Your Garmin Watch is a USB Stick: A Handy Backup for Emergencies
This is one of those ‘How to’ articles that will either change your life or, like me, leave you shrugging and thinking ‘Didn’t everyone know how to do that?”
I thought of writing this short article for two reasons. Firstly, I spent 10 minutes looking for a USB stick to transfer some large files to a PC at a friend’s house, and secondly, because the same friend was ‘amazed’ by my simple solution.
Several times, I’ve gone looking for a USB stick. It’s never immediately apparent that I can use my Garmin even when I’ve done that before, and the Garmin is right in front of me on my wrist.
Most Garmins will do the job, be they a watch or an Edge bike computer – the major caveat being that there is enough free space on them – older Garmin watches, especially those that never had maps or music capabilities, usually have limited space.
How It Works
Garmin watches, particularly those in the Forerunner and Fenix series, connect to computers with a proprietary cable via USB as Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) devices. This means you can access the internal storage, transfer files, and even store essential documents as you would on a USB stick. Plug it into your computer as if you were about to use Garmin Express, and it will appear as a Windows Internal Storage device. Copy files or folders across to it.
Avoid using any of the existing garmin folders; the watch may automatically delete some files in some of those folders. Also, avoid deleting anything from the existing folder.
Is it secure?
A: No!
Garmin recently introduced a PASSCODE to protect the entire watch. Of course, being Garmin, this feature hasn’t been thoroughly thought through and plugging a passcode-protected Garmin into a PC allows the person with the watch full access to anything on the watch…including the files you put on there to transfer
Practical Uses
You may only keep your Garmin charging cable at home. The need for an emergency USB stick could happen anywhere, and your Garmin won’t be able to solve the problem without its cable. At least it won’t work unless you have one of these clever little right-angle adapters on your key ring. Providing there is a standard USB-C cable available that is compatible with whatever you are plugging the Garmin into, you will be good to go.
Buy: These charge adapters are GBP3/USD4 each: Amazon.
What do you think?
Have you ever used your Garmin as an emergency USB ‘stick’
— the5krunner (@the5krunner) February 24, 2025
More: Best Garmin charger and dock Station
https://the5krunner.com/2023/10/30/the-best-garmin-charger-dock-station-charging-puck/
Last Updated on 27 January 2026 by the5krunner
My favourite kit and nutrition
- Injinji – Runners protect your toes. Avoid discomfort and minor injury. Run more. Run faster. I use them.
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter — The small adapter that keeps your charging cables tidy. Essential for race day. I use one.
- Garmin charging puck — the fastest and most reliable way to top up your Garmin before a session. I use one.
- Ravemen FR300 — Front light that mounts directly under your Garmin or Wahoo head unit. Keeps your bars clean and your beam pointed where it matters. I use one.
- Body Glide – The blue anti-chafe stick that all swimmers and many runners use. I use it.
- Maurten — The race nutrition trusted by elite athletes. Gels and drink mixes engineered to be easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Garmin Varia RTL515 — A radar rear light that alerts you to vehicles approaching from behind. Pairs with your Edge or Garmin watch. I use this model.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2 — The power-meter pedals most serious cyclists choose. Accurate, easy to move between bikes. I use this model.
- Garmin Forerunner 970 — A serious choice for a pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Polar H10 — My daily driver for accurate, waking HRV readings.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3 — The bike computer that has the feature Garmin lacks: usability. I use mine on most rides.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
Another limitation is that MTP is really a Microsoft/Windows protocol invented for Windows Media Player and is poorly supported outside of Windows such as macOS and Linux. Garmin switched from being a USB mass storage device that worked with every standard computer to MTP when they introduced music with the fenix 5 plus. I don’t understand their reasoning there and it is kind of a pain in the ass.
don’t get me started on Drive Letters. It will spoil my day 🙂
Nah, it’s not that bad, on the contrary.
For one, on Linux there’s jmtpfs, and it worked well with all mpt devices I tested.
Second, by moving to MTP, and removing direct block access, it means that if I delete a file from the watch, without secure erase, the contents can’t be retrieved. This is better than trying to overwrite all free space with zeros before selling my watch.
I’ve thought about it but never actually used it. I keep a tiny small USB drive in my keychain which is way more practical.