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ATTN: iOS Users with issues after updating to iOS 13

I Am Having Issues with My Garmin Watch After Updating to iOS 13 on My iPhone

With the released of iOS 13, some changes in the way that your Garmin device communicates with your phone have changed.  Review the following symptoms which should solve your issue.

The Garmin Connect app displays the message "Bluetooth is turned off"


iOS 13 requires Bluetooth Sharing to be turned on for the Garmin Connect app.  Below are steps to enable this setting.

  1. From the iPhone, select Settings

  2. Scroll down and select Connect

  3. Toggle Bluetooth Sharing on

NOTE: For the best user experience with your Garmin device and your phone, the Location setting should be set to Always and all toggles should be set to on.

I Am No Longer Getting Smart Notifications on My Garmin Device


To correct this issue follow the steps below:

Check Bluetooth Settings

  1. From the iPhone, select Settings

  2. Select Bluetooth

  3. Under MY DEVICES select the i icon next to your Garmin device

  4. Toggle Share System Notifications to on

Check Notification Settings

  1. Select Notifications

  2. Set "Show Previews" to Always

  3. Under "NOTIFICATION STYLE" select Messages

  4. Under "OPTIONS" set "Show Previews" to Always (Default)

Update your phone to iOS 13.3.1

Why Do I Need to Keep Signing Into the Garmin Connect App on My Phone?

Garmin is aware of an issue where the Garmin Connect app requires you to sign in when you open the app on an Apple phone.  This can occur when:

  • The phone is rebooted
  • The battery on the phone runs out of charge
  • Some reports of the issue randomly occurring

Apple has released a software update for your phone that corrects this issue. To download and install  OS 13.3.1, refer to the following Apple instructions: Update your iPhone, IPad, or iPod Touch

  • Agree mostly with everything you are saying.  Been an iPhone user since one and do not remember a flurry of updates like this after initial release and stay tuned another coming soon.  But what I do not understand is after 4.20 was released I updated last Friday and everything worked fine for Friday, Saturday and Sunday (had to turn Bluetooth off and on to connect Sunday morning).  Then each day, M,T, and W after GC started acting worse each day.  With Wednesday being the worst where GC would not recognize an exercise just done or would count steps but inaccurately.  Took several attempts turning bluetooth off and on, restarting the watch 3 times, for it to register.  With no changes to iPhone, GC acts like it degrades over time.  Very difficult to troubleshoot.

  • My vivoactive is unable to connect at all after a full day of the update. Was working fine yesterday and now my phone can’t find my device.

  • My vivoactive is not connecting to my phone at all. It isn’t being recognized as a device for Bluetooth. It was working yesterday with the update, but a full day later, it’s no longer connecting.

  • My garmin epix froze everytime i connect the watch and the phone together via bluetooth. Anyone has the same issue? Garmin please help

  • I’m not able to see the home screen on my Garmin vivo smart 4 it doesn’t sync on the application 

    • I still continue to have issues..... just not syncing my activities...
  • I’ve been having the same problem, it just won’t sync my activities and sleep. Have turned both devices off and on, I have removed device, turned Bluetooth of and on many times. Nothing helps. 

  • I can sync my vivoactive 3 to the app but it is not sending my activities data to it.  So the app can send updates and widgets to my watch but not vis versa.  Any ideas?

  • Still not updating activities on my Fenix 5x and wife’s forerunner 35. We have both tried dozens of Bluetooth toggles, power resets on watch and phone, syncing with WiFi and without, etc. This is maddening! 

  • Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is Apple trying to give a bad Garmin experience since Apple Watches are getting bitten up in market share...