back light gesture never works...has not worked even once

for someone exercising, this is obviously a key feature; without it, I cannot imagine using the watch

All the exercise that I do, and now apparently I'm missing a key feature.

Raise a ticket with Garmin Support and see what they have to say.

if that exercise includes, for an example, riding a bike in heavy traffic and wanting to actually be able to tell time without releasing my hand while going at some speed, I guess I am just too much of a wimp......

beyond that, I guess I don't understand why you even posted the answer that you did.

I enabled the backlight gesture for the first time yesterday, so my experience with it is very brief. It seems that I have to make a very distinct "raise your arm and look at the watch" movement to make the light turn on. If I just raises my arm "casually" like I usually would, the light will not turn on.

Regarding the other discussion in this thread: You made a very broad statement for something which only applies to a more narrow set of circumstances. For example, people who exercise in sunlight will probably not see the backlight gesture as "obviously a key feature" for someone exercising.

thanks for the note.

I have even tried a highly exaggerated motion,more than what is described as the kind of motion that would, to put it in my words, be considered normal for someone who wants to simply look at a watch to tell the time. if it had worked that way, I would still be sending the watch back, if, indeed, that this the best this thing will do.

that said, they advertise it, people are giving them money for what they say the watch can do, and, respectfully, whether it is key for 5% of their users or 100% may not matter to those for whom it is not, but for the rest, it does. even 5% of the universe that might buy this watch makes it "key", given the numbers.

.....no different than the golf feature matters to golfers even as I don't play golf. nevertheless, they paid for a function and they are entitled to it...and for them it is "key".

I should not have had to have spent a couple of hours of trying, resetting, researching, etc...unless this watch is simply defective and then, well, that happens..although I have my doubts as opposed to the feature just not performing very well...but I hope I am wrong.

anyway, I do appreciate your note and info. thanks again.

I guess then you'll need to be taking up the matter with Garmin support.

I find this absolutely necessary feature works as described when running. When cycling, I have the device in a quick release. All I do is press one of the buttons to activate the light. Nothing I'd even consider doing if in heavy traffic at speed where the risk of crashing is increased. But then I am a wimp.

I have the 935 and have this option activated - for me it doesn't work consistently enough to be of use but it does work - so I suspect that you may have a fault of some sort if you have tried a range of gestures etc

All the exercise that I do, and now apparently I'm missing a key feature.

Raise a ticket with Garmin Support and see what they have to say.

^^This.

Seriously, it sounds like you have tried all the settings, which pretty much leaves the issue of a fault in the accelerometers somewhere as a possibility.