I recently bought a Garmin Fenix 6x Pro watch, which immediately became my sports companion. But I’m facing a problem. My headphones don’t allow me to adjust the music volume when I turn on the music through the watch. And the music is playing at full volume, which can turn jogging into a nightmare.
Why is it happening?
The Xiaomi Mi Buds 2 I have are not compatible with Garmin software. I found out later that this is a common problem with generic Bluetooth headphones. And you can’t do anything about it. Just buy normal brand headphones or earbuds.
What headphones work with Garmin watches?
I will try to make a list of headphones with which there will be no problem exercising while listening to music from a Garmin watch.
From my experience, Garmin music works with JBL Tune 510BT and Apple AirPods. I can guarantee that. And the list below will be a list that I collected from the Internet – forums and the like.
Garmin watch works with these headphones:
| Brand | Price |
| Jabra Elite Active 65t | 84.99 USD |
| BeatsX | 49.99 USD |
| SoundPEATS | 29.99 USD |
| JLab Epic Air | 79.99 USD |
| Jabra Sportpace | 59.00 USD |
| JBL Reflect Flow Pro+ | 179.95 USD |
| Sony MDR-XB80BS | 68.01 USD |
| JBL mini reflect | 67.95 USD |
| Skullcandy Method BT Sport Earbuds | 45.99 USD |
| Apple Airpods | 99.99 USD |
| Samsung Level U Pro | 74.95 USD |
| Jabra Sports Coach | 69.99 USD |
Maybe the list is not very long, but I think you will choose suitable headphones. If you want to add to the list, you can leave a comment in the comment section.
What headphones doesn’t work with Garmin watches?
Next, I will try to make a list of headphones with which there is a problem with Garmin watches.
Garmin watch doesn’t work with these headphones:
| Brand | Price |
| Xiaomi Mi Buds 2 | 22.49 USD |
| Jaybird X4 | 49.95 USD |
| Syllable D900P | |
| Jaybird Tarah Pro | |
| LG HBS-730 | |
| Sennheiser PXC550 | |
| Plantronics Backbeat Fit 2100 | |
| Plantronics Backbeat FIT 3100 |
I will add it to the list soon because, as is already known, many headsets do not work or work incompletely with Garmin watches. You should also not forget that Garmin constantly updates its software so that the headphones may function fully after the update.
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- Casio G-Shock GW-7900B. Battery change.
Conclusion
This is often a software incompatibility between the watch and the headphones, which may be resolved in the future. Therefore, do not rush to throw away your headphones; for now, buy cheaper headphones that are compatible with Garmin music.
If you have any observations or suggestions, you can always leave them in the comment section.
Im having this issue with JBL 265 (with 245 music) …
Hello Shaul, did you tried to update your watch firmware?
This is ridiculous. Watches like the fenix 6 or the new epix are premium devices and they are quite expensive. Garmin simply shifts the blame over to the headphone manufacturers. My four year old Galaxy Watch is able to control the volume for just about any kind of Bluetooth headphones.
Has anyone tried Bowers & Wilkins In-Ear headphones with a recent (2023 model) Garmin watch? I have this volume issue with two different types of JBL devices (and one or two other makes too), and don’t fancy splashing out on a really expensive pair that aren’t going to work properly.
They’re expensive, but I can confirm that Bowers & Wilkins Pi7-S2 earbuds work just fine with my Garmin Fenix 7x Sapphire (solar edition). I’ve used them, turned them off, then put them on again a dozen or more times in the last 36 hours and never once had a problem – so I think they can be added to the list of headphones that DO work with Garmin, even if I accept a sample size of one is not necessarily 100% reliable.
I have two different sets of JBL earbuds that work sometimes but randomly deafen me other times (and the volume then cannot be reduced), and the same problem has occurred for me with a couple of cheaper models too. But B&W seem to have mastered it, even if I think this ought to be seen as a Garmin issue (and I’m surprised and disappointed they apparently haven’t tackled the problem …. yet!)
Confirming that Redmi Buds 4 Active (firmware 0.6.1.3, latest as of today) DOES NOT work with Garmin Venu 3 (firmware 8.25, latest as of today).