Garmin data export made easy: Local analysis without ongoing costs

Garmin Connect aggregates user data from one or more wearables—often spanning many years or even decades. While the platform does offer built-in export tools, the process is, at best, cumbersome and time-consuming. We have previously covered several approaches for analyzing this data independently of Garmin Connect. A new—or at least recently updated—solution called garmin-health-data aims to simplify this process significantly by enabling users to export their Garmin Connect data directly into a local database. This database then serves as a flexible foundation for further analysis. For instance, users could process the data using AI-based methods, although this does not necessarily (only) imply the use of large language models.

The tool supports not only activity data but also health metrics such as heart rate variability. The project is written in Python, easy to install, and consolidates all data into a single SQLite database. It also supports multiple accounts, allowing users to store data from entire families—or even running groups and circles of friends—in one place. Several convenience features are included, such as error isolation at the software level, which prevents the entire process from failing if individual issues occur. If the download is interrupted, it can be resumed later, saving both time and frustration.