Garmin Fenix 5: How to Turn Off and Manage Your Heart Rate Sensor

How do I turn off the heart rate on my Garmin Fenix 5?

To disable the optical heart rate sensor on your Garmin Fenix 5, navigate through the watch's settings menu to the "Sensors & Accessories" or "Heart Rate" options, and select "Status" to turn it off.

Understanding Your Garmin Fenix 5's Heart Rate Sensor

The Garmin Fenix 5 series watches are equipped with an integrated optical heart rate (OHR) sensor, located on the back of the watch, which uses LED lights to detect blood flow variations in your wrist. This technology provides continuous heart rate data for daily tracking, workouts, and sleep analysis. While highly convenient, there are specific scenarios where users might choose to disable this feature, such as extending battery life, preferring the accuracy of an external heart rate monitor (HRM), or for privacy considerations.

Step-by-Step Guide to Disabling Optical Heart Rate

Turning off the wrist-based heart rate monitor on your Garmin Fenix 5 is a straightforward process. Follow these steps carefully:

1. Access the Main Menu:

   • Press and hold the UP/MENU button on the left side of your watch. This will bring up the main menu options.

2. Navigate to Settings:

   • Scroll down using the DOWN button until you find "Settings" and press the START/STOP button (top right) to select it.

3. Find Sensors & Accessories:

   • Within the Settings menu, scroll down and select "Sensors & Accessories." Press START/STOP to enter.

4. Select Heart Rate:

   • From the list of sensors, choose "Heart Rate" and press START/STOP.

5. Adjust Status:

   • You will now see options related to your heart rate sensor. Select "Status."
   • Here, you will typically have options like "Auto," "On," or "Off." Choose "Off" to disable the wrist-based heart rate monitor.

6. Confirm and Exit:

   • Once "Off" is selected, press the BACK/LAP button multiple times to return to the watch face. Your wrist-based heart rate sensor is now disabled.

Note: The exact menu wording may vary slightly depending on your specific Fenix 5 model (e.g., Fenix 5S, Fenix 5, Fenix 5X) and its current firmware version. However, the general navigation path remains consistent.

Re-Enabling the Heart Rate Sensor

Should you wish to reactivate your wrist-based heart rate sensor, simply follow the same steps outlined above. In Step 5, instead of selecting "Off," choose "Auto" or "On" to resume heart rate tracking. "Auto" typically means the sensor will activate when needed, such as during activities, while "On" keeps it active continuously.

When to Consider Turning Off Your Optical HR Sensor

Disabling the wrist-based heart rate sensor can be beneficial in several situations:

• Maximizing Battery Life: Continuous optical heart rate monitoring is one of the most significant power consumers on your Fenix 5. Turning it off can significantly extend your watch's battery life, which is particularly useful for multi-day trips or extended periods away from a charger.
• Using an External Heart Rate Monitor (HRM): For activities requiring the highest level of heart rate accuracy, such as high-intensity interval training (HIIT), cycling, or strength training, a chest strap heart rate monitor (e.g., Garmin HRM-Pro, HRM-Dual) is often preferred. When an external HRM is connected and active, the watch will automatically prioritize its data, but disabling the optical sensor can still save battery.
• Specific Activity Types: While Garmin's OHR technology is advanced, wrist-based accuracy can be compromised in certain activities like swimming (due to water interference) or activities involving repetitive wrist flexion (e.g., some forms of weightlifting). In these cases, turning off the OHR and relying on a compatible external sensor (like a swim-specific HRM) or no HR data at all might be preferable.
• Privacy Concerns: For users sensitive to continuous biometric data collection, disabling the sensor provides an option for greater control over personal health information.

Important Considerations and Best Practices

Before you decide to disable your Fenix 5's heart rate sensor, consider the following:

• Impact on Training Metrics: Many of Garmin's advanced training metrics, such as Training Status, Training Load, VO2 Max estimation, Recovery Time, and Stress Score, rely heavily on accurate heart rate data. Disabling the sensor will prevent the watch from collecting this crucial information, potentially affecting the accuracy and availability of these insights.
• Sleep Tracking: Wrist-based heart rate is also a key component of Garmin's advanced sleep tracking, including the detection of sleep stages and respiration rate. Turning off the HR sensor will diminish the richness of your sleep data.
• External HRM Connection: If you plan to use an external heart rate monitor, ensure it is properly paired with your Fenix 5 via the "Sensors & Accessories" menu. The watch will automatically prioritize the external sensor's data when it's connected and active during an activity.
• Firmware Updates: Always ensure your Garmin Fenix 5 has the latest firmware updates. Garmin frequently releases updates that can improve sensor performance, battery efficiency, and overall watch functionality.

By understanding how to manage your Fenix 5's heart rate sensor, you can optimize your device's performance, battery life, and data accuracy to best suit your training and lifestyle needs.