Your own music on your Garmin watch
A Garmin with music storage plays your own MP3 collection on a run or a hike, with the phone left at home. Getting the files onto the watch takes a cable and a few minutes: with Garmin Express, by copying from Windows, or from a Mac with our browser tool.
Does your watch store music?
Only models with music storage can hold your files: look for "music" in your watch's specs. Many current Forerunner, fēnix Pro, epix, Venu and vívoactive models have it; a watch without it can only control the music on your phone. You also need Bluetooth headphones paired with the watch.
Which files play
Use MP3 or M4A/AAC files from your own collection. Files bought with copy protection or saved for offline listening in a streaming app do not play from a cable copy. Tags (title, artist, album) come from the files themselves, so tidy them before copying.
With Garmin Express (Windows and Mac)
- Install Garmin Express on the computer and connect the watch.
- Select the watch and open Music.
- Pick songs or playlists from your computer's music library or folders and send them to the watch.
By cable from Windows
- Connect the watch with its USB cable and open it in File Explorer.
- Open Internal Storage (or Primary) → Music.
- Copy your MP3 or M4A files there, in folders if you like.
- Unplug the cable when the copy is done.
By cable from a Mac
A Mac cannot open newer Garmin watches over USB, so the watch does not appear in Finder. Our USB file transfer copies music from Chrome or Edge: connect the watch, drop the MP3 or M4A files, and they go into the Music folder. If the watch has no Music folder, the tool tells you, because that model cannot play music files. Music support in the tool is new, so check the first songs on the watch.
Play it on the watch
Pair your headphones in the watch's music or sensor settings. Then open the music controls, choose the music on the watch itself rather than a streaming provider, and pick songs, artists or playlists.
Questions
How much music fits?
Roughly 200 to 250 songs per gigabyte at usual MP3 quality; the watch shows free storage when connected.
Can I use playlists?
Yes. Garmin Express sends playlists from your music library; with a plain cable copy you can still browse by song, artist or album.
Why does a song not appear?
It is usually copy-protected, in an unsupported format, or was copied outside the Music folder.