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I've currently got a Fenix 6 Pro and i used to have one of their simpler tracker type watches, might have been a Forerunner. Does anyone else have issues with the Bluetooth connection to their phone? Both Garmins are very poor. I have a hands free phone set up in the car and my phone connects to that seamlessly every time i get into the car, I don't have to do anything. The Fenix rarely connects on its own without me having to start the app and force it to connect. Once connected though its fine until the next time the phone is too far away from it.
Are there any solutions out there or is it just Garmin's poor implementation of Bluetooth?
Not an issue for me. Fenix 6 Pro Solar / Pixel 6 / Android 13. I've just been for a run, pressed Stop, and the watch synced to the phone immediately.
Yes it does that okay but say i go for a walk, put the watch on and put my phone in my pocket. I should get notifications of calls, messages etc on the watch but generally i don't unless I first start the app up and force it to connect. They should automatically connect when they come into range of each other.
Ah. I get those too. Calls, Amazon, Messenger chats etc. I should really switch them off 😂
I set up the watch when I bought it (March 2022) and haven't had to adjust any connection settings since.
Does the watch need a software update?
Everytime my Fenix 5 stops doing things it should that's normally my first port of call to correct it.
I had that with my old phone (Fenix 6 Pro to Ulephone Armor 5), but since getting a new phone (Ulephone Armour 14) it's been perfect. It didn't really bother me when it didn't connect, but I've had to conclude it was the phone cutting the connection, not the Garmin.
Delete the connection between phone and watch on both devices and then repair - doesn't sound like something is quite set up properly.
After unpairing and deleting the connection, do a phone switch off and switch back on. Maybe do the same with the watch.
Repair and hopefully it'll be a more solid connection.
Yep, my Fenix 6 Pro is quite ropey when it comes to Bluetooth. I end up unpairing it and reconnecting it about once a month.
You might be able to force it to reconnect by going to (on the watch) settings => phone => pair phone and then in the Bluetooth bit of your phone, tapping on the entry labelled Fenix 6 Pro. You then need to open Garmin Connect and it should start syncing.
Garmin 945 and iPhone with no issues on bluetooth connection here, can control music via the watch with no issues. I dont have notifacations turned on for calls or messages so cant comment on this.
Mostly the connection is fine, but occassionally i need to manually sync the activities in Connect (iOS and Android), but I've found that the 'Weather' widget drops connection more on iOS than it did on Android. There's a handful of other interesting things it does that is normally resolved by turning off the watch or the app.
I've found reliability issues with Android and iOS. Fenix 6 pro with iphone 12
A whole variety of Garmin equipment used in our house over the years. Always flaky bluetooth connections.
Polar, Wahoo, Apple, Samsung etc... a whole bunch of other tech of all varieties we have used with no issues. But if you asked my missus what 'Garmin' means to her, she would say 'rubbish bluetooth connections, always a faff' .
There must be some level of truth to it.
I had a few issues with a Pixel 5, but it's been fine with a new phone.
I think they do have quite weak radios, the F6 has never worked well with my Stages power meter (F5 before it, and various Edge devices have all been fine). I suspect if the phone has an excessively tuned BT chipset, they start having issues together.
I have a forerunner, which will be fine for ages, then I'll notice the battery on the watch is going flat quikly, only to realise it's fallen out with my phone for no obvious reason, a reboot of the watch usually solves it.
I've a an Edge 810 which worked perfectly for years with about 3 different phones. About a month ago it decided to stop connecting to my Pixel 5 and absolutely nothing I do can get it to reconnect. My Vivo 4 watch is still fine.
My Forerunner 735XT won't play nicely with my Redmii Note 10. It'll pair eventually but I get no notifications and it'll sometimes not communicate at all with the phone. I get no notifications with my Edge Explore either but it always uploads rides reliably. I blame the cheap phone. I assume it has some power saving setting that I can't find. Frustrating.
I've not seen that behaviour but my Vivoactive 4 has stopped giving notifications for WhatsApp only.
Previously I found that deleting data on the phone for Connect restored them but not now.
I’ve had loads of trouble with Garmins and Bluetooth over the years, but it seems better on my devices recently. Not sure if it’s software or a newer phone.
The trick for iPhones seems to be:
Turn off Bluetooth on the Garmin
Turn Garmin off
Turn off Bluetooth AND Wi-Fi for some reason on the phone
Restart phone, then turn BT +Wi-Fi back on
Turn Garmin on & re-enable BT