Garmin Kills Connect IQ Web Store, Forces Mobile-Only App Management

Garmin has shut down app purchases and management through the Connect IQ web store, effective immediately. All installs, purchases, and browsing are now locked to the Connect IQ mobile app. No transition period, no warning.

For athletes running a Fenix 8, Forerunner 965, or any other Connect IQ-compatible device, this means managing watch faces, data fields, and third-party apps entirely through your phone. The web store was genuinely useful for browsing on a larger screen, reading reviews, and quickly comparing apps side by side before pushing anything to your watch.

The Connect IQ mobile app has a well-documented reputation for clunky navigation and slow load times. Compared to the relatively clean experience of browsing on desktop, the app feels like a step backward. Coros and Polar keep their ecosystem management simpler and less cluttered, which stings a little when Garmin moves in this direction.

The user backlash is real. Power users who manage multiple devices or test apps frequently will feel this the most. It adds friction to an already imperfect ecosystem.

Not a dealbreaker for most athletes. But for anyone who relied on the web store to research and manage their setup efficiently, this is a straight downgrade with zero upside.