Fenix 7 won't connect to Garmin connect

Hey there, hoping someone has insight for me as I'm 5 hours in and no luck.

Have a new Garmin fenix 7 pro sapphire solar.

I've connected to Garmin Express and updated (at least what express says.).

I've restarted watch, phone, reinstalled Garmin connect. Reset watch. Done it all again 3 times. Tried pairing via the QR code, searching for the watch, and selecting the model (and other 7 models). Tried connecting as a registered watch (added via Express) but not on device.

The watch shows up in my Bluetooth scan, I've tried to add it there and the code comes up on the watch to pair. So Bluetooth seems to be working.

But for the life of me, I can not get the watch to pair to Garmin Connect.

Any thoughts? Some silly setting im missing??