Vivoactive 5 pairDevice not working anymore

RE: Vivoactive 5 pairDevice not working anymore

Syro — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 09:08:06 GMT

From the tests i've been running with the Fenix 8, it doesn't need it indeed, even on datafields. My new hypothesis is that Garmin "broke" the vivoactive 5 (easy to say...) so what can i do now ? is there a way to have any kind of support or infos from the garmin team ?

RE: Vivoactive 5 pairDevice not working anymore

flocsy🤠 — Sat, 04 Oct 2025 04:52:50 GMT

Why? The announcement uses the word "can", not "needs", it sounds to me optional

RE: Vivoactive 5 pairDevice not working anymore

Syro — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 09:22:47 GMT

I got my hands on another garmin and the datafield work fine on a Fenix 8 47mm with API leve 5.2.0 and system 8.

Can someone explains or give an hint on why it's stopped working on the vivoactive 5 after the watch firmware update ?

RE: Vivoactive 5 pairDevice not working anymore

Syro — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 11:32:00 GMT

If I understand you correctly—and based on the link you shared—it seems I need to add a SensorDelegate to enable pairing with a BLE sensor. Is that right? But this is only available in App not datafield ?

I hadn’t considered that approach because the data field sample in SDK 8.3.0 doesn’t appear to use it, so I wasn’t looking in that direction.

I’ll give it a try and keep you posted. Thanks a lot for the lead!

Edit : quick question but does BluetoothLowEnergy.pairDevice() in an app is enough to use the sensor for future use in a datafield or do you have also to do RequestBond() on the device ?

RE: Vivoactive 5 pairDevice not working anymore

jim_m_58 — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 11:20:24 GMT

Ok, on the va5 with data files, you ned to follow this.

https://forums.garmin.com/developer/connect-iq/b/news-announcements/posts/connect-iq-sdk-8-2-now-available

Non-data field don't need it, like my apps and the 1st nordic sample.

RE: Vivoactive 5 pairDevice not working anymore

Syro — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 06:47:46 GMT

Yes i've tried several things, connect seems to work with your app https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/9bcc8b66-8385-4afb-b93e-f69e01422284 (Great for testing !)

I am using a class that extend Toybox.BluetoothLowEnergy.BleDelegate to scan and connect.

Currently i'm trying to remove services to see if that is the problem and looking for solutions. But i don't understand HOW a garmin firmware update can break the datafield that way ?

I tried SDK sample NordicThingy52 and i can connect fine with the App. Then i tried the NordicThingy52CoinCollector datafield sample and i have the same behavior with my datafield, device is scanned but after pairDevice, connect never happen.

Edit : I found an nRF53 evaluation board and flashed the examples on both the watch and the board. The result: the watch app scans and connects fine, but the watch data field still doesn’t work.

RE: Vivoactive 5 pairDevice not working anymore

jim_m_58 — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 15:22:47 GMT

Have you tried rebooting the watch? press and hold the upper button for 15-20 seconds and the watch turns off. Then turn it back on.

I'm able to pair my va5 with no issue.