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Garmin Connect Mobile Android Known Issue: Forerunner 220 Unable To Sync with Samsung Galaxy S3 (+ Workaround)

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Known Issue: Forerunner 220 Unable To Sync with Samsung Galaxy S3 (+ Workaround)

Former Member over 11 years ago

We are currently aware of an issue that can occur when attempting to sync a Forerunner 220 with a Samsung Galaxy S3.

The Forerunner will successfully pair with the phone, but will be unable to sync/upload with the app. The problem appears to be due to the Forerunner encountering an error while downloading the GPS ephemeris data during it's initial connection.

We do believe we have discovered a temporary workaround, for those experiencing this issue, that seems to work in most cases:

Note: Before attempting the steps below, please ensure that your Galaxy S3 is running Android version 4.3 or higher, the Forerunner is running the latest firmware, and the app is up-to-date.

To temporarily correct the issue, reboot both the phone and the watch and attempt the sync again. During our in-house testing this appeared to correct the issue temporarily. Subsequent sync attempts may require a reboot to be performed again.

We have informed the developers of this issue and they are currently looking into a solution.

Please monitor this thread for any updates.

0 Canbill over 10 years ago

Also bought a FR220 with an eye to the BT features. Won't upload runs through my phone. It does pair and shows connected on both phone and watch and seems to maintain the connection. It connects multiple times whenever i open the app. It will not upload the runs from the device or send anything to the device even though it shows strong stable connection.

The watch itself is everything i want EXCEPT for the BT connectivity. That was a big factor in my purchase decisions and it is a real disappointment that it does not work. After purchasing numerous Garmin products (and reccomending them to others) over many years this may be the one that drives me away from them.

Using a FR220 with the latest updates (as of yesterday) and a Galaxy S3 with 4.3 Android.

0 Former Member over 10 years ago

Usually I just re-boot my watch and then it syncs up, but this is a frustrating pain in the neck. I did not start having this problem until after firmware version 2.90 was installed, syncing worked fine with the previous version of the firmware.

0 Former Member over 10 years ago

Garmin Forerunner 220 sync problems

Just bought a GF220 and downloaded the Garmin Connect app. I'm having trouble syncing my runs to the app. I keep getting an error - unable to sync message. HELP!!!

0 Former Member over 10 years ago

I too have the same problem pairing a 220 with a S4 (version 4.4.2). I contacted Gamin support and after going through all their diagnostic hoops, ended up getting a replacement. The replacement has the exact same behavior...S4 Bluetooth devices screen sees the 220 but after putting the 220 into pairing mode and a long pause, the S4 reports "Unable to communicate with Forerunner 220".

While diagnosing the first 220, I also attempted pairing the 220 with my Wife's S3...exact same behavior. Garmin has an issue with Sx phones. The new 220 was just updated with the 3.0 firmware release and no change in behavior.

Other than this issue, it has worked pretty well but if I had known about this pairing issue beforehand, I would have made a different purchasing decision.

0 Former Member over 10 years ago

Same problem. Forerunner 220 connects with S3 but does not sync. Latest firmware installed and S3 is running on Android 4.3. The Forerunner 220 is, except for this issue, a perfect device. Why doesn't Garmin either fix this problem either acknowledges it cannot fix it ? Such a disappointment !

0 inandout22 over 10 years ago

Same problem. Forerunner 220 connects with S3 but does not sync. Latest firmware installed and S3 is running on Android 4.3. The Forerunner 220 is, except for this issue, a perfect device. Why doesn't Garmin either fix this problem either acknowledges it cannot fix it ? Such a disappointment !

You have to be on Android 4.4.2 for SYNC to work. I tried for ages with 4.3 and nothing will work.

Works flawlessly with 4.2.2. Make sure you start with a fresh install of Connect after moving to 4.4.2.

0 Former Member over 10 years ago

Same problem with my 220 and S3, v4.3. Do some phone/watch pairs work and not others, suggesting quality control problems? Or do all Forerunner 220s have this problem?

0 Former Member over 10 years ago

Same issue with my Forerunner 220 and the Galaxy S3. Will not sync. When will this be fixed Garmin? Since this thread is over a year old I believe you guys don't really care at this point.
This watch was a Birthday gift. I wouldn't have bought a garmin product just for reasons like this. Too bad you guys don't really care about quality. Keep working on your next piece of junk guys.

0 Former Member over 10 years ago

I had bought FR220 and there was no BT issue with Galaxy S3. Now i have Fenix 3 and there is the issue you described. Hope Garmin will kill the issue.

0 Former Member over 10 years ago

FR 220.....synced no problem through the Connect App, NOT the Bluetooth menu.....