicate entries: Sometimes, trying to fix the problem can create double entries if done wrong, which clutters your training history.
Most of the time, this issue comes down to permissions, outdated apps, or a hiccup in how the two services connect. The good news is that you can usually fix it yourself in a few minutes.
Runna Not Syncing With Garmin: Likely Causes
Before jumping into fixes, it helps to know what might be going wrong. Understanding the cause makes the solution stick better and helps you avoid the same problem later.
1. Permission Settings Got Changed or Blocked
Runna needs permission to access your Garmin Connect data. If you recently updated your phone, changed privacy settings, or did a factory reset, those permissions might have been turned off without you knowing.
Your phone’s operating system can sometimes reset app permissions after updates. This is a safety feature, but it can break connections between fitness apps.
Even a small change in your Garmin Connect privacy settings can stop Runna from pulling your data. Garmin lets you control which third party apps can see your activities, and if Runna got removed from that list, the sync stops.
2. One or Both Apps Need an Update
App developers push updates regularly to fix bugs and improve how their apps connect with others. If you’re running an old version of Runna or Garmin Connect, the sync might fail because the apps are speaking different “languages.”
This happens more often than you’d expect. An update on Garmin’s side might change something small in how data gets shared, and if Runna hasn’t updated to match, the sync breaks.
3. A Temporary Connection Glitch
Sometimes the sync just… fails. No clear reason. The servers might have hiccuped, your internet might have dropped for a split second during the sync, or the app just had a bad moment.
These random glitches are common with any app that relies on internet connections to share data. They usually fix themselves, but sometimes they need a little push from you.
4. Garmin Connect Itself Has a Problem
Runna pulls data from Garmin Connect, not directly from your watch. So if Garmin Connect isn’t receiving data from your watch properly, Runna has nothing to sync with.
You might notice this if your recent run shows up on your watch but not in the Garmin Connect app on your phone. The chain breaks early, and Runna never even gets a chance to grab the data.
This can happen if Garmin Connect hasn’t synced with your watch via Bluetooth, or if Garmin’s servers are having issues. Both situations block the flow of data before it reaches Runna.
5. The Account Link Got Disconnected
When you first set up Runna, you connected it to your Garmin account. That link can break over time. Password changes, account security updates, or even logging out of one app can sever the connection.
Once the link breaks, Runna no longer has the “key” to access your Garmin data. Everything looks normal on the surface, but behind the scenes, the apps aren’t connected anymore.
Runna Not Syncing With Garmin: How to Fix
Now that you know what might be causing the problem, let’s walk through the fixes. Start from the top and work your way down until your sync starts working again.
1. Check and Reset App Permissions
Head into your phone’s settings and find the app permissions section. Look for Runna and make sure it has permission to access health or fitness data. On iPhones, this is under Settings > Privacy > Health. On Android, check Settings > Apps > Runna > Permissions.
While you’re at it, open Garmin Connect and go to the settings menu. Look for “Connected Apps” or “Third Party Apps” and confirm that Runna is listed and enabled. If it’s missing, you’ll need to reconnect the apps from within Runna’s settings.
After checking both, try syncing again. Give it a minute or two since sometimes the data takes a moment to flow through.
2. Update Both Apps
Open your phone’s app store and check for updates. Update Garmin Connect first, then update Runna. The order matters because Garmin Connect handles the data source, and you want that running smoothly before Runna tries to access it.
Once both apps are updated, restart your phone. This clears any background processes that might interfere with the fresh updates.
3. Disconnect and Reconnect the Apps
This fix works like unplugging a cable and plugging it back in. It resets the connection from scratch.
In Runna, go to Settings and find the section for connected devices or apps. Disconnect Garmin. Then, in Garmin Connect, go to Connected Apps and remove Runna from there too.
Now reconnect them. Open Runna, go back to the connection settings, and link your Garmin account again. You’ll need to log in to Garmin and approve the connection. After that, trigger a manual sync and wait for your data to appear.
4. Force a Sync in Garmin Connect
Sometimes Garmin Connect holds onto data without sending it out. You can nudge it to sync by pulling down on the main screen of the app. This refreshes the data and pushes any pending syncs to connected apps.
If that doesn’t work, try syncing your watch to Garmin Connect first. Open Garmin Connect, make sure Bluetooth is on, and wait for your watch to connect. Once your latest activity appears in Garmin Connect, try the Runna sync again.
5. Reinstall Both Apps
If nothing else has worked, a clean install can clear out corrupted files or stuck settings that are causing problems.
Start by deleting Runna from your phone. Then delete Garmin Connect. Before reinstalling, restart your phone to clear the memory.
Download Garmin Connect first and set it up. Make sure your watch syncs properly and your activities appear. Then download Runna and connect it to Garmin fresh. This approach gives you the cleanest possible setup and often fixes stubborn sync issues that other methods miss.
6. Contact Support
If you’ve tried everything above and your sync still won’t work, it’s time to reach out for help. Contact Runna’s support team through the app or their website. They can look at your account on their end and spot issues you can’t see.
You might also want to contact Garmin support if the problem seems to be on their side. Have your account details ready and be prepared to describe what you’ve already tried. Support teams work faster when they know you’ve done the basic troubleshooting.
Sometimes the problem is a known bug that’s being fixed, or there’s a server issue that’s affecting multiple users. The support teams will have that information and can tell you if you just need to wait for a patch.
Wrapping Up
Sync problems between Runna and Garmin usually come down to permissions, outdated apps, or a broken connection between accounts. The fixes are straightforward, and most runners get things working again within a few minutes of troubleshooting.
Keep both apps updated going forward, and check your connected apps settings every few months. A little maintenance prevents these headaches from popping up during important training blocks. Your data is valuable, so it’s worth making sure it flows smoothly between your favorite running tools.