Notification issue on new 5 possibly?

I've been doing some experimenting on the smart notifications and sounds settings both on the watch and in Garmin Connect (GC) before and after sync, with my observations summarised as follows:

Even if the Smart Notifications are set to vibrate (Settings>Phone>Smart Notifications>Watch Mode/During Activity>Sounds>Vibration) the vibration does not work unless the Alert vibration is also turned on (Settings>System>Sounds>Vibration>On).

Both the Smart Notification sound settings and Alert Tone sound settings are present in the device settings in GC, but when the watch syncs with GC the sync is only one way so that GC 'always wins'. So whatever is in the device settings in GC always overwrites whatever has been entered on the watch when you sync.

When I set the following device settings in GC: 'Alert Tones' to 'Off' or 'During Activity' and 'Vibration Alert' to 'On'; the 'Alert Tones' element correctly transfers to the watch on sync, but the 'Vibration Alert' setting always turns the Settings>System>Sounds>Vibration setting on the watch to Off.

However, when I set 'Alert Tones' in GC to 'On' and 'Vibration Alert' to 'On' then after sync the Settings>System>Sounds>Vibration setting on the watch is correctly set to On.

So it seems the only way for Smart Notification vibration to stay on after a sync with GC, you need to make sure in GC the device setting for 'Alert Tones' is 'On' and also 'Vibration Alert' is set to 'On'; but that does mean alert tones, such as move alert, will make beeps

I may be alone with the above findings, but if I'm not then if anyone can find a better workaround solution so that both Smart Notifications and Alerts remain on silent vibrate after a sync with GC, then please do share.

I totally understand the frustration on this issue, something new, of course we expect that everything will work as expected.
I am frustrated just reading about this and don't even have my 5 yet , as this is a feature that I will definitely be using.

As far as the problem with the vibration working on and off, I really believe it is out of our hands.. With all the trial and errors from everyone, it seems to eventually just toggle itself off after a while.

As someone stated before, I think Garmin has people that go through forums like these when issues on a new product come up, so that they can work on fix updates. This really isn't a big deal for a Garmin programer to fix.
It's unfortunate that this is going on, but I feel that Garmin will fix the issue soon.

For you guy's that just got your fenix watches, don't kill yourself trying to find a solution for this, let Garmin deal with it. Just enjoy the many features that the new fenix line has to offer and slowly but surely everything will work as expected.

I got my Fenix 5 Sapphire yesterday and in the beginning I had the same problem as some of you: after a sync with GC the vibration setting would always be turned off despite me having turned it on earlier.

After connecting it with Garmin Express and hooking it up to my WiFi it did the update to 2.4. I double checked the settings in GC just as Crispin_Ellisdon described and also the settings on my watch. I now have it set to: 'Alert Tones' -> 'During Activity' and 'Vibration Alerts' -> 'Always', and have not had a problem since, despite manually syncing about 5-6 times since yesterday evening with GC. Haven't synced with Express again so I don't know if that might be a part.

Would be interesting to know what causes the behaviour on your devices since it doesn't seem to affect everybody.

I have the same issue everything is ok until i sync my watch. So until Garmin have it fixed the only thing that works for me is to "close" Garmin Mobile app on the iphone and then vibrations are still on :)

I had the same issue with my Fenix 5, there's the conflict between the backlight wrist gesture and the vibration. If vibration worked, the backlight gesture didn't, after sync again, the backlight was back to work, but the vibration wasn't. I think the issue was gone after I installed the custom watch face (not pre-installed watch faces).

I had the same issue with my Fenix 5, there's the conflict between the backlight wrist gesture and the vibration. If vibration worked, the backlight gesture didn't, after sync again, the backlight was back to work, but the vibration wasn't. I think the issue was gone after I installed the custom watch face (not pre-installed watch faces).

I just tried this. I was using a standard watchface that was preinstalled. I sent a text no vibration at all but the watch lit up and the message showed. I then went into settings-sound-vibration was off- so I turned it on, switched to a custom watchface sent a text again and the vibration worked. I then opened the Garmin Connect App and let the watch sync. I then sent another text and no vibration - went back into settings-sound and of course vibration was switched off.

Yesterday I went in and turn the vibration on after the watch synced to the Garmin Connect app. I then let the app run in the background and never opened it again the rest of the day and the vibration worked all day. So around 7pm, I looked at the Garmin Connect app and in the corner it stated the last sync was like 6:45pm which was 15 minutes earlier and the data was right for steps etc. THEN IT SYNCED again with that little bar at the bottom of the APP and then the vibration was off again. SO its something with the interaction with the sync and the GC app.

When the watch syncs with the APP and the little progress bar is at the bottom, how do we know if its syncing Bluetooth or Wireless. I am guessing throughout the day yesterday my watch was syncing via bluetooth while I was at work. It would sync throughout the day I would guess. Or did it wait till I got home and synced?

I usually look at the app a couple times a day so as soon as I do the vibration turns off.

Even if the Smart Notifications are set to vibrate (Settings>Phone>Smart Notifications>Watch Mode/During Activity>Sounds>Vibration) the vibration does not work unless the Alert vibration is also turned on (Settings>System>Sounds>Vibration>On).

That works for me.

I've been doing some experimenting on the smart notifications and sounds settings both on the watch and in Garmin Connect (GC) before and after sync, with my observations summarised as follows:

Even if the Smart Notifications are set to vibrate (Settings>Phone>Smart Notifications>Watch Mode/During Activity>Sounds>Vibration) the vibration does not work unless the Alert vibration is also turned on (Settings>System>Sounds>Vibration>On).

Both the Smart Notification sound settings and Alert Tone sound settings are present in the device settings in GC, but when the watch syncs with GC the sync is only one way so that GC 'always wins'. So whatever is in the device settings in GC always overwrites whatever has been entered on the watch when you sync.

When I set the following device settings in GC: 'Alert Tones' to 'Off' or 'During Activity' and 'Vibration Alert' to 'On'; the 'Alert Tones' element correctly transfers to the watch on sync, but the 'Vibration Alert' setting always turns the Settings>System>Sounds>Vibration setting on the watch to Off.

However, when I set 'Alert Tones' in GC to 'On' and 'Vibration Alert' to 'On' then after sync the Settings>System>Sounds>Vibration setting on the watch is correctly set to On.

So it seems the only way for Smart Notification vibration to stay on after a sync with GC, you need to make sure in GC the device setting for 'Alert Tones' is 'On' and also 'Vibration Alert' is set to 'On'; but that does mean alert tones, such as move alert, will make beeps

I may be alone with the above findings, but if I'm not then if anyone can find a better workaround solution so that both Smart Notifications and Alerts remain on silent vibrate after a sync with GC, then please do share.

this is correct. I just tested it.

NEW DEVELOPMENT

SO decided last night to start completely over with this

I opened Garmin Connect App on Iphone 6s plus removed the watch from the app and removed from bluetooth
I factory reset the watch
I logged into Garmin Dashboard and removed watch from there
Uninstalled Garmin Connect APP from phone
Rebooted Phone

THEN

Installed Garmin Connect App and logged into APP
Rebooted watch and went through setup and pairing with the watch
Everything went smooth. I never attached to the PC at all or did any setup through the Dashboard via the USB for Garmin Express

Since I have done that. EVERYTHING is working as expected. THE notification vibration never toggles off. I open and close the app multiple times and it syncs perfectly. Vibration stays on.

I am going to connect to the PC later today and see what happens after that.