Garmin's Connect articles put most missing workouts down to display, not loss. In the Garmin Connect calendar, filters decide which categories show: in the app open Calendar, tap the filter icon, choose Filter Calendar and tick the categories you want; on the web use Filter by Category. Items appear only after the watch has synced, so first check the sync: Bluetooth on, a green dot on the Home screen and the syncing animation.
If an activity never appeared, restart both devices and remove and re-add the watch. Garmin's activity profile article covers profiles missing on the watch. Saved activities stay on the watch until they upload, so do not factory reset before a sync. Indoor profiles disable GPS by default, which can make a run look short or without a map. Garmin's Back Up and Restore feature keeps settings but not the activity history itself.
Differential
Likely causes of “Garmin watches workout or activity was not recorded correctly”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A calendar filter is hiding activities
What separates it The activity is in Garmin Connect but not the calendar
How to confirm Change the filter categories, and look again in Garmin Connect
- 2
The watch has not synced
What separates it Steps and workouts are missing because the watch has not synced
How to confirm Sync and confirm the green dot, and look again
- 3
The activity was not saved on the watch
What separates it Nothing was recorded because the activity was not saved on the watch
How to confirm Start and save the activity on the watch
- 4
An indoor profile
What separates it There is no map or distance because an indoor profile was used
How to confirm Use an outdoor profile for GPS, and record again
- 5
A reset before syncing
What separates it The history is gone because of a reset before syncing
How to confirm Restore settings from backup; activities may be lost
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Which activity, date and profile is missing
- Whether the watch shows it in its own history
- Whether the app shows a green sync dot
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCheck the watch history
ReversibleCheck the watch history, by looking for the activity in the watch's history list, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Sync
ReversibleSync, by opening Garmin Connect and waiting for the sync animation to finish, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check filters
ReversibleCheck filters, by opening Calendar, Filter, and ticking the categories that you want, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Restart both
ReversibleRestart both, by restarting the watch and the phone, and sync again, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Re-add the watch
ReversibleRe add the watch, by removing and re adding it in Garmin Connect, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check the profile
ReversibleCheck the profile, and confirm that you used an outdoor profile for GPS, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Contact Garmin
ReversibleContact Garmin, and if it stays missing, contact Garmin Support with the serial number, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Storage by model
- Garmin's manuals list up to 32 GB of media storage on the Forerunner 965 and up to 8 GB on the Forerunner 265; activity history is stored separately and syncs to Garmin Connect.
- Backups by model
- Garmin says only select watches support Back Up and Restore; search System Settings in your owner's manual.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models Forerunner 965, Forerunner 265, Venu 3/3S, vívoactive 5, Instinct 2X Solar, S70.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the activity is on the watch and never uploads, contact Garmin Support
- !If it is missing from both, check whether it was saved
- !If a reset removed it, contact Garmin, and give them the serial number
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Calendar filters in the app and on the web.
The green dot, restart and re-add.
What backups keep and what they do not.
Why an indoor profile records no distance.
The company and its wearables line.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why is my activity not in Garmin Connect?+
It may not have synced or a calendar filter may hide it.
How do I show more on the calendar?+
Open Calendar, tap the filter icon and tick the categories, per Garmin.
Is my history in the backup?+
Garmin's backup keeps settings, not your full activity history.
Why is distance missing from a run?+
Garmin lists an indoor profile with GPS off, a disconnected sensor and incorrect GPS settings among the causes; use an outdoor profile or check the sensor menu.
Can I recover an activity that only exists on the watch?+
Sync it first. Garmin Connect only shows what has uploaded, so do not reset or remove the watch from your account before the sync completes.
Should I reset to fix it?+
No, do not reset to fix it, and sync first.
Why is there no map?+
Indoor profiles disable GPS by default.
Can I see it on the web?+
Yes, you can see it on the web, in Calendar, Filter by Category.
Does the green dot matter?+
Yes, it shows the watch is syncing.
How long does a sync take?+
A few seconds to a minute with a connected phone.