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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

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago

    This is still happening on my 13.3 iOS and VivoSmart HR.

    It requires an uninstall of the APP and a reset of the watch.

    That is not bad but it happens several times a week.

    Love my Garmin, but not the APP or the support.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago

    Once I updated the iOS, my watched stopped vibrating. I still get notifications and if I change it to sound it will make the sound with notifications. The watch will vibrate during activities so I know the vibrate works on the watch. I know this happened with fitbits also... has anyone figured this out? I’d rather my watch vibrate at work and not make sounds for notifications.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago

    This does NOT fix the problem. Stop lying to make the product look good! I did everything that was asked to do and I am at one month of no steps.  This is straight up junk! I have the Vivoki. I have to change the battery twice a month. Junk!

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago

    I have been so frustrated with this watch ( vivoactive 3 music) and garmin connect app situation, which means my watch no longer syncs with my Iphone 7 and no longer is it ever connected to Bluetooth.  I have raised my concerns with garmin and found them to be most unhelpful.  I feel so insulted with them pretending that they are not really aware what the issue is when clearly my issue is not an issolafed one judging by this forum! All I know is about 10 days ago I was awoken to my watch advising that the Bluetooth sensor update had been performed and ever since then my watch no longer syncs with phone. Strangely this is not exclusive to iOS 13 as I am running ios12.  I am so disappointed and coming very close to returning my watch and requesting a refund, because this is really poor. In addition, I have followed every step going to try to resolve this including doing a system reset, but all to no avail. 

  • I have a different problem since iOS 13. I have iPhone XR full updated (iOS and apps) and many times I open GC it goes to the pair new device menu. I go to Bluetooth settings and it is paired, I have to remove, add again, and after a few days it goes again. This stopped in some previous app GC updated I had made, but in the last one keeps doing this ... it is so frustration, every time I want to sync the FR235 with app, I need to FORGET THIS DEVICE, then pair again, enter all my personal data again, and sometimes ti doesn't work and have to do it all again ... Do you mind do get it work?
    I had previously removed the app, reboot iPhone, installed app, all configs and after sometime it goes on the app saying it doesn't have any smartwatch paired ...

  • I have a different problem since iOS 13. I have iPhone XR full updated (iOS and apps) and many times I open GC it goes to the pair new device menu. I go to Bluetooth settings and it is paired, I have to remove, add again, and after a few days it goes again. This stopped in some previous app GC updated I had made, but in the last one keeps doing this ... it is so frustration, every time I want to sync the FR235 with app, I need to FORGET THIS DEVICE, then pair again, enter all my personal data again, and sometimes ti doesn't work and have to do it all again ... Do you mind do get it work?
    I had previously removed the app, reboot iPhone, installed app, all configs and after sometime it goes on the app saying it doesn't have any smartwatch paired ...

  • I have a different problem since iOS 13. I have iPhone XR full updated (iOS and apps) and many times I open GC it goes to the pair new device menu. I go to Bluetooth settings and it is paired, I have to remove, add again, and after a few days it goes again. This stopped in some previous app GC updated I had made, but in the last one keeps doing this ... it is so frustration, every time I want to sync the FR235 with app, I need to FORGET THIS DEVICE, then pair again, enter all my personal data again, and sometimes ti doesn't work and have to do it all again ... Do you mind do get it work?
    I had previously removed the app, reboot iPhone, installed app, all configs and after sometime it goes on the app saying it doesn't have any smartwatch paired ...

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to 8758788

    I tried the suggestions that you kindly made and asked me to try. However, I can confirm that uninstalling and reinstalling app and rebooting phone and watch has not resolved issue.  It connected to Bluetooth for a brief moment but the pairing was short lived and it soon went back to being unable to connect to my phone.  This is very frustrating. Need a fix for this very soon. 

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member
    • I am not Garmin Official... I dont know how but my watch is working. Hope you crack how. But of course I agree that customer service is more than suboptimal.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago

    I have an iPhone 7 (fully updated) and Garmin Fenix 5X, Vivosport and Instinct. Since the update every night when I shut off my phone in the morning when I turn it on GC has completely forgotten all my devices. I have to re-sign into the APP and reconnect all my devices. This means I lose all my records. Super frustrating to have to do this every morning. Also, like some comments below, I see my devices are "connected" on my phone but the GC App is not seeing them. Feel like BT is constantly trying to connect to my devices which I assume kills the battery. This seems like such a basic connectivity issue that should be resolved.

    I have deleted and re-installed the app multiple times including after a full restore of my phone. Issue still persists.

    Had such solid connection for my many years of use and was considering a 6X Solar. Love the devices but the App is abysmal.

    Come on Garmin!