Управление музыкальными композициями, загружаемыми на часы приложением Garmin Express

You can install music, playlists, audiobooks, and podcasts from your computer to a Garmin music watch using Garmin Express.

NOTE: Protected AAC audio files cannot be transferred to a watch without removing the DRM (Digital Rights Management) designation from the file. Files that have been downloaded from certain music subscription services may also be protected which can prevent them from being compatible. For assistance or questions related to protected audio files refer to your music provider. 

For detailed instructions on this process, select your operating system below:

Windows

The process of adding content to a watch can be broken down into three steps. Select each section to expand and view information on completing each step:

Step 1: Organize Your Music Library On Your Computer

Use your preferred media management program (Windows Media Player, iTunes, etc.) to create and edit playlists.

If using iTunes as your media management program, the following Apple support articles provide helpful instructions for setting up iTunes and managing your music library on your Windows computer: 

  • Create an Apple ID.

  • Sign in to the App Store and iTunes Store on your Mac or PC.

  • How to add items to iTunes on PC.

  • Managing Playlists in iTunes on Windows.

Additionally, when using iTunes, it is also necessary to configure iTunes to share the iTunes library XML with other applications:

  1. Launch iTunes and go to Edit > Preferences.

  2. Select the Advanced tab.

  3. Check the box Share iTunes Library XML with other applications.

  4. Select OK to save your changes.

Step 2: Add Your Watch to Garmin Express

  1. Connect your Garmin music device to the computer.

  2. Open Garmin Express.

  3. Select Add a Device.
    Add a Device in Garmin Express

  4. When the device is found, select Add Device.

    Device found in Garmin Express

  5. Follow the on-screen prompts to add the device to Garmin Express.

Step 3: Add/Remove Content on Your Watch with Garmin Express

  1. Connect your watch to the computer.

  2. Open Garmin Express.

  3. Select your watch.

  4. Select Music

Adding Content to the Watch:

  1. Under "My Music", select an audio file category, such as Songs, Playlists, or Podcasts.

    • If your content is not automatically displayed make sure that Garmin Express is up-to-date and that you have selected the folder that contains your files.

    • By default, Garmin Express will search for files in the Music folder on your computer, but you can browse for other folders by selecting blue folder next to "My Music."

    • If your music still isn't displayed, select question markand then Refresh Library.

    • If you use iTunes to manage your library you will see "iTunes Library" and blue arrow instead of "My Music" and blue folder.

      • For steps to change your music source please see: Garmin Express: Issues Transferring Playlists From iTunes® on a Windows PC.

  2. Select the checkboxes for the audio files you wish to add and then select Send to Device.

    .animated walkthrough of adding and sending music

Removing Content From the Watch:

  1. Under My Music select an audio file category, such as Songs or Podcasts.

  2. Select the checkboxes for the audio files you wish to remove and select Remove. 

  3. If you select a Playlist to be removed, only the playlist file will be removed from the device.

  4. The songs in the playlist will still be on the device and would need to be removed from the Songs category if desired.

    animated walkthrough of removing music

Media files must be stored on the hard drive of the computer. External drives and Cloud Storage (Home Network, Google Drive, etc.) are not detected by Garmin Express.

macOS


The process of adding content to a watch can be broken down into three steps. Select each section to expand and view information on completing each step:

NOTE: If you are using macOS Catalina 10.15 and are having trouble accessing audiobooks in Garmin Express see: Garmin Express Is Not Finding My Audiobooks. 

Step 1: Organize Your Music Library On the Computer

Choose your operating system:

macOS Catalina or Newer

The following Apple support articles provide helpful instructions for managing your Apple Music library:

  • Create a playlist in Music on Mac.

  • Change where your music files are stored on Mac.

It will also be necessary to configure the Music Media folder location in Apple Music so that the music files will be visible in Garmin Express:

  1. Launch Apple Music and go to Preferences > Files.

  2. Set the location to Users/Username/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media.

  3. Check the box Copy files to Music Media folder when adding to library.

  4. Select OK to save your changes.

    files location and settings screen

macOS Mojave or Older

The following Apple support articles provide helpful instructions for setting up iTunes and managing your music library:

  • Create an Apple ID.

  • Sign in to the App Store and iTunes Store on your Mac or PC.

  • How to add items to iTunes on Mac.

  • Managing Playlists in iTunes on Mac.

It will also be necessary to configure iTunes to share the iTunes library XML with other applications:

  1. Launch iTunes and go to iTunes > Preferences.

  2. Select the Advanced tab.

  3. Check the box Share iTunes Library XML with other applications.

  4. Select OK to save your changes. 

Step 2: Add Your Watch to Garmin Express

  1. Connect your watch to the computer.

  2. Open Garmin Express.

  3. Select Add a Device.

    Add a Device in Garmin Express

  4. When the device is found, select Add Device.

    Garmin Express Found a vivoactive 3 Music device

  5. Follow the on-screen prompts to add the watch to Garmin Express.

Step 3: Add/Remove Content to Your Watch With Garmin Express

  1. Connect your watch to the computer.

  2. Open Garmin Express.

  3. Select your watch.

  4. Select Music.

Adding Music:

  1. In the iTunes Library list, select an audio file category, such as songs or playlists.

    • By default Garmin Express will search for files in your iTunes Library.

    • If your music is not automatically displayed make sure that Garmin Express is up-to-date.

    • If your music still isn't displayed, select blue arrowto refresh the library.

  2. Select the checkboxes for the audio files you wish to add and then select Send to Device.
    animated walkthrough of adding and sending music

Removing Music:

  1. In the Garmin music device list, select an audio file category, such as songs or playlists.

  2. Select the checkboxes for the audio files you wish to remove and select Remove From Device.

    animated walk through of removing music in Express on Mac

Instructional Video of the Process Outlined Above.