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Garmin 520 and Samsung S7 connectivity issues

Former Member
Former Member
Hi,

I have recently upgraded phones to a Samsung s7 and have since not been able to pair the phone to my Garmin 520 in the GarminConnect application. Both devices pair and show the same bluetooth pairing key however the Garmin 520 will not appear in the devices section of the Garmin Connect application.

Some details

Phone - Samsung S7 with android 6.0.1

Garmin Connect mobile application - Version 3.13.0.1

Garmin 520 - Software Version 10.00
serial - 43V100566

I have an existing Garmin Connect account and have logged in. It shows the 520 in the devices "registered to Garmin Connect" section of the application. Both devices pair via bluetooth and it shows the Garmin as paired in the phones bluetooth settings. When using the Smartphone connection tool in the garmin 520, this will proceed to step 2 where it tells you to go to the Garmin Connect application in the Smartphone to connect the connection however this does not successfully complete.

I have gone back to the old phone (HTC One m7) and it works fine.

I have tried reseting both devices (Samsung and Garmin), clearing all cache, removing and reinstalling devices. Nothing thus far has worked and I am at the point of trying to replace the phone.

Can you please assist! I found the below questions from a moderator on another thread so have answered as best I can.

Phone Model / OS version -as above
Have you ever been able to sign in or create an account? - Yes. Can sign in to my existing Garmin Connect account.
Does this occur on Wifi, Data, or both? Both
Are you using the default launcher & browser for your phone? if not, what apps are you using? Garmin Connect Mobile Application.
Do you have any of the following app types installed: Screen Overlay, Screen Dimmer, Battery Manager, Data Manager. No
for 6.0+ OS versions: Have you changed any permissions for the Connect Mobile application? Can you verify that the "internet" permission is granted for Connect Mobile? Yes, internet permission is on.
Are you using a phone locale other than English? No
Are you inside our outside of the United States? Australia
When entering either the create account or sign in page, do you see a progress bar under the back button in the top left appear? If so, how far does it get before stopping or disappearing? I can log in fine via the Garmin Connect app.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    I have concluded that the Garmin 520s are not compatible with Samsung s7 as this phone model does not appear on the compatibility chart - http://static.garmin.com/gcm/BLE_Android.pdf. The s7 edge does appear however this a different phone to the s7.

    I've been bouncing back and forth between Garmin and Samsung. Samsung are stating that it is not their problem as the bluetooth works in other occasions such as sending files between phones and given the devices pair.

    Are you able to please provide an update on when Garmin will be testing bluetooth on Samsung s7s and updating the chart at http://static.garmin.com/gcm/BLE_Android.pdf
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    Garmin 520 and Samsung S7 connectivity issues

    Exact same problem here, with an S7 and Edge 520. Never been able to pair and get GCM connected.
    The Edge connects with iPhones and older Samsung ok.
    The S7 connects with other Bluetooth devices fine.

    Had given up on Garmin support last year and hoping a firmware/software update for either device would have the fix. After the latest Android 7.0 I applied to the phone I've come back to the forum to see if anyone else has managed to get this going.

    Any advice would be appreciated
  • The S7 connects with other Bluetooth devices fine.
    Which other Bluetooth Smart (i.e. Bluetooth Low Energy mode) devices have you successfully connected to your S7? An external heart rate monitor (on a chest strap, or armband, or wrist band) that transmits over Bluetooth Smart? A consumer fitness wearable device (from Garmin or its competitors)?
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    Which other Bluetooth Smart (i.e. Bluetooth Low Energy mode) devices have you successfully connected to your S7? An external heart rate monitor (on a chest strap, or armband, or wrist band) that transmits over Bluetooth Smart? A consumer fitness wearable device (from Garmin or its competitors)?


    The Bluetooth devices that connect fine are a JVC car unit, UE Boom speaker, Jaybird Bluebuds earphones, and Ford car unit that does make phone calls.
    I'm a bit ignorant here as to Bluetooth versions/modes sorry. Are you suggesting the Edge isn't compatible with the Bluetooth in the S7?

    I am at the point where I believed software running on the S7 was the problem. That maybe an app or setting needed adjusting would be nice!
    This is because the Edge connects with an iPhone 5S, and a Samsung Note5 ok.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    Which other Bluetooth Smart (i.e. Bluetooth Low Energy mode) devices have you successfully connected to your S7? An external heart rate monitor (on a chest strap, or armband, or wrist band) that transmits over Bluetooth Smart? A consumer fitness wearable device (from Garmin or its competitors)?


    The S7 pairs and works fine with Jaybird Bluebud earphones, UE boom speakers, car units JVC and Ford including calling functions.

    I'm a bit ignorant about Bluetooth Smart and BLE sorry. Are you suggesting that these versions aren't supported across the S7 and Edge 520?

    They were released within a year of each other. I took it as given that the hardware/firmware in the technology would be compatible but if I'm proven wrong at least we have a reason.
    I put it down to software on the S7 and was hoping a new release would resolve. Ideally it's just another app or setting to adjust! I connect the Edge to an iPhone 5S and Samsung Note4 without a hitch..
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    Which other Bluetooth Smart (i.e. Bluetooth Low Energy mode) devices have you successfully connected to your S7? An external heart rate monitor (on a chest strap, or armband, or wrist band) that transmits over Bluetooth Smart? A consumer fitness wearable device (from Garmin or its competitors)?


    I've used a couple difference wireless headsets and also used it to connect to speakers via bluetooth on the S7. Not sure about the Smart Bluetooth enabled devices. I devices I have paired with are all older devices.

    I've had more communication with Garmin Support who seem completely clueless that there could be an issue with S7s and Garmin 520s and I keep going through the same troubleshooting methods that don't work.

    I've tried again and paired my old HTC One m7 to the Garmin 520 on first attempt so it is definitely some kind of issue between the software on the Samsung s7 (i've installed all updates as they become available) and the Garmin 520.

    I've asked the support people at Garmin to try pair a 520 to a s7 and they said it was tested on a colleagues phone and worked fine. They said that the omission of the s7 from the compatibility chart is not worth reading into and it's just that they haven't done official testing but there is no suggestion they would not work.