Connecting Garmin Through Web Browser: Best Practices

Owned by Steven Cooper
Last updated: about 3 hours ago
1 min read

Overview

When users connect their Garmin devices through the Validic marketplace website, the iOS default browser setting impacts authentication success. This guide explains the behavior and provides guidance for successful connection.

 

This is specific to connecting via the Marketplace while inside of an iOS browser app. If your use case involves starting to connect from inside of an app that displays the Marketplace in a web view, then you should refer to this documentation.

Key Finding

On iOS devices with the Garmin Connect app installed, the authentication flow must start in the device's default browser for successful connection when accessing via web browser.

Authentication Behavior (Web Browser Access)

Starting Point

Default Browser

Result

Example

Starting Point

Default Browser

Result

Example

Default Browser

Any

✅ Success

Using Safari when Safari is default

Default Browser

Any

✅ Success

Using Chrome when Chrome is default

Non-Default Browser

Different

❌ Fails

Using Chrome when Safari is default

Non-Default Browser

Different

❌ Fails

Using Safari when Chrome is default

User Guidance

For successful Garmin connection through web browser access, users should:

  1. Open the marketplace in their iOS default browser

  2. OR if using a different browser, first update their default browser setting to match

Checking Default Browser Setting

To check or change the default browser:

  1. Open iOS Settings

  2. Scroll to browser app (Safari, Chrome, etc.)

  3. Tap "Default Browser App"

  4. View or update the setting

Important Notes

  • This guidance applies to web browser access only, not in-app WebKit implementations

  • This behavior only affects iOS devices with Garmin Connect app installed

  • Without Garmin Connect app, authentication works in any browser

  • No impact on Android devices

Note: We are actively investigating solutions for in-app marketplace launches and WebKit implementations. For updates on this issue, please visit our status page. We recommend subscribing to this incident to receive notifications as updates become available.