If you are anything like me, you have probably been waiting for this update for what feels like forever.
For a long time, using a Garmin watch for your workouts while trying to track everything else in Google Health was pretty frustrating. You could go out for a really hard run with your Garmin, and the workout would show up in Google Health just fine. But there was one major problem: your Cardio Load didn’t change at all. It was like the workout never happened.
Luckily, things are finally changing. Google Health version 5.09 started rolling out on September 25, and it finally fixes that annoying gap for Garmin users.
How the New Cardio Load Fix Works
If you use a Garmin for serious training but prefer to keep tabs on your daily health data in Google Health, you are probably familiar with this headache. You do a tough workout, but because it came from a Garmin watch, Google’s Cardio Load score stayed totally flat.
Now, with the 5.09 update, that problem is gone. As long as your Garmin workout includes your heart rate data, Google Health will actually use it to calculate your Cardio Load.
Just keep in mind that Google isn’t copying Garmin’s own training scores. Instead, it just takes the workout information it receives—like your heart rate, steps, distance, floors, and calories coming in via Health Connect—and uses that data to calculate its own Cardio Load figure. Deeper metrics like Garmin’s Training Readiness, HRV, VO2 max, and detailed lap data still don’t come through to Google, and your recovery metrics will stay safely inside your Garmin app.
A Big Win for Garmin Fans
Apart from fixing the Cardio Load problem, the new 5.09 update makes life a lot easier if you like to mix and match your gear.
You can finally train with your favorite Garmin sports watch, let the data sync over, and know that your Google Health Cardio Load reflects all the hard work you put in.
Also Read: Garmin Breaks Down Massive Summer 2026 Software Updates in New Official Guide
