Garmin Connect loses connection, but still connected to iPhone

Seems to be a common problem with iOS and Garmin Connect, regardless of the device being used. As such, I've pinned this thread to the top of the forum. Currently, there are no definitive answers, but here are some possibilities. I realize you've probably already done a lot of this, but didn't want to assume anything. And want to keep this as an ongoing thread for anyone else to view.

Make sure you're doing a complete unpair/pair of the device from the app using the steps below. Include restarting the phone and watch. Of note is that unpairing involves removing the device from the app and  "forgetting" the Garmin device in iOS Bluetooth settings, but connecting involves only using the app. When pairing if you're not seeing the passkey on your Garmin device to enter into the app, then something is not right.

Verify you have all updates by connecting your watch with USB cable and sync using Garmin Express.

Verify you have the latest version of the iOS app (4.35 as of this post)

Have a look at the Sync / Connection Troubleshooting Guide. It is very thorough and covers every possible scenario short of buying a new watch. It's on the android forum, but most steps apply to iOS as well.

If still no joy, contact Garmin Support  to see if anything was missed.

Thanks for that. Yeah I've read, watched, and done it all. The most annoying is when the Garmin app has dropped the watch, but it's still connected via the Apple BT. It really makes the Garmin app look bad. Furthermore, when pairing, it's using an Apple pop-up for the passkey to do so, rather than Garmin, which is confusing since they're so adamant to pair only with the Garmin app. I'll pass on contacting Garmin support. I find them useless since the first five replies are to make sure the watch and phone are both turned on and nearby each other, and the rest are going to blame Apple, though the phone's BT is the one thing that stays connected. They don't actually have any idea why their app drops their watch.

brian_biggs said:

. I'll pass on contacting Garmin support. I find them useless

If you're trying to communicate with them via email, that can be an adventure with going back and forth. I highly recommend you try the chat or phone options where you can communicate in real time.

BTW, there is a new Connect for iOS update that just came out to version 4.35.1. Probably should try that.

Then, if you've done literally everything in the Sync / Connection Troubleshooting guide without skipping any, then the last thing is to set your Garmin device to factory defaults. After that Garmin Support, is your last option. They might offer to warranty exchange the watch. The Instinct Solar should still be covered, since it's fairly new.

I suspect this is some kind of a bug concerning "app background refresh" feature. Well, I dont know how the app is operating on the iPhone to be honest. Just guessing. I have iPhone XR and I am experecing some quirks in BT connection too.
Version 4.35.1 is not avaliable in the App Store yet.

Tomasz said:

Version 4.35.1 is not avaliable in the App Store yet.

You're correct. I was thinking of my android phone. On my iPhone it's 4.35.0.41

i have the same version 4.35.0.41. I can't connect to my iPhone (IOS 14.01) no more. I removed my FR 945 from the app and bleutooth settings in IOS and restarted my watch and iPhone. I have done some numerous tries(including restarting phone and watch, most of the times it don't "see" the FR, sometimes it does but then i won't install.

strange is that when i restart my watch it says connected and on the watch face is a telephone visible. 

It all started at IOS 13.7. I could eventually reconnect but now it is broken again.

I’ve solved my problems with a factory reset of my Forerunner 945. It didn’t wanted to pair immediately. I had to try it several times before the connection was established. 

The problem persists on my iPhone 12 with iOS 14.2.1 and Forerunner 645. The phone disconnects when I am out of BT range and after reconnecting - the connection is broken. Notifications are not shown and the notification page shows a red triangle with an exclamation mark. Nevertheless, the iPhone shows that the watch is connected.

Attempts to disconnect, re-pair or even restore the watch to factory settings do not help. Watch and phone software is up-to-date.

FR645 version: 6.70

Connect Mobile version: 4.37.1

iOS version: 14.2.1

Wow. Thats a nightmare! I also have an Instinct solar and iphone and at the momemt luckily my connection problems are not as bad as what you described. Garmin should say that their watches are not compatible with iphone. This would save a lot of grief.