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My Garmin sports device won't start

If your device won't start and shows a blue triangle, try the following recovery step.

  1. Press and hold the device's power/light button until the watch turns off. This may take up to 15 seconds.

  2. Press the power/light button to turn the device back on.

My device turned on normally

If the device turns on normally, sync it with the Garmin Connect app on your phone or via Garmin Express on your computer. This should resolve the issue and prevent it from happening again.

My device is still frozen and won't start past the boot screen

Select your device below to follow further instructions for resolving this issue.

Adventure watches, including epix | fenix | Quatix | D2 | Enduro | Tactix series 

To complete these steps, you will need the following.

  • Access to a Windows or Mac computer.
  • You also need to install Garmin Express on your computer.
  • The charging/data cable for your watch.
  • Your Garmin Connect account

 

  1. Open Garmin Express on your computer. 

  2. Press and hold the power/light button on the watch until it turns off.

  3. Press and hold the start/stop button.

  4. While still holding the start/stop button, connect the watch to your computer.

  5. Keep holding the start/stop button and select Add Device in Garmin Express.

  6. Wait up to 60 seconds for Garmin Express to recognise the watch. Once the watch is detected, you can release the start/stop button.

  7. When prompted by Garmin Express, complete adding the device. This includes signing in with your Garmin Connect account.

The watch should sync with Garmin Express. Once syncing is complete, you can disconnect the watch from the computer. The watch should start normally.

 

 

Forerunner series watches

If the issue persists and you cannot start your device normally, you will need to reset the device to factory settings by following the steps below.

NOTE.  Performing the following steps will result in the loss of the following data from the device:

  • Garmin Wallet 
  • Connect IQ content (watch faces, apps, data fields)
  • Body Battery data
  • Loss of some steps
  • Shortcut controls
  • Hot key controls
  • Custom data fields

 

  1. Press and hold the power button until the watch turns off 

  2. Press and hold the Start/Stop and Back buttons 

  3. Turn on the watch while holding the buttons mentioned above 

  4. After the first beep, release the Start/Stop button 

  5. After the second beep, release the Back button

The watch should restart and return to the setup screen. From here, select your language to begin the setup process. You will need to pair your watch with your phone and set up other features such as Garmin Wallet and Connect IQ apps. 

 

vivoactive 4 series 

If the issue persists and you cannot start your device normally, you will need to reset the device to factory settings by following the steps below.

NOTE.  Performing the following steps will result in the loss of the following data from the device:

  • Garmin Wallet 
  • Connect IQ content (watch faces, apps, data fields)
  • Body Battery data
  • Loss of some steps
  • Shortcut controls
  • Hot key controls
  • Custom data fields

  1. To turn on the device, hold the top button and wait until the Garmin logo appears. You can then release the button.

  2. Press and hold the power button (top button) until the watch turns off.

  3. Press and hold the top and bottom buttons.

  4. After the first vibration, release the top button.

  5. After the second vibration, release the bottom button.

The watch should restart and return to the setup screen. From here, select your language to begin the setup process. You will need to pair your watch with your phone and set up other features such as Garmin Wallet and Connect IQ apps. 

Venu 3 series and vivoactive 5 watches 

If the issue persists and you cannot start your device normally, you will need to reset the device to factory settings by following the steps below.

NOTE.  Performing the following steps will result in the loss of the following data from the device:

  • Garmin Wallet 
  • Connect IQ content (watch faces, apps, data fields)
  • Body Battery data
  • Loss of some steps
  • Shortcut controls
  • Hot key controls
  • Custom data fields

 

  1. Press and hold the power button (top button) until the watch turns off.  

  1. Press and hold the top and bottom buttons.  

  1. After the first vibration, release the top button. 

  1. After the second vibration, release the bottom button.

The watch should restart and return to the setup screen. From here, select your language to begin the setup process. You will need to pair your watch with your phone and set up other features such as Garmin Wallet and Connect IQ apps. 

Edge bike computers

Try one of the following options to fix your device.

Step 1: Delete the affected files from the device

  1. Connect the device to a Windows computer using the charging/data cable.

  2. Once detected, find the GARMIN folder on your computer and open it.

  3. Find the RemoteSW folder and open it.

  4. Locate and delete the file CPE.bin

  5. Disconnect the device from the computer.

This should resolve the issue with your device. If not, continue with step 2. 

Step 2, if needed: Reset the device

  1. Turn off the device 

  2. Hold Lap/Reset and Start/Stop 

  3. Press and release the power button 

  4. Keep holding only Lap/Reset and Start/Stop 

  5. Release Lap/Reset and Start/Stop when the Garmin logo disappears from the screen

From here, select your language to begin the setup process. You will need to pair your device with your phone and set up other features such as Garmin Wallet and Connect IQ apps.

Instinct 3 series 

To complete these steps, you will need the following.

  • Access to a Windows or Mac personal computer.
  • You also need to install Garmin Express on your computer.
  • The charging/data cable for your watch.
  • Your Garmin Connect account

  1. Open Garmin Express on your computer. 

  2. Press and hold Power/Light on the watch until it turns off.

  3. Press and hold the Start/Stop button.

  4. While still holding the Start/Stop button, connect the watch to your computer.

  5. Keep holding the Start/Stop button and select Add Device in Garmin Express.

  6. Wait up to 60 seconds for Garmin Express to recognise the watch. Once the watch is detected, you can release the Start/Stop button.

  7. When prompted by Garmin Express, complete adding the device. This includes signing in with your Garmin Connect account.

The watch should sync with Garmin Express. Once syncing is complete, you can disconnect the watch from the computer. The watch should start normally.

Descent Mk3 series 

To complete these steps, you will need the following.

  • Access to a Windows or Mac personal computer.
  • You also need to install Garmin Express on your computer.
  • The charging/data cable for your watch.
  • Your Garmin Connect account

 

  1. Open Garmin Express on your computer. 

  2. Connect the Descent Mk3i to your computer.

  3. Wait for the watch to restart, and as soon as you see the blue triangle, immediately press and hold the start/stop key.

  4. Keep holding the start/stop button for 10 seconds, then release it.

  5. Wait 30 seconds for Garmin Express to find the device. Once the watch is detected, complete the add device process. This includes signing in with your Garmin Connect account.

The watch should sync with Garmin Express. Once syncing is complete, you can disconnect the watch from the computer. The watch should start normally.

Approach golf watches

If the issue persists and you cannot start your device normally, you will need to reset the device to factory settings by following the steps below.

NOTE.  Performing the following steps will result in the loss of the following data from the device:

  • Garmin Wallet 
  • Connect IQ content (watch faces, apps, data fields)
  • Body Battery data
  • Loss of some steps
  • Shortcut controls
  • Hot key controls
  • Custom data fields

 

  1. Press and hold the middle button until the watch turns off.

  2. Press and hold the Action and Back buttons.

  3. To turn on the watch, press and hold the middle button while still holding the buttons mentioned in the previous step.

  4. After the first beep, release the Action button.

  5. After the second beep, release the Back button. 

The watch should restart and return to the setup screen. From here, select your language to begin the setup process. You will need to pair your watch with your phone and set up other features such as Garmin Wallet and Connect IQ apps.

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