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| Garmin Connect is soon to receive a range of new features. |
If you own a Garmin smartwatch, you already know the Garmin Connect app is the command center for all your fitness data. But let’s be honest—until now, the social side of things has felt a little… clunky. Confirming friend requests just to see someone’s weekend long run? That’s about to change.
According to a detailed new report from Garmin Rumors, the company is rolling out a significant update to Garmin Connect, focusing on three big areas: social features, privacy controls, and training structure. And yes, there’s even talk of a potential subscription tier.
Let’s break down everything we know.
Goodbye, Friend Requests. Hello, Followers.
The most immediate change you’ll notice is the shift from a two-way friend system to a more familiar follower model. Instead of waiting for someone to accept your request before you can see their activities, you’ll soon be able to unilaterally follow other accounts.
- If two people follow each other, they’ll still be considered “friends” (just like before).
- If it’s one-way, you’ll simply see their public or shared data without requiring reciprocity.
This brings Garmin Connect in line with platforms like Strava and Instagram, making it much easier to follow inspiring athletes, coaches, or casual running buddies without the awkward “do they accept me?” waiting game.
Live Tracking Gets a Social Upgrade
Garmin’s LiveTrack and GroupTrack features are powerful—they let friends and family see your real-time location during a run or bike ride. But in the new update, these tools will be fully integrated into the follower system.
That means:
- You can quickly share a LiveTrack session with all your followers (or specific ones).
- GroupTrack will become more seamless when training with friends who follow you back.
For safety-conscious runners or cyclists who want a trusted network to know where they are, this is a huge win. No more manually sending links every time you head out.
“Authorized Viewer” – Perfect for Coaches and Accountability Partners
One of the most intriguing additions is a new role called Authorized Viewer. This isn’t just a follower—it’s someone you grant full read access to your collected health and performance data.
Who would use this?
- Personal trainers or online coaches who need to monitor your progress.
- Training partners who want to compare metrics like VO2 max, sleep quality, or weekly mileage.
- Family members helping with health goals.
The authorized viewer can see everything from your heart rate trends to your recovery times, without needing your login credentials. It’s a game-changer for remote coaching.
Smarter Privacy Settings – You’re in Control
With more sharing options comes a need for finer privacy controls. Garmin is reportedly developing improved privacy settings that let you fine-tune exactly who sees what.
Expect to set different permissions for:
- Individual activities (e.g., “only followers” or “only friends”)
- Health stats (sleep, HRV, blood oxygen)
- Live location during workouts
- Your profile and badges
For parents, there’s good news: children’s accounts will have only very limited access to these social features. That makes sense for Garmin’s popular kid-friendly watches like the Vivofit Jr. series.
Structured Training Plans for Every Skill Level
Beyond social changes, Garmin is also revamping how training plans work inside the app. The new system will categorize plans into three clear tiers:
- Beginner – Perfect for new runners or those returning after a long break. Focus on consistency and injury prevention.
- Challenger – For intermediate athletes who want to push pace or distance but don’t need elite-level volume.
- Achiever – Advanced plans for experienced users targeting PRs, marathons, or competitive events.
Users will be able to set difficulty levels and specific goals (e.g., “improve 5K time by 2 minutes” or “complete a half-marathon without walking”), and the app will tailor the plan accordingly. This moves Garmin closer to what apps like Runna or TrainAsONE offer, but integrated directly into your watch’s ecosystem.
Nutrition Tracking Gets a Workflow Refresh
Let’s be real—logging food in Garmin Connect has never been as smooth as in dedicated apps like MyFitnessPal. But that appears to be changing. The update aims to improve the nutrition tracking workflow, making it quicker to log meals, scan barcodes, and view macro breakdowns.
While details are light, it’s likely Garmin will borrow some interface cues from popular calorie counters. The goal? Keep you from needing a second app just to see how your dinner affects your next morning’s run.
The Elephant in the Room: Will This Cost Money?
Here’s the question everyone is asking. Garmin has long offered Connect as a free service, unlike competitors like Whoop or Apple’s Fitness+ (which require subscriptions). But the report mentions something new: Garmin Connect+.
For an in-depth look at all the leaked features and screenshots, check out the original report at Garmin Rumors .
It’s not yet clear whether some of the advanced functions—like Authorized Viewer, structured training levels, or enhanced nutrition—will require a Garmin Connect+ subscription. The company has not officially confirmed anything, but the “+” naming strongly hints at a premium tier.
If history is any guide, basic features (following, LiveTrack, standard training plans) will likely remain free, while coaching tools and deeper analytics could sit behind a paywall. We’ll update this article as soon as Garmin makes an official announcement.
When Is This Coming?
Garmin hasn’t set a public release date yet. However, leaks of this detail usually mean a beta or public rollout is weeks, not months, away. Keep an eye on your Garmin Connect app updates (iOS and Android) and watch for in-app announcements.
Bottom Line
This is the biggest Garmin Connect update in years. By embracing social media-style followers, adding authorized viewer roles, and finally organizing training plans by ability, Garmin is addressing long-standing user complaints. The potential subscription model might sting for some, but if the free tier remains robust, most casual athletes will be just fine.
For coaches and serious data nerds? The Authorized Viewer feature alone could be worth a few dollars a month.
What do you think—would you pay for Garmin Connect+? Or should everything stay free like it has been? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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