Fenix 5/Apple iPhone connection problem

The problem:

Garmin Connect application on iPhone shows grayed out symbol next to the watch on the screen occasionally (lost connection between Fenix 5 and iPhone).

Issue background:

I recently changed phone from iPhone 6s+ to iPhone 8, using a backup from iCloud of my old phone. After doing so I have noticed that the connection is not nearly as stable as with my old phone between the devices. The symbol next to the watch in the application Garmin Connect is grayed out, and I need to force-quit the application and restart it to get the connection to work (symbol turns green, connection functioning again). This never happened on the old device. I have tried installing the phone "from scratch", and then it works properly. However, I have a lot of information on the backup that is essential, and reinstalling is not really an option. I've deleted the bluetooth device from iOS and re-paired the watch (after having deleted the application and downloaded it again) with no success.

Has anyone experienced something similar, or anyone with an idea that could help me solve the issue?

Kind regards

0 peteholloway over 7 years ago

This is an iOS11 bug, I believe it has been fixed in the 11.1 betas, so you could join the iOS beta programme or wait for the 11.1 release.

0 0sea over 7 years ago

I have the same issue whenever my iPhone and fenix are separated for a while. Fortunately force quitting the app fixes it every time. Almost do it without thinking anymore. I confirmed the iPhone does see the Fenix as "connected" under the bluetooth settings which makes me think it's the Connect app. I'm running the latest iOS 11.1 beta but don't see any difference.

0 ThiagoSian over 7 years ago

This is an iOS11 bug, I believe it has been fixed in the 11.1 betas, so you could join the iOS beta programme or wait for the 11.1 release.

It's not fixed on 11.1, and I guess its something that Garmin must do in the app.

0 peteholloway over 7 years ago

I installed iOS 11.1 beta 3 on my iPhone 6 yesterday and I have not yet had a connection issue. I'm using the beta GCM App too.

EDIT: 24 hours on beta 3 now and not a single bluetooth dropout... I was toggling bluetooth on the phone 5 or 6 times a day to reconnect to the watch.

0 --Fred-- over 7 years ago

Are you sure it's not solved? I had to disable and re-enable bluetooth for my F5 to sync with my iPhone for a while, but now I run the production iOS 11.0.3 it syncs as it should again.

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

I have installed 11.1 beta 3, and although it seemed to work better for 36hours or so, after two nights of being too far away from the phone, the bluetooth connection was gone again and the only way to fix was to power cycle the iPhone... Doesn't seem to be fixed here.

0 ozrique over 7 years ago

I am on 11.0.3 and waiting for the final release (using the phone in my business and don't want to participate in beta-testing). This is a highly annoying problem which has crippled the watch. I hope it get solved quickly.

0 tylerp over 7 years ago

I have the same problem and it's very frustrating.

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

On IOS 11.1 beta 4, still no luck. I'm suspecting that it's not just an IOS issue. Is it any better with FW 6.75 beta? I'm still on 6.00...

0 CoolDixon over 7 years ago

My Fenix 5 has been connecting and disconnecting from my 30 cm far iPhone 6s during the whole morning. It is extremely annoying!
Does anybody know it it is Fenix firmware, Mobile Connect, iOS 11 or what concerns me the most a hardware related issue?