Listening to music while working out is becoming increasingly common, and Garmin’s new YouTube Music service, launched in 2024, offers users even more music options. I can explore over 100 million curated playlists, songs, podcasts, and more, from my wrist without needing to carry a phone.
Recently, I have been looking for a method to enjoy YouTube Music on my Garmin watch without a premium membership subscription. I found that MiniTool Video Converter and viddown.net can help. Next, I will show you detailed tutorials.
Requirements to Play YouTube Music on Garmin Watch
The first time I tried using YouTube Music on my Garmin watch, I installed the app successfully, but it didn’t work properly. Later, I learned from the Garmin website that I must meet the following requirements to use YouTube Music.
#1 Subscribe to YouTube Music Premium or YouTube Premium.
I must have a YouTube Music Premium or YouTube Premium account to download streaming content to their watch for offline listening. There is a variety of subscription plans, including Family plans ($16.99 or $22.99 per month), Individual plans ($10.99 or $13.99 per month), and Student plans ($5.49 or $7.99 per month).
#2 Use a Compatible Garmin Watch
Not all Garmin watches are compatible with YouTube Music. After testing, I confirmed that my Forerunner model works with YouTube Music. Additionally, models such as Enduro, Epix, Approach, MARQ, and Venu also support this service. To check if the watch is compatible, visit the Garmin website.
#3 With a Stable Wi-Fi Connection
Garmin does not support direct streaming; content must be downloaded to the device in advance and can be played. Therefore, if the Wi-Fi connection is stable, there will be a smoother experience.
#4 Get a Pair of Bluetooth Headphones
Once the requirements above are met, get a pair of Bluetooth headphones to enjoy YouTube Music on the Garmin watch.
Therefore, if you have trouble with Garmin YouTube music not syncing, please check if the requirements listed above are met.
How to Play YouTube Music on Garmin Watch with Premium
After subscribing to YouTube Premium and meeting the other requirements, I tried using YouTube Music on my Garmin watch again, and it worked. Here are the detailed steps:
Part 1: Install YouTube Music on Your Garmin Watch
The first part is to get YouTube Music on a phone or Garmin watch directly.
# Install YouTube Music to Garmin Watch on Phone
Step 1: Open Connect IQ
Launch the Connect IQ application on your phone.
Step 2: Install YouTube Music on Your Garmin Watch
1. Search YouTube Music in the box and tap the Install button.
2. In the permission request window that appears, tap Allow. Then, in the new pop-up window, tap the Got it option.
3. A notification on the watch indicating that YouTube Music has been added to your list of music service providers appears.
# Install YouTube Music on Garmin Watch Directly
Step 1: Open Connect IQ Store
Switch to the Connect IQ Store on the Garmin watch and tap it.
Step 2: Install YouTube Music
1. Scroll down the screen and tap the Browse option.
2. Scroll down the screen again and tap the Music option.
3. Then, switch to the YouTube Music option and tap it.
4. Finally, tap the Install option to add it to the Garmin watch.
Part 2: Sign in to Your YouTube Music Account
After installing YouTube Music on the Garmin watch, proceed to the next step on the installation completion screen.
1. Tap the Start/Stop button on the right side of the watch to enter the next step.
2. Open Carmin Connect on the phone.
3. Then, tap the Start/Stop button again, and the watch will display a verification code. The phone will also automatically redirect to the Google page.
4. Enter the code in the box on the Google page and tap the Continue option.
5. In the new interface, sign in to the YouTube Music account and tap the Confirm option to connect the account to the Garmin watch. Finally, the watch will automatically redirect to the YouTube Music interface.
Part 3: Download the Music You Want to Listen to
1. In the YouTube Music interface on the watch, switch to either the Library, Music, or Podcasts section, select a song, and tap the Download button.
2. When the downloading ends, the watch will display a message showing Music Sync Complete.
3. Connect the Bluetooth headphones and go to the YouTube Music homepage to listen to the music.
By now, I believe that you’ve followed my step-by-step guide and learned how to use YouTube Music on Garmin watch.
How to Play YouTube Music on Garmin Watch Without Premium
Can I play YouTube Music on Garmin watch without a premium subscription? This is a question that many individuals have asked, I found. After giving it a try, the answer to that question is absolutely yes!
I’ve found that if I save YouTube music, songs, and podcasts to my computer, convert them to a format compatible with Garmin watches, and then transfer them to my watch, I can still listen to music offline on my watch. To do this, I just use a YouTube video and audio downloader, as well as a file conversion tool.
I’ve provided the download tools and file conversion tool I use frequently in the steps below. Now, let’s dive in.
Part 1: Download the YouTube Music Video
The first process is to save YouTube music videos to the computer. I highly recommend MiniTool Video Converter and viddown.net. My friends and I have been using them for a long time. Here are the downloading steps for each tool.
# MiniTool Video Converter
MiniTool Video Converter is a free and reliable 4K YouTube downloader with an intuitive user interface. In addition to downloading videos, playlists, and podcasts from YouTube, this tool supports getting videos from TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram without watermarks.
Furthermore, MiniTool Video Converter supports downloading up to 10 videos simultaneously and saving them in MP4 format. More importantly, it can also extract subtitles during the download process.
Here is a step-by-step guide to save YouTube music videos using MiniTool Video Converter.
Step 1: Download and Install MiniTool Video Converter
MiniTool uTube DownloaderClick to Download100%Clean & Safe
Click on the button above to download MiniTool Video Converter. Then, follow the prompts to install it on your computer.
Step 2: Get the YouTube Music Video’s Link
1. Go to the YouTube website and find the target music.
2. Then, copy the URL of the YouTube music video from the address bar.
Step 3: Configure Video Download Parameters
1. Launch MiniTool Video Converter. Click More options in the top-right corner of the main interface, then select Settings.
2. Switch to the Download section.
3. Click the Change button to select where to save the downloaded file. To set the maximum number of downloads, expand the drop-down menu next to the Maximum download tasks option and make a choice.
4. Finally, click on OK to save the changes.
Step 4: Analyze the Copied Video URL
1. In the main interface, navigate to the Download Video module.
2. Click the Paste URL option and paste the copied YouTube music video link into the box, then click the Download option to analyze the link.
Step 5: Download the YouTube Music Video
1. In the new pop-up window, select the appropriate format and resolution for the YouTube music video.
2. Then, click on the Download option again to get the YouTube music video.
Step 6: Check the Downloaded YouTube Music Video
1. When the downloading process ends, it will automatically switch to the Completed section, where the downloaded video is listed.
2. Then, click the Play icon to check the downloaded YouTube music video and click the Folder icon to locate it.
# viddown.net
Don’t want to download any software? Consider using viddown.net. It’s a free online video downloader that supports downloading videos from YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter, as well as Instagram Reels and Stories. Another reason I recommend viddown.net is that it’s compatible with many major browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Opera, and more.
What’s more, viddown.net can save videos anytime on various devices, including computers, smartphones, and tablets. Here are the detailed steps.
Step 1: Copy the YouTube Music Video Link
Step 2: Go to viddown.net to Paste the Video Link
1. Launch the browser and go to viddown.net.
2. Paste the copied URL into the address bar and click on Download.
Step 3: Download the YouTube Music Video
1. On the new interface, select a proper video quality. Then, click on Download again to save the YouTube music video.
2. Finally, check the downloaded YouTube music video in the Downloads folder on the browser.
Part 2: Convert the Downloaded YouTube Music Video into MP3
To transfer downloaded YouTube music videos to the Garmin watch, it is necessary to convert them to MP3 format. Just try MiniTool Video Converter again. As the name suggests, it is a professional video conversion tool.
MiniTool Video Converter supports conversion between over 1,000 video and audio formats, such as MP4 to MP3, WMV to WAV, MOV to WMA, and MKV to AAC. With this tool, I can easily batch-convert downloaded YouTube video files to MP3 format.
Moreover, before conversion, MiniTool Video Converter allows me to customize parameters such as encoders, bitrate, frame rate, resolution, and more.
MiniTool Video ConverterClick to Download100%Clean & Safe
Step 1: Open MiniTool Video Converter
Launch MiniTool Video Converter on the PC.
Step 2: Import the Downloaded YouTube Music Video
Click on Add Files to upload the downloaded YouTube music video under the Convert Video section.
Step 3: Choose a Save Path for the Converted File
After uploading the music video, expand the Output option to choose a storage location.
Step 4: Set the MP3 as the Output Format
1. Click the Gear icon to enter the output format settings window.
2. Switch to the Audio tab. Then, select the MP3 option and choose a desired audio quality.
Step 5: Start Conversion
1. After selecting the output format, it will automatically shift to the main interface.
2. Then, click on Convert to begin conversion.
Step 6: Check the Converted MP3 File
When the conversion process ends, MiniTool Video Converter will automatically switch to the Completed section. There, click the Play icon to listen to the MP3 file and click the Folder icon to locate it.
Hence, more than just a video downloader, MiniTool Video Converter is a full-featured video converter. If you need to convert the format of a downloaded YouTube video, you can do so easily without leaving the software.
Part 3: Transfer the MP3 File to Your Garmin Watch
To transfer MP3 files to the Garmin watch, remember to install the Garmin Express app and have a USB cable ready. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Download Garmin Express
Go to the Garmin website and download Garmin Express.
Step 2: Transfer the MP3 File to The Garmin Watch
1. Connect a watch to your computer using the USB cable.
2. Launch Garmin Express and select the watch.
3. Then, click on Music and switch to the My Music tab.
4. There, scroll down and select the target MP3 file. Finally, click on Send to Device to transfer the MP3 file to the Garmin watch.
Enjoying YouTube Music on the Garmin watch without a premium subscription isn’t as difficult as you might think. MiniTool Video Converter can help streamline the process and save time.
Final Words
After reading this post, you must know how to play YouTube Music on Garmin watch directly with a premium subscription. Users without a premium account can do that utilizing tools such as MiniTool Video Converter and viddown.net, which I’ve recommended above. If you encounter any issues while using MiniTool Video Converter, send an email to [email protected].
About The Author
Position: Columnist
Jade enjoys reading novels and listening to music, and she also likes traveling, cooking, and photography in her spare time. Now, she serves as the English editor for multimedia content in MiniTool. She excels at writing articles about video downloading, video conversion, and screen capture, dedicated to providing readers with effective advice and methods.