Garmin CIRQA manual activities give you a direct way to record an activity when you want the session to begin and end on your terms. Instead of relying only on automatic identification, you can choose an activity in the Garmin Connect app, start recording, optionally mark laps, and then decide whether to save, resume, or discard the result.
The CIRQA smart band works with the Garmin Connect app for activity selection and recording controls. Garmin’s activity list includes options across gym training, outdoor recreation, running, cycling, swimming, racket sports, team sports, winter sports, water sports, and other activity types. Some activities can appear in more than one category, so it is useful to look for the activity that best matches what you are doing rather than assuming every activity appears in only one place.
For the complete Garmin reference, see the CIRQA Activity Tracking owner’s manual.
Choosing an activity in Garmin Connect
Before recording, select the appropriate activity from Garmin Connect. Garmin lists activities such as Cardio, HIIT, Pilates, Strength, Yoga, Hike, Walk, Run, Treadmill, Bike, MTB, Swim, Tennis, Golf, Ski, Kayak, SUP, Dance Fitness, Meditation, and Other, among many others.
The activity selection matters because the available settings can vary by activity type. Garmin states that not all settings are available for all preloaded activities. For example, an activity that involves repeated movements may offer rep-counting controls, while other activities may instead emphasize alerts, lap options, phone GPS, or band position.
A practical approach is to choose the activity that most closely reflects the session you plan to record. If your intended activity is shown in multiple categories, use the listing that best fits how you want to organize the activity in Garmin Connect. Garmin’s manual does not state that every category has identical options, so review the activity settings after selecting it.
Recording an activity from Garmin Connect
You can start and stop a manual activity from the Garmin Connect app while wearing the CIRQA smart band.
- Open the Garmin Connect app.
- Select an activity.
- Select Start Recording.
When recording begins, the CIRQA smart band vibrates and its LED flashes green. This is the device feedback that confirms the activity has started.
During the recording, you can select Lap if you want to mark a lap. Marking a lap is optional. It can be useful when you want to separate portions of a session without ending the full activity. Garmin does not require you to use laps, so you can simply continue recording if lap markers are not relevant to your activity.
When the activity is complete, select Stop. Garmin Connect then gives you three choices:
- Select Discard to remove the activity instead of keeping it.
- Select Resume to continue the same activity.
- Select Save to keep the activity.
This final decision is important. Stopping does not force you to save immediately. If you stopped too early, Resume lets you continue. If you started recording by mistake or do not want to retain the session, Discard is the appropriate choice. If the activity is complete and you want it retained in Garmin Connect, select Save.
Recording from the CIRQA smart band
Garmin CIRQA manual activities can also be started and stopped from the smart band, but this depends on setting a favorite activity first. The band is designed to start and stop one favorite activity rather than giving you an unrestricted on-band list of every available activity.
When the CIRQA smart band begins recording your selected favorite activity, the LED flashes green and the band vibrates. When the recording ends, the LED flashes red and the band vibrates. The completed activity appears in Garmin Connect after the device syncs.
That sync step is worth keeping in mind. A completed activity is not described as appearing instantly in the app; Garmin specifies that it appears after the device syncs. If you do not see a newly finished band-recorded activity right away, allow the smart band and Garmin Connect app to sync before concluding that the recording was lost.
The green and red LED behavior also helps you interpret the band’s status during manual recording:
- Green flashing with vibration indicates that recording has begun.
- Red flashing with vibration indicates that the recording has ended.
These indicators are confirmation signals, not a substitute for reviewing the resulting activity in Garmin Connect. After syncing, check the activity in the app and use the available app controls if you need to retain or remove it.
Adding or removing a favorite activity
A favorite activity is the activity you can start and stop directly from the CIRQA smart band. Garmin’s manual makes clear that this feature is limited to a favorite activity, so selecting the right favorite is the key setup step for on-band manual recording.
To add or remove a favorite activity:
- Open the Garmin Connect app.
- Select your device.
- Select the relevant activity option.
- Select an activity.
The purpose of this setting is to establish which activity the CIRQA smart band can control directly. If your routine changes, revisit the device’s activity selection and choose a different activity. This lets the smart band’s manual start-and-stop control match the activity you currently want to record.
Because the band supports one favorite activity for this control, use Garmin Connect when you need to choose a different activity for a particular session. The app offers the broader activity-selection workflow, while the favorite setting provides a quicker route for the selected activity on the band.
Understanding auto-detected activities
Manual recording is separate from Garmin’s auto-detected activity feature. The CIRQA device can use recorded motion and exertion data, together with historical data from your account, to automatically identify activities. This may include GPS location data from a connected phone.
When an activity is automatically detected and recorded, Garmin says it is uploaded automatically to your Garmin Connect account. You can then edit or discard it there. The feature requires consent for location data to be used.
Auto detection can be useful, but it should not be interpreted as a guarantee that every movement or session will be identified exactly as intended. Garmin describes it as using recorded data and account history to identify activities. If you want a clearly defined start and stop for a specific activity, use manual recording in Garmin Connect or start the configured favorite activity from the CIRQA smart band.
You can turn auto-detected activities on or off from Garmin Connect:
- Open the Garmin Connect app.
- Select your device.
- Select the auto-detected activity setting.
For additional official information about the feature, Garmin directs users to garmin.com/autoactivitydetection.
Adjusting activity settings
Garmin Connect provides activity-specific options for the CIRQA smart band. From the app, select your device, choose Activity Options, and select an activity. Garmin notes that the settings available depend on the activity type.
Available settings can include alerts, laps, phone GPS, band position, and rep counting.
Alerts set training alerts for the selected activity. Review these options for the specific activity you use, since Garmin does not state that every activity supports the same alert choices.
Laps control Auto Lap options. The Auto Distance option marks laps at a specific distance. This is different from manually selecting Lap during a recording: Auto Lap is an activity setting, while the in-recording Lap control lets you mark a lap yourself.
Phone GPS turns phone GPS on or off for the activity. This setting is tied to the selected activity, so verify it before starting if GPS use is relevant to your session.
Band Position lets you set whether the band is positioned on your arm or wrist. Choose the setting that reflects how you are wearing the CIRQA smart band.
Rep Counting enables rep counting during a workout. Garmin also provides a Workouts Only option, which enables rep counting during guided workouts only.
By setting a favorite activity, confirming the green start signal, using Garmin Connect to stop and save the session, and reviewing the available activity options, you can use Garmin CIRQA manual activities with clear control over how each recording begins, ends, and is handled in the app.