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Guide

Transfer Fitbit Data to Garmin: GPS Files, Weight & Sleep (2026)

Switching from Fitbit to Garmin is one of the most common wearable migrations. The good news: your GPS workout files transfer directly, no conversion needed. The honest news: sleep stages, continuous heart rate, and step history are difficult to move in full — Garmin has no bulk import for those data types. This guide covers exactly what transfers, what does not, and the tools that help with the rest.

What actually transfers vs what does not

Before spending an hour on this, it helps to know what Garmin Connect can actually receive. The transfer story is good for workouts and weight, limited for everything else.

  • GPS workouts (runs, rides, hikes) — transfers easily: Fitbit exports these as TCX files which Garmin Connect accepts directly
  • Weight and body metrics — transfers with a free tool: Fitbit exports weight as JSON; a converter can reformat it for Garmin
  • Daily step counts and active minutes — partial: no official Garmin import exists for historical step data; workarounds exist but are incomplete
  • Sleep stages (Light, Deep, REM) — not transferable: Garmin uses a different sleep algorithm and format; there is no supported import path
  • Continuous heart rate history — not transferable: intraday HR data has no Garmin import format
  • HRV and SpO2 readings — not transferable: device-specific metrics with no cross-platform import standard
  • Food and water logs — not transferable to Garmin (Garmin Connect does not have food logging)

Step 1: Export your Fitbit data

You need your Fitbit data before you can transfer anything. The fastest route for GPS workouts is Google Takeout. For weight data, the native Fitbit export gives you a cleaner CSV.

  1. Go to takeout.google.com and sign in with your Google account.
  2. Click "Deselect all".
  3. Check "Fitbit" and click "Next step".
  4. Choose ZIP format and email delivery, then click "Create export".
  5. When the email arrives, download and unzip the archive.
  6. Inside the ZIP, find the Physical Activity/ folder — this contains your GPS workout files as TCX.
  7. For weight: go to fitbit.com > Settings > Data Export, choose "Body" category, select CSV format, and download.

Step 2: Transfer GPS workouts to Garmin

This is the easiest part. Fitbit stores GPS workout files in TCX format — the same format Garmin Connect has accepted for years. No conversion needed.

  1. Go to connect.garmin.com and sign in (create a free account if you do not have one).
  2. Click the cloud upload icon in the top-right corner of Garmin Connect, or go to connect.garmin.com/modern/import-data.
  3. Drag and drop your TCX files from the Physical Activity/ folder directly into the upload area.
  4. Garmin Connect will import each file as a separate activity with the original date, duration, distance, and heart rate data.
  5. For large archives (100+ activities), upload in batches of 20–30 files to avoid timeouts.
  6. Each imported activity will appear in your Garmin Connect timeline with the correct date.

Step 3: Transfer weight data to Garmin

Garmin Connect has a weight import feature, but it requires a specific CSV format. The free Fitbit-to-Garmin converter tool handles this automatically.

  1. Download your Fitbit weight data: go to fitbit.com > Settings > Data Export, select "Body", choose CSV, download.
  2. Go to fitbitjsonconverter.azurewebsites.net — a free browser-based tool that converts Fitbit data to Garmin-compatible format.
  3. Upload your Fitbit weight CSV or JSON file.
  4. Download the converted file.
  5. In Garmin Connect, go to Health Stats > Weight.
  6. Use the import option to upload the converted file.
  7. Your historical weight entries will appear in the Garmin weight chart with original timestamps.

What to do with sleep and heart rate data

Sleep stages and continuous heart rate cannot be imported into Garmin Connect — there is simply no import path for these data types. But that does not mean the data is lost.

The right approach is to keep your Fitbit export as a permanent archive. Your sleep and heart rate history remains accessible and readable — it just lives outside Garmin Connect.

  • Store the Sleep/ and Heart Rate/ folders from your Takeout archive in a clearly labelled folder (e.g. fitbit-archive-2026)
  • The sleep JSON files can be opened in Excel via Power Query or visualised with a simple Python script — the data is yours regardless of what platform you use
  • Tools like Exist.io and Gyroscope can read historical Fitbit data and display it alongside your new Garmin data
  • If long-term sleep trend analysis matters to you, Runalyze can import activity data from both Fitbit and Garmin — useful for continuity
  • Going forward, Garmin devices record their own sleep and HR data natively — the gap is only in historical migration

Alternative: the fitbit2garmin Python tool

For users comfortable with Python, the open-source fitbit2garmin tool (github.com/simonepri/fitbit2garmin) automates more of the conversion process.

This is more setup than the browser tool above, but useful if you have years of data and want a scriptable workflow.

  • Requires Python 3 and Fitbit developer app credentials (free to set up at dev.fitbit.com)
  • Can batch-export and convert activity, weight, and sleep data
  • Sleep conversion outputs a format readable by third-party tools, not directly importable to Garmin
  • Follow the README at github.com/simonepri/fitbit2garmin for setup instructions

Before you delete your Fitbit account

If you are fully switching to Garmin, do not delete your Fitbit account immediately. Export everything first and verify the archive is complete.

  • Run both a Google Takeout export and a native Fitbit export before closing the account
  • Verify the TCX files opened correctly in Garmin Connect before treating the migration as complete
  • Your Fitbit account can be deactivated (not deleted) if you want to keep the data accessible without actively using it
  • Once a Fitbit account is deleted, the data is gone — no recovery is possible
  • Store a permanent copy in a folder named fitbit-archive-YYYY in ProtonDrive (go.getproton.me/SH2aK) or pCloud (partner.pcloud.com/r/155235)

Quick version

If you want the short checklist instead of the full guide, use the service page.

Related guides

FAQ

Can I transfer all my Fitbit data to Garmin Connect?

Not all of it. GPS workouts and weight data transfer well. Sleep stages, continuous heart rate, and step history have no supported Garmin import path — keep these in your Fitbit archive.

Do I need to pay for a tool to transfer Fitbit to Garmin?

No. TCX workout files can be uploaded to Garmin Connect for free. The fitbitjsonconverter.azurewebsites.net tool for weight data is also free. Paid tools like wearableconverter.com exist but are not required.

Will my Fitbit workouts show the correct date in Garmin Connect?

Yes. TCX files include the original timestamps, so imported workouts appear on the correct date in your Garmin Connect timeline.

Can I import Fitbit sleep data to Garmin Connect?

No. Garmin Connect does not have an import path for historical sleep data from third-party devices. Keep your Fitbit sleep archive separately — the data is still accessible in the JSON files.

What happens to my Fitbit data if I delete my account?

It is permanently deleted. Export everything and verify the archive before closing the account.

How many Fitbit workouts can I import to Garmin at once?

Garmin Connect accepts batch uploads, but large batches can time out. Upload in batches of 20–30 TCX files at a time for best results.

Is the fitbit2garmin Python tool safe to use?

It is open-source and available on GitHub for inspection. It requires Fitbit API credentials, which you create for free at dev.fitbit.com under your own account.

Can I use my Fitbit TCX files with other platforms besides Garmin?

Yes. TCX is a widely supported format. You can also import Fitbit workout files into Strava, Runalyze, Komoot, and most other fitness platforms.