Smartwatches and fitness trackers face loads of daily abuse. Strapped to our wrists, they brush off bumps, knocks, dirt, and splashes. Understandably, they face the occasional problems and issues, but you can remedy many of these with simple troubleshooting steps. Although Garmin makes some excellent smartwatches and fitness trackers, the company’s products are not immune to these issues. Below, we look at some common Garmin problems and issues and a list of possible fixes.
Like most wearables, Garmin products sync with Android smartphones over Bluetooth. Often this connection is affected by several factors. As a result, you may not be able to sync your Garmin info with your smartphone. If you experience this, here are a few ways to remedy the issue.
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You may experience notification problems from time to time. If you’re in this boat, you may need to tweak a few settings on your smartphone or Garmin.
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If your Garmin smartwatch or fitness tracker doesn’t switch on, there are a few ways to check if it’s a simple fault.
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You may face a few issues with Garmin’s heart rate tracking features. Here are the most common fixes.
Watches with GPS connectivity can often take a moment to lock on to satellites. The time it takes depends on your location and other factors. But here are a few steps to remedy the issue.
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If your Garmin is displaying an incorrect altitude or struggles to keep up with you during a hike, there could be an issue with your altimeter or barometer. There are a few ways to remedy the issue, though.
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Garmin Pay is Garmin’s wireless payments system compatible with many Garmin devices. It allows users to pay for products using their wearable. While it’s convenient, it may also face a few issues occasionally.
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Most recent Garmin wearables can track VO2 max, an important metric for cardio trainers. However, you may not get a VO2 max reading unless your device is appropriately set up and your activities meet some criteria.
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Battery drain issues can happen to all devices, including buggy software or aging components. There are a few ways to manage your Garmin’s battery life better if you find it draining too quickly for your liking.
Garmin Venu 2 Plus battery drain:
Several users on Garmin’s forums over the past few months are reporting quicker than usual battery drain on the Venu 2 Plus. The issue seems to span multiple update versions, and what’s causing the problem is unclear. We recommend running through the steps outlined below to narrow down the problem.
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A selection of Garmin watches support music playback via Bluetooth headphones. However, Bluetooth isn’t always the most reliable medium. You might encounter audio issues with your headphones connected to your Garmin. Here are a few ways to remedy these problems.
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Some users experience regular Spotify sign-in or syncing issues on their Garmin devices. Thankfully, there is a seemingly simple fix.
Another common problem relates to syncing specifically. Users are greeted by a Sync Failed message on the watch when a sync is attempted. Garmin has a possible fix.
Garmin uses a slew of screen technologies across its watch range. There may be a few problems that you might encounter on your device.
General problems and solutions:
Fading pixels:
If you own an older Garmin device, your display’s pixels may start to fade or die. If you purchased the device seven years ago, it’s likely just the age of the hardware catching up to it. However, you might still be able to get suggestions from Garmin directly. Contact the company.
Unresponsive screen:
Your Garmin device’s display may not respond to touches or button presses. In this case, you have a few possible solutions:
Blank display:
If your device’s screen remains blank or you spy a vertical grey, red, or green line across it, it has a hardware problem. Depending on your model, it may only require a battery replacement.
No watch strap or band is indestructible. If your Garmin band breaks, you have a few options.
Looking for replacement bands for your device? You can, of course, head to Garmin’s website to buy a replacement or head to the Amazon links below for a cheaper alternative:
There’s a chance you are or have experienced watch band rash while wearing a device on your arm. Garmin devices aren’t exempt from this issue. If your band is causing wrist discomfort, there are a few things you could try to alleviate the problem
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Voice assistant support on the Garmin Venu 2 Plus and Venu 3 is a great addition to the company’s smartwatch line, but it can come unstuck. It’s not always an easy fix, but here’s how to troubleshoot assistant problems on the device.
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Are you still having issues? Is there any problem you think we didn’t cover? Be sure to let us know in the comments.
