Garmin + GoPro Camera Control: Hands-On Explainer!

Garmin has launched an expanded Connect IQ App Store option that allows companies to monetize apps for various fees, and with it, GoPro has launched a new camera control app on the Garmin Connect IQ App Store, which allows you to control your GoPro camera from your watch.

The app lets you start/stop recording, change modes (e.g. video/photo/timelapse), as well as change within the various presets you have created. Further, it lets you save multiple GoPro cameras to a saved pairings menu. The app is listed for $5.99USD, as a one-time fee.I’ve been using it now for a few months, so I figured I’d just quickly run-through how it works. This is not a complicated app, thus hopefully, not a long post.

#GoPro #Garmin #GarminControl

[infocuslearning]

I agree that it would be more useful on the Edge series of bike computers

[danielwolman]

id 100% buy a new gopro with this functionality if it worked on the edge 840

[reusserfarm]

I put it on my watch but was also able to add the same app to my garmin 1040 and it works. Thanks for the heads up this will be great to ride with.

[PeterPrendal]

It's going to be great for us kayakers with the gopro mounted in front or behind on the kayak. Saves me having to bring the Gopro remote.

[iurylima]

And here's my hope to Garmin updating the VIRB app, for those cool, cool overlays

[LukasHalda]

Just successfully tested my FR955 & GoPro 10. About some of the questions asked here:

Does it work while activity is ongoing?
- Yes, you can have an activity running and open the GoPro app from Glances.

Does it always load when I open Glances?
- Yes, seems so, I worked around that by isolating it in its own folder.

Does it turn on the GoPro?
- Yes, seems so in my case. It is pretty slow to do so, but it eventually turns on.

Can it turn off the GoPro?
- No, unfortunately I didn't find a way to do it. Hopefully in the next release?

Can I exit the app without stopping the recording?
- Yes, exiting the app doesn't affect the camera.

Can I connect while recording?
- Yes, although it takes couple seconds (5+) to connect, so switching between activity and GoPro control takes time.

Does it set time?
- No, I didn't find that feature, and checking everything possible within the app, the GoPro time has not updated. Hopefully in the future.

Can the watch and phone connect to the camera simultaneously?
- No, only one connection is possible at the time.

All in all, I can see it being useful for my snorkeling (camera in a diving cage, cannot switch profiles) and motorcycling (watch accessible without removing gloves). The price is not too high - on the high side for a small app that's basically just a UI over an API, but much cheaper than a dedicated remote and one less piece of electronics to carry :)

Interestingly, it is a bit cheaper when buying with my non-EU address than with my EU address, I guess they add VAT for EU residents. I bought it in a PC browser, it offered my Garmin wallet cards, and asked for my physical address.

[JaniOllikainen]

How well does this work during activity? Would be interesting to see that.

[MonSport]

Thanks for the info ! I guess you can control the GoPro while doing an activity with your Garmin watch of course ?

[itspj]

This is awesome. Will be better when you can start a collection of cameras - and also being able to do it on an edge series is more beneficial than just on the watch, but hopefully it's a sign of things to come! Thanks for the video Ray!

[bradleydallman]

This would be insanely useful on the Descent line. When diving the GoPro is generally in the case, meaning no adjustment to settings.

[louis_sharp]

I bought a Hero Session 4 back in ‘15. Haven’t updated because of this. Been a long time coming

[Nksmusings]

Thanks Ray. Crisp and clear as usual. Wahoo and Coros have similar controls probably a slightly toned down version that’s free. Hate to see Garmin going the paid way with this…

[ShaKieran]

Great vid as always. Whilst the price put me off to begin with, it does look like you have full enough control of the GoPro to make good use of it. Presumably when timelapse is running you can switch it to normal recording via the watch? That would be useful when I've got it mounted on my bag for example. Will check it out.

Edit - Apparently any Garmin IQ payment has to be via Garmin Pay, which keeps crashing when trying to verify address so.... Guess won't be getting the app after all 🙃.

[fookie-fone]

Just missed it on both ends: fenix 6X and Hero 8 :(

[Mamilian]

If you back out of the widget on the watch (to get back to the normal face and ensure that you don't accidentally control the GoPro), does that impact the recording session in any way? (guessing/hoping the answer is "no", but...). Use case: I record gravel races. It's often very bright at the start, so difficult to see that I've started the camera *in the right mode* (damnit, not again...). But, I don't want to leave the remote focused on the watch for many reasons (accidentally stopping recording being the top one). Would also love to see this on the Edge units - having a data page with the camera details/control would be AWESOME. Thanks.

[Trd-III]

Thanks for the overview!

Was super excited when I saw this, as I would happily pay $6 for the ability to add highlights from my wrist when I don’t have clean/easy access to the camera’s screen (chest or shoulder mount, for example) and don’t want to continuously hold my phone to use as a remote.

Pretty disappointed that the Descent Mk3 is apparently not compatible… isn’t it effectively a Fenix 7? Even if camera remote doesn’t work on dives (which would be an amazing use case), the app would still be very useful most of the time.

[rapidrick]

Suggestion for the edge computers is the ability to trigger the GoPro to record when your varia picks up a car behind you. I would buy all three in a heart beat if that worked well. I wanted the varia with video but the reviews have been very unkind so far regarding video quality etc

[jimi_sendrix]

thanks for the review and agree it would be great to have on my Edge! When accessing this widget does it turn the gopro on? Usually, my rear mounted gopro is turned off while riding, so being able to turn it on/off via the watch would be stellar

[bennywallis]

I'm still using my Garmin Virb with my watch.. But with that, they aren't made anymore, so this is a great way to keep up with the Jones's

[LinBiLan]

Thanks for this great review (like always!)
But obviously I can not control my Garmin when I am in a sports app like running or so. That is a major limitation as I want to film myself surfing while I record the activity on the watch.