Fenix 5 bluetooth pairing problem

Former Member
Former Member
So I've had the Fenix 5 Sapphire for a few weeks now and enjoying it. Last couple of days it hasn't been connecting and therefore not syncing to or showing notifications from my Galaxy S7 edge though (which is up to date and running latest available build of Android Nougat 7.0). I tried to reconnect from the garmin connect app but and I had to key in the code showing on the watch (like usual), however it still wouldn't sync. So I deleted the watch from my phone's list of bluetooth devices as well as from my devices in the Garmin connect app and tried to re-connect the watch as a new device - still no luck. It sits on the "Connecting your Fenix 5" screen for a while with the progress bar at around 5 percent before it suddenly says "pairing failed" and giving me the option to retry.

I've reinstalled the connect app, and now even factory reset the watch, but it still wont connect to the phone via the garmin connect app. And yes the watch is in pairing mode when I try to connect.

Watch software is 2.90, Garmin connect app is version 3.17. After working fine previously, wifi also stoppet working, and obviously hasn't been working after the factory reset either as I can't connect to the phone.


Any help is appreciated.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 7 years ago
    So I've had the Fenix 5 Sapphire for a few weeks now and enjoying it. Last couple of days it hasn't been connecting and therefore not syncing to or showing notifications from my Galaxy S7 edge though (which is up to date and running latest available build of Android Nougat 7.0). I tried to reconnect from the garmin connect app but and I had to key in the code showing on the watch (like usual), however it still wouldn't sync. So I deleted the watch from my phone's list of bluetooth devices as well as from my devices in the Garmin connect app and tried to re-connect the watch as a new device - still no luck. It sits on the "Connecting your Fenix 5" screen for a while with the progress bar at around 5 percent before it suddenly says "pairing failed" and giving me the option to retry.

    I've reinstalled the connect app, and now even factory reset the watch, but it still wont connect to the phone via the garmin connect app. And yes the watch is in pairing mode when I try to connect.

    Watch software is 2.90, Garmin connect app is version 3.17. After working fine previously, wifi also stoppet working, and obviously hasn't been working after the factory reset either as I can't connect to the phone.


    Any help is appreciated.


    Try under Android system the application "GCM Runner" (android market)
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 7 years ago
    If I'm understanding you correctly you mean the 3rd party app on the google play store? I believe it's for maintaining a bluetooth connection, my problem is simply establishing a connection between the phone and watch using the Garmin connect mobile app.
  • Former Member
    +1 Former Member over 7 years ago
    FIXED:

    Rebooting the phone and force stopping "Bluetooth share" application did the trick. The latter is done by going to phone settings -> applications ( ->show system apps) -> bluetooth share -> force stop (Samsung Galaxy S7 edge)
  • I started having trouble pairing by F5 after my Galaxy S7 upgraded to Nougat. This procedure helped immensely:
    https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?363689-Update-Bluetooth-Connection-in-Connect-Mobile-for-Android

    I believe you can only make WiFi changes through Garmin Express on a PC/Mac, and since you factory reset your watch, you'll have to re-do this.

    If you still can't get it to work, try to upgrade to the latest Beta 2.95 firmware (instructions in a sticky at the top of this forum).

    What version is your BLE/ANT/SNS firmware on your watch? (Settings -> About)

    Edit: You beat me to the punch. :) Glad you got it fixed..
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 7 years ago
    Hi All, I too also noticed the BT connection with my Fenix 5 lost after the Android update.
    I was stupid enough to unpair it during troubleshooting and had big problems getting it back paired in Garmin connect.
    Things I tried to get it paired and working.
    1. I have a Hauwei so I set the smart unlock function so that BT devices can unlock (Not sure if this helped or not)
    ------Then i proceeded to

    1. Switching off BT
    2. Going to , Settings > Applications > Show system processes > Bluetooth Share > Storage > **Clear Data & Clear Cache
    3. Switching On BT
    4. Restart your phone
    5. Then once again pair the device (I would also definetely pair whilst your phone is fully charged as I have noticed by Hauwei's BT performance drops significantly on low power)

    I have tested this on Garmin connect verions 3 and 4 both are working.
    I have also noticed a big improvement once I disabled my Power saving modes on my Huawei.
  • Thanks!  This fixed my issue for a fenix6...

  • Thanks, fixed my pairing issue!

    Cheers!

  • This helped me too, I haven't updated Android. My Fenix 5 stopped synchronising and I unpaired it. Was unable to pair after that until I tried to clear bluetooth cache.

  • Mike22's method fixed it for me as well with some minor changes, the full steps I did:

    1. Switching off BlueTooth
    2. Going to , Settings -> Apps -> Show System Apps -> BlueTooth
    3. Force Stop BlueTooth
    4. Go to Storage -> Clear Data & Clear Cache
    5. Switching On BlueTooth
    6. Restart your phone
    7. Then once again pair the device 

    I have needed to do this 2 times, after going on holiday to a different timezone, so the plane ride / network / timezone change may be causing this issue.