Merge Strava Activities: How to Combine Rides & Runs

Yes, you can merge Strava activities, but only if they were recorded on the same device in the same session and you haven’t uploaded them yet. This guide explains exactly how to combine activities on the mobile app, what to do if you’ve already uploaded them, and how to avoid the common pitfalls that cause duplicates.

Why You Might Want to Merge Activities

Strava records each start and stop as a separate activity. If you pause your watch at a coffee stop and forget to resume, or if you do a brick workout (bike then run) and your device creates two files, you end up with two entries. Merging gives you one continuous record for your training log, which is useful for weekly mileage totals, PRs, and sharing with your coach.

How to Merge on the Strava Mobile App (Before Upload)

The only official way to merge is to combine activities that are still in your device’s memory, before they are uploaded to Strava. This works on both iOS and Android:

1. Open the Strava app and tap the Record button (the plus icon).
2. Tap the folder icon (labeled “Import from device”) at the top right.
3. Select the device that has the activities (e.g., your Garmin or Wahoo).
4. Tap Select in the top right, then tap each activity you want to merge. They must be from the same device and recorded on the same day.
5. Tap Merge in the bottom right. Strava will combine them into one activity, summing time, distance, and elevation.
6. Add a title, description, and privacy settings, then tap Save.

If the activities are already uploaded to Strava, you cannot merge them through the app. You would need to delete the duplicates and re-upload the merged file, or use a third-party tool (see below).

What If You Already Uploaded Them?

If your two activities are already on Strava, you have a few options, but none are one-click:

• Delete one and edit the other: You can delete the shorter or duplicate activity, then manually edit the remaining one to add the missing time/distance. This is tedious and often inaccurate.
• Use a third-party tool: Some services like FitFileTools or Garmin Connect’s “Combine” feature can merge FIT files before you upload them. You would download the original files from Strava (via the web export), merge them locally, delete the two originals from Strava, and upload the merged file.
• Leave them separate: Many athletes simply accept two activities. You can tag them as part of a “Workout” or “Race” and note it in the description.

Strava does not offer a native “merge after upload” button, so the only clean way is to merge before saving.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

One common mistake is trying to merge activities from different devices (e.g., a bike computer and a phone). Strava will not allow this because the GPS data formats and timestamps don’t align. Another misconception is that merging will combine laps or intervals correctly—it usually just concatenates the data, so your lap splits may look odd.

Also, if you merge activities that have different start times (e.g., one at 8:00 AM and one at 8:30 AM), Strava will use the earliest start time and the total duration, but the gap between them will appear as a long pause. That is fine for most users, but it will affect your average moving time.

Comparing Merging vs. Editing vs. Re-recording

• Merging is best when you have two files from the same session and want a single record. It preserves all GPS points.
• Editing (changing the time/distance manually) is fast but loses accuracy—your pace and power curves will be wrong.
• Re-recording is only possible if you still have the device and can redo the route, which is rarely practical.

For most people, merging before upload is the cleanest. If you forget, the third-party route is the only way to get a true merged file.

Costs and Limitations

Merging activities is a free feature in the Strava app—it does not require a premium subscription. However, the merge function is only available for activities that are still on your device. Once uploaded, you cannot merge without external tools. Third-party file merge tools are usually free or have a free tier, but you should check their privacy policy before uploading your FIT files.

Safety and Data Accuracy

When merging, always double-check that the total distance and time look correct before saving. If the two activities have overlapping GPS points (e.g., you rode the same loop twice), the merged distance might be slightly off due to GPS drift. Also, be aware that merging will not recalculate elevation gain perfectly—it simply adds the two values, which may double-count climbs if you went up and down the same hill.

If you are using the merged activity for a race or a personal record, verify the data against your device’s original files. For training purposes, small discrepancies are acceptable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I merge two activities that were recorded on different days?

No. Strava’s merge function only works for activities recorded on the same day on the same device. If you try to select activities from different days, the merge option will be grayed out.

Will merging affect my segment times?

Yes. When you merge, the segment times are recalculated based on the combined GPS data. If the two activities covered the same segment, you might get a faster time because the pause between them is removed. If they covered different segments, each segment will still appear, but the overall activity will show one combined time.

Can I merge a ride and a run together?

Technically yes, if they are from the same device and same day. The merged activity will be classified as the sport type of the first activity you select. So if you select a ride first, the merged activity will be a ride, and the run portion will be part of it. This is common for brick workouts, but note that your run pace and ride speed will be mixed into one average.

I uploaded two activities by mistake. Can I undo the merge?

If you haven’t saved the merge yet, you can tap “Cancel” to go back. If you already saved it, there is no undo button. You would need to delete the merged activity and re-upload the two original files from your device or from the Strava export (if you have them).

Does merging work on the Strava website?

No. The merge feature is only available in the mobile app (iOS and Android). The web version does not have a merge option. You can, however, use the web to export your original FIT files if you need to merge them with a third-party tool.

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