Step 1: get the original FIT file
From Garmin Connect
- Open connect.garmin.com in a browser and sign in. The export options are on the website.
- Open the activity and click the gear icon in the top right.
- Choose Export Original. You get a ZIP file, and the .fit is inside it.
The same menu also has Export to GPX. If Garmin Connect is your only source, that saves you a step.
From Strava
- Open the activity on strava.com in a browser.
- Click the three dots (…) in the menu on the left.
- Choose Export Original for the file exactly as it was uploaded (a FIT for most Garmin and Wahoo recordings), or Export GPX for Strava's own GPX version.
Straight from the device
Most Garmin watches and bike computers show up as a drive when you connect them over USB. The recordings are in the GARMIN/Activity folder, one .fit per activity.
Step 2: convert it with the free converter
- Open the GPX, TCX & FIT converter. It starts with From: FIT and To: GPX already selected.
- Drag your .fit file onto the upload area, or click it to browse.
- The file is read right away and you see a small preview of the route. Check that the shape looks right.
- Click Download converted file. You get the same file name with a .gpx extension.
Need TCX instead? Switch the To menu after loading the file and the download is rebuilt in that format. You can also skip the export completely: click Connect with Strava under the upload area and pick an activity from your account.
What carries over from FIT to GPX
| Data in the FIT file | In the GPX |
|---|---|
| Position, elevation, timestamps | Yes, as standard GPX track points |
| Heart rate and cadence | Yes, in Garmin's TrackPointExtension (gpxtpx:hr, gpxtpx:cad) |
| Power | Yes, in Garmin's PowerExtension |
| Laps | No, they become one continuous track |
| Records without a GPS position | No, a GPX track point needs coordinates |
| Other fields (temperature, device info, running dynamics) | No |
For a route you want to share, plan with or print, that covers everything that matters. Keep the FIT itself as your archive copy.
Is my file uploaded anywhere?
No. The converter reads and writes the file with JavaScript inside your browser, and the download is created on your own device. If you use the Strava option, the activity data comes from Strava's API directly into your browser. Nothing is stored on our side.