For a moment, it looked like the long-standing partnership between Strava and Garmin was heading for court. But just weeks after filing a complaint, Strava quietly withdrew its case – and for now, Garmin appears to have come out on top. The good news for athletes: workouts recorded with Garmin devices will continue to appear seamlessly on Strava.
In recent days, many users noticed a subtle but telling change on the platform: Strava now displays the specific hardware used to record each training session. For die-hard Garmin fans, that small label marks the end of a tense few weeks, during which it seemed possible that Garmin uploads could be blocked entirely.
At the heart of the dispute was a disagreement over how Strava segments were being handled. Strava’s legal claim, if upheld, might have prevented all Garmin users from uploading activities to the platform – a move widely criticized as self-defeating, given that Garmin devices make up a significant portion of Strava’s user base.
After just three weeks, Strava decided to drop the case, avoiding a potentially damaging standoff. But the episode hasn’t left the relationship unscathed.
As of November 1, Strava requires all uploaded files to list the originating device or platform – a change that rolled out a few days early, likely to meet internal deadlines. Users can now see exactly which watch, bike computer, or sensor an athlete used for each activity.
Still, the tension has had ripple effects. Garmin, perhaps signaling a shift in loyalty, has reportedly strengthened its ties with Strava rival Komoot.