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Español Since Garmin incorporated performance metrics into the Phoenix 5 and then the Forerunner 935 (the first in a fleet of devices to receive this feature), data synchronization of these metrics has always been a promise to users. And finally, a year and a half later, that promise becomes a reality with Garmin Physio TrueUp.
Garmin first offered some beta versions for some of their devices and finally it has been officially released last week. At first you all think you are clear about what it offers, but I'm sure there are many details that you don't know yet.
Garmin Physio TrueUp, what is it?
Physio TrueUp is the name given to the synchronization of training status data and other physiological metrics. But it's not the only thing that synchronizes between devices, it also synchronizes activities and displays them on other compatible devices. In other words, you can review your cycling training on your watch, even if you haven't used it to record that activity.
Physio TrueUp synchronises the last 30 days of activity between different devices, using Garmin Connect as a bridge. The activities in your Garmin account will be synchronised between your different devices and will update all running, cycling and swimming data.
What is updated between devices? All physiological metrics such as training status, training load, VO2Max, recovery time and the activities of the last 30 days, so this also leads to updating time prediction data for different races, the latest sport or sports widgets and the weekly and monthly totals.
Supported devices
The devices that will receive this update and can benefit from this synchronization are the following:
- Garmin Edge 1030
- Garmin Forerunner 645 / 645 Music
- Garmin Forerunner 935
- Garmin Fenix 5S / 5 / 5X
- Garmin Fenix 5S Plus / 5 Plus / 5X Plus
- Garmin Vivoactive 3 / Vivoactive 3 Music
How to activate Garmin Physio TrueUp
First of all you need to install the update that enables the feature. As I understand it has already been released to 100%, so if you have recently synced your device it should already be updated.
After the update, the watch or cycling computer itself will indicate that the new function is present and ask you to activate the function. If you prefer to activate it later, you will have to do so in one of the three available ways:
On the clock or cycling computer.
In the Garmin Connect application, within the general options of the device
Through the Garmin Connect website, in the general settings section of the device on which you want to activate the feature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have any doubts left? Well, here are the most common questions I think you could ask, I'm sure you'll find the answer to all of them:
What data is synchronized between devices?
At the moment these are the data that are synchronized:
- Training status
- Running VO2Max
- Recovery Time (Between Supported Devices Only)
- Training load
- Career Forecast
- Activities of the last 30 days
Which devices are receiving this update?
These are the devices that will receive the update in order to synchronize the metrics: Edge 1030, Forerunner 645, Forerunner 645 Music, Forerunner 935, Fenix 5s, Fenix 5, Fenix 5X, and Vivoactive 3.
What if we have older devices that are not compatible with physiological metrics?
If we record an activity with a device that does not support this function, the data will be sent in one direction only to the device that does not support it. Therefore, that activity will be shown on the clock or cycling computer that has this function, but not vice versa.
In other words, imagine that you record a workout with a Garmin Edge 510 and that you are not out with your Fenix 5. Obviously this cycling computer does not support any of these features, but when you synchronize your watch you will receive the activity recorded with the Edge and all your training data will be updated, except for the recovery time (to synchronize this data you need to have compatibility with both devices).
What happens if there is duplicate activity on the account?
Physio TrueUp will only synchronize one of them, so if you have recorded the same workout with two devices, only one of those files will be used to update the other devices. If you have a preference for the data from one of them (e.g. because it contains power data), you must delete the file you do not want to use.
What about training on other platforms?
This one is more complicated. In some cases some users have reported that it has served to synchronize their workouts on Zwift, while with other platforms such as Sufferfest or TrainerRoad they have not been moved to clocks or Edge 1030. Why one yes and others no? It probably has to do with how each of these platforms transfers the file to Garmin Connect and how it includes the data.
But those who have received Zwift training on other devices have not seen the physiological metrics altered, only the activity appearing individually.
Physio TrueUp in use
Enough with the theory, it's all very nice. Let's get down to business... that's how it works.
I've been testing the function since I went out in beta mode, and it has worked fine all the time. The trainings I've been doing over the past week and a half have been perfectly synchronized between the different devices, and now they all finally show the same data for all physiological and VO2Max metrics.
Now this data does work as expected from the beginning, being much more practical because it does not force you to record twice the same activity if you want to have it in your usual device.
For example today I did a recorded bike ride with an Edge 520 (I was wearing another Garmin Edge 1030, but I discarded the activity precisely to check what it synchronizes and what it doesn't), and after turning on and synchronizing the FR935 all the details of the workout are there for review.
That is, there is access to the activity as such, being able to review training details and lap times. Even the origin of this activity is shown, in this case the Edge 520.
There are some details that are not transmitted, and others depend also on the device that recorded it. For example you will not have access to the map or altitude graph. The training effect only if the source device supports it (for example the Edge 520 does not). Still it's nice to have access to "something" and have it all show up in the watch history.
All these details are the same as in Edge 1030, which now contains the same information as in FR935.
And because Edge 520 does not support physiological metrics, the recovery time is not updated and in this case appears at 0 hours.
I hope I've clarified all the details for you. Thanks for reading!
Hello! My question is this: Can we, the happy owners of the Phoenix 3HR, wait for this update? Thank you!
No, this update is exclusive to models that support advanced training metrics, because they are the ones that benefit from data synchronization between devices.
I tried it today with my Edge 820 and the Fenix 5 and it worked just as you described, however the Edge 820 does offer VO2 data and recovery time (it did at the end of the workout) but it is not in the activity data on the Fenix or Connect, I don't know why.
I don't know if they are making any modification in servers, because I for example was updated correctly by VO2max, which was different in the two devices.
The step data, sleep... does it also synchronize? Will the 520 plus have it?
Yes, the daily activity data was already being synchronized between all the devices.
The Edge 520 Plus has no performance metrics, so it simply synchronizes the same data as the regular Edge 520 can.
I have Edge 820 and Fênix 5, the last update for me is 8.0 and the Physio Trueup does not appear, not in Garmin Connect, Device and on the Web. How do I get the Physio Trueup into my Fênix 5? Thanks for that already!
I have the Edge 820 and Phoenix 5, the last update that appears for me is 8.0 and the Physio Trueup does not appear, not in Garmin Connect, Device and on the web. How can I put the Physio Trueup on my Phoenix 5? I appreciate this one now!
Once updated, you must activate it in the clock menu or through Garmin Connect. By default it is deactivated.
It's the same for me, everything is updated and I don't get it in the Fenix 5, I don't know, I don't need it but it's funny...
Well, I tried it again this morning and everything was in sync without a problem
I just skipped the 9.2 update on the Fenix 5 and it seems they've incorporated it now.
When I was answering you, I wasn't falling for the fact that you had Phoenix 5...
Indeed, the update for these was delayed a little longer, that's why it didn't appear to you.
I have an Edge 1000 and a Fenix 5 and understand that the intensity minutes on the Garmin Connect are not updated with the Edge 1000 activities without the clock on.
If I want to have that data I have to wear the watch recording the activity, or just wearing it, it already takes my pulse data for all physiological metrics?
Whether you wear the watch or not, when you update it with the phone you will receive the Edge's training data. But what will not be updated is the recovery time as the 1000 does not support that function.
a silly question, if I go out cycling with the edge 820 and the phoenix 5 plus, when I finish the activity I have to delete one of the activities?
because they both go up, don't they?
It is not necessary, you can have two of the same activities, if they have the same duration and start time the system identifies that they are the same training.
I have the instict (the old non solar). The instict does not support VO2max.
I want to buy a tlTactix Delta which supports VO2max but because is too heavy I want to make some runs with the light instict.
After I will sync the run to the Tactix it will be capable to recalculate the activity and add the VO2max and other running metrics?
Physio TrueUp shares recorded metrics with the platform and sync them between devices. But it only shares whatever the device is recording, not using details to calculate other metrics.
Therefore the Instinct will share things like steps, workouts and such with the platform, but since it doesn't have VO2Max, training status and such, those will not be taken into account to the rest of your devices.
Hola muy buenas!! Sabes si la carga de entrenamiento debe de ser la misma? Me explico tengo un FR945 y un Edge 1040 en los dos se cargan los mismos datos de Vo2max y tiempo de recuperación pero la carga de entrenamiento es distinta en los dos dispositivos y es más, por ejemplo actualmente en el reloj me pone que el estado de entrenamiento es productivo y en 1040 pone no productivo…
Thank you in advance
El 1040 la calcula de forma un poco más avanzada, porque tiene en cuenta cuándo se hizo un entrenamiento fuerte y se va «diluyendo» con el tiempo. Eso el 945 no lo hace. En cuanto al estado de entrenamiento, el del 945 se enfoca a carrera mientras que el Edge a ciclismo, por eso las diferencias