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While I love the idea of music on my watch, one of the main reasons I didn’t bother with the new Fenix 5 Plus is the fact there was no Spotify integration, the other reason being the price. I do have local files, and I could have copied them over, but most of it is old stuff and I have used Spotify for the past few years.
As far as I can tell this issue is true for many people so it will be welcome news that Garmin has finally launched Spotify for their watches. At the moment it is just for the Garmin Fenix 5 Series leaving out the Forerunner 645 Music and Vivoactive 3 Music devices. With the other two devices, it should land sometime in the future but it is likely that they are waiting for Spotify to certify them for use.
To enable the service you will need to download the Garmin Connect IQ Spotify app (using the mobile app or computer), authorize Spotify via your phone. You will need a Spotify premium account in order for this to work.
Dcrainmaker has posted about the app and from the looks of things it appears to be well designed and easy to use. They have managed to maintain most of the look and feel of Spotify on the tiny screen.
Once you are all set up you can select various things to sync this includes:
- Playlists
- Recently Played
- Made for you
- Workouts
- Podcasts
Dcrainmaker reported that syncing isn’t super fast, so it is best to make sure you are set-up before your run. A 60-80 song playlist seems to take about 5-8 minutes for the initial download. He was able to sync over 1,500 songs, so you should be able to fit more than enough on your watch for marathons and more.
Within the Spotify app, you can select ‘Update Downloads’ which will then allow the watch to update playlists as and when you make changes to it (assuming it connects to Wi-Fi).
The problem is, now I am kinda regretting buying the old Fenix 5 series on Amazon prime day.
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
