Garmin watch - updates without connecting to the Internet “offline”
Garmin watch - updates without connecting to the Internet “offline”
I bought a Garmin Forerunner 255 watch that I want to use only with Gadgetbridge. There is an old software version on the watch and I want to update it and I don't want to connect it with Garmin Connect or Garmin Express app?
I have looked for the possibility to do an “offline” update but have not found it. Maybe the community will help?
I used to update my Fenix 3 by downloading BIN files from Garmin website and just dropping it onto the watch's filesystem.
From EPO I used https://github.com/scrapper/postrunner
Just use the regular Garmin account and Bluetooth to your phone every 2 weeks to sync for health data use storage scopes and permissions to stop unwanted data collection, use privacy settings in the app, fake account. Be done. Never use support they will dox you.
use storage scopes and permissions to stop unwanted data collection what does it do?
Permissions stop what the app can and cannot access in your phone, and storage access allows what the Garmin app can and cannot access in storage of data. Keeps your app more private with the added benefit of perhaps running leaner on your device.
You'll need to find someone sharing the gupdate.gcd file for firmware 21.22. You can drag and drop those onto the watches storage.
Alternatively, use the desktop app to install ovwr USB?
The latest version is 22.24 but I can't find it anywhere gupdate.gcd file. As I wrote I don't want to use the Garmin Express app.
Gotcha! Another approach could be to set up the watch for a guest wifi / vpn routed access point?
That's what I do with mine. It means I can use the Garmin website for stats, get updates, sync / plan routes - but not have it connected to my phone, only connect to specific wifi when I allow, and only use data I agree to with Garmin's variois policies.
Obviously I dont get any notifications from my phone / weather, but that's not something I care for.
It does not really answer OP's question, but there are alternative OSs for consumer devices. I found one: https://wiki.asteroidos.org/index.php/Category:Watches
I know the project and keep my fingers crossed for it, but they currently support very old watch models that are not sporty.
Just curious, what features work and what do you have to miss out on by foregoing Garmin connect? On their website Garmin devices are generally listed as partially supported, and I'm not sure what that entails.
The official website is not updated particularly often so I check here https://codeberg.org/Freeyourgadget/Gadgetbridge/commits/branch/master/search?q=garmin&all=