This discussion has been locked.

You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion

Can't connect my Garmin device to my iPhone

I've just bought a new Garmin device. I'm trying to connect to my iPhone, but the Garmin Connect app insists that Bluetooth is turned off, though it's turned on. I can't get past this issue. I've tried turning both devices on and off again a couple of times, but makes no difference. Any ideas?

0 seilogramp over 3 years ago

Follow these instructions and video. Be sure to remove all things Garmin from the Garmin Connect app and forget all Garmins in iPhone BT settings.

Verify that you're running the latest release of Garmin Connect Mobile iOS.
In the Garmin Connect app remove Garmin - More > Garmin Devices > select your Garmin device > Remove Device (do the same for any other Garmin devices)
On your iPhone go to Settings > Bluetooth > select your Garmin device > Forget This Device (do the same for any other Garmin devices listed)
If you have any other mobile devices (phones, tablets) nearby and paired with the Garmin, also do the same there - Settings > Bluetooth > select your Garmin device > Forget This Device
Restart iPhone
Restart Garmin
Place your Garmin in pairing mode - depends on model, but usually hold MENU > select Pair Phone.
Pair using Garmin Connect, not your phone's Bluetooth settings.

0 Lemony over 3 years ago in reply to seilogramp

The watch is new and hadn't yet been paired with the phone so I couldn't unpair it (forget the device) and start again! I was trying to pair using the app but the app wouldn't accept that Bluetooth was turned on - this was the problem I was trying to solve.

After some time going through various settings, I discovered that the problem was that Bluetooth wasn't enabled in the app settings. I hadn't known that there was a setting for this, but came across it accidentally. I assume that the Garmin app has Bluetooth enabled as the default option - therefore this wouldn't be an issue for most people - but some time in the past I turned off Bluetooth in all apps as I didn't need to use it (saves battery life and better for privacy). The Garmin device I've been using until know was an old one that didn't have Bluetooth. The one thing that I hadn't yet tried was resetting the default settings on the app, or removing it and starting again. However, it turned out that I didn't need to do this.

Perhaps Garmin could add the following instructions (for iPhone) to the troubleshooting guides.

Go to settings. Scroll down until you reach the Connect app. Go into the app settings and ensure that Bluetooth is enabled within the app.

In the end, the solution was simple, but only if you know that Bluetooth has to be enabled in each individual app.