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Bug - Connected GPS Stopped Working with GCM Android v4.32 Update

The connected GPS feature stopped functioning when I updated the Garmin Connect Mobile for Android app to the update pushed yesterday, June 24th, 2020. My Vivosmart 4 displays the "Waiting for GPS" message until it times out with the X icon and "Unable to connect to phone GPS" message when I attempt to use Connected GPS. Data syncing to my Vivosmart 4 works perfectly, and the app displays realtime heart rate info, so the Bluetooth connection to the watch seems to be working fine. My phone gives me the system notification from Connect Mobile "Sending GPS to Vivosmart 4" when I select Connected GPS on the watch, but it does not display the location/GPS icon in the Android task bar indicating that location services on the phone are being used, and the list of recent location services requests in the phone's settings does not show any location requests from Connect Mobile. My watch is still displaying weather data.

ETA: Garmin Connect Mobile shows a version number of 4.32, nothing listed under Build Number (it's in the post title, but I thought I should add it to the post body).

The failure point appears to be Connect Mobile actually polling the phone's location service: the watch is telling the app to pass through the GPS info, as indicated by the notification, but the app is not actually requesting the data from the phone's location service, as demonstrated by the phone not showing the GPS/location icon and not logging a location services request from Connect Mobile.

Connect Mobile has all permissions enabled, and I've cleared the data store and completely reinstalled the app. I've also restarted the phone. I've connected the watch to my desktop computer by the cable and synced it manually, also, as that has sometime resolved problems before.

ETA: Garmin Connect Mobile also has full background data permissions, and background activity is allowed (can't be disabled, and Samsung's app "sleep" function is disabled for Connect Mobile). I also tried resetting all network settings, as there were previous threads indicating that some Samsung phones encountered connection issues that this resolved; resetting network settings did not resolve the problem.

Other apps are able to use the phone's location services without issue - tested with my weather app and Google Maps, for example.

My phone is a Samsung Galaxy S8 Active (Sprint/CDMA version SM-G892U) with an unmodified version of Samsung's Android distribution (One UI version 1.1, Android version 9), kernel 4.4.153-17061689, security patch level March 1, 2020.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago

    I have the same issue. Worked Thursday, fails today. Using Vivosmart 4 with v4.60, Connect 4.32 and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge with Android version 8.0.0, kernel 3.18.91-14843133, security patch level 1 February 2020.

    Hopefully this will be fixed soon?

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago

    Viviosmart 4 here, same problem.  I even thought "why update when it's working great right now".  Did it anyway.  Learned my lesson.

    edit: upgraded app again today (from 28th?).  Still won't get GPS from phone. 

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago

    Same use here.

  • Same here with my vivomove Style.  Please fix this!  I emailed support.....still waiting a reply!!!

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago

    I have had the same problem. Thanks for the info about reinstalling older version. Worked for me. Legend! 

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago

    I've been having the same problem as everyone. I've been in contact with Garmin and they "will get back to me as soon as they resolve the issue." I am not too hopeful, and I'm not going through the rollback process to fix their problems. I did try, but had issues with data stored internally on my old S5.  My wife and daughter both have Fitbit Charge 4's that work like a charm with built in GPS. Garmin has a week before I cut the cord and bail!

  • Note: Garmin recently* pushed a firmware update for the Vivosmart 4 for the sensor hub (v.5.03) and network (v.4.71) components. I was hoping the network stack update might address the connectivity issue, but it still has not (still not working when I updated Garmin Connect Mobile after updating the watch firmware). For anyone with a Vivosmart 4, you can go ahead and install the firmware updates for the watch, but you should stay on Garmin Connect Mobile version 4.31.1, as connected GPS is still bugged in versions 4.32 and 4.32.1.

    *I noticed and installed it today, but I don't check every day, so it may have been released before today.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to Johann7

    Tried to install the older version from different sites: I get an error; app not installed at around 90%.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member

    Yeah, I had a similar situation. I downloaded everything, but it wouldn't install the older version. I'm not too surprised though. I have an old Samsung S5 and it didn't have the newer internal software required.

    So, I either wait for Garmin or switch to Fitbit.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago

    Just installed Connect 4.33 and the GPS works!