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Watches won't stay connected to iPhone 14 Pro Max.

calamitycoyote
over 1 year ago

I have an iPhone 14 Pro Max and two Garmin watches. VivoActive HR and VivoActive 4. I use the 4 during the week and the HR during the weekend while I charge the 4.

Here lately, I have been having issues with both of them loosing connection to my phone. I keep Garmin Connect running in the background. Most of the time when I open the app to add hydration I notice that the device I am wearing is not even connected. I end up having to power cycle the watch several times or even power cycle the phone before it connects again. Bluetooth is turned on but showing not connected. I've tried cycling BT off/on with no progress. Other BlueTooth devices (headphones) have no issue connecting when I turn them on. I've closed the app several times as well and it just won't connect or stay connected until I power cycle. I keep the VivoActive 4 "locked" to prevent from accidental swipes while working and draining the battery even quicker.

These issues only started recently (within the past couple of weeks). The 4 is set to the primary device. However, in the past, Garmin Connect would automatically switch to the HR when I place the 4 on the charger and remove the HR from charge. I always keep the second device on charge while using the other and always connect current one to charger before disconnecting the second to help prevent it from trying to connect to both at the same time. Anyone else having these issues or can anyone please advise as to what could be going on here? Thank you.

  • iPhone 14 Pro Max - iOS 16.6
  • Garmin Connect - v 4.69.1.5
  • VivoActive 4 - v 7.80
  • VivoActive HR - v 5.30
  • Garmin Express - v 7.17.3.0
  • 0 over 1 year ago

    Can’t get my watch to switch off 

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    I am having the same issues with an iPhone 14 Pro and a Garmin Fenix 5s. I have to remove the device and add it back in if I want to synch. Every day. Very frustrating.

    Garmin Connect v 4.70.0.25

    iPhone 14 Pro iOS 16.6

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to ECheley

    I have an iphone 13 pro max and a vivomove style.  I too have had trouble with my bluetooth connection dropping consistently.  Now my phone will simply not connect.  I've tried everything.  I eventually removed the garmin device from the connect app, and now cannot pair it again. 

    I've had trouble in the past with the same issue and after a long and frustrating conversation with numerous garmin employees, eventually had the device replaced (it was still under warranty).  Here I am again!  So frustrating.  

    Wouldn't encourage me to buy / upgrade to another garmin device.

  • +1 over 1 year ago in reply to 8010887

    I actually think this is an iPhone/iOs issue. I had an iphone 12 and it worked just fine with my garmin (same watch). Ever since I moved to the iPhone 14 Pro, it no longer stays paired. I can connect my garmin watch but if I move away from the phone, it disconnects.  I have to remove my watch, forget it in bluetooth and do the pairing process all over again if I want it to connect. I am hoping they get enough complaints that they add a fix to iOS. 

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to ECheley

    That would explain things since it is with both watches. Glad I don't have to go through all that disconnecting and pairing. I just power off/on a few times until it reconnects. I hope iOS gets a fix in for it as well. Thanks.

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    Unfortunately I have the same problem with my new fenix 7X Pro and iPhone 13 Pro. In the settings, the Location is set to Always and the connection works only until I go to the Connect app. After I go to see my training statistics and close the app, the connection is immediately disconnected and no longer reconnects. I have to turn the watch off and on and not open the app again. I think the Garmin team has received quite a few reports of this problem. By the way, my wife has the same problem on her iPhone 14 Pro.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to havoc

    I have the same issue with my Fenix 7x pro and iPhone 14 Pro. If I move away from the bluetooth distance it disconnects and when I get back it is not able to connect again. I have to turn off bluetooth and then turn on and it syncs again. Any tips? iOS issue? 

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to Medy82

    Like ECheley mentioned, I think it was an iOS issue. I have since then updated, now on version 17.1.1 and I no longer have this issue. My Garmin Connect is also now on version 4.73.1.6. So make sure you are running the latest iOS and Connect.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to calamitycoyote

    I have all the current updates but, after a couple of days of random faults, the phone and watch now refuse to speak!

    Fenix 7x pro and iPhone 14 Pro, so far, BT headphones wouldn't connect, then music stopped working (deleted and reinstalled Spotify) both devices powered down, plugged in to laptop/power, BT switched on and off.

    Reboot watch and it seems to have deleted everything... watch faces gone, date field now 2004!

    It's like negotiating with poltergeists!