Soft feeling/No click button possible fix

I have my Instinct since December and the Back button has always felt different, like "mushy", no click. I always wash it thoroughly when I know sweat has drenched it during an activity. Today I was thinking about it and an idea came to me: What if I use a drop of silicone spray? I did just that, one or two drops of silicone spray around the button and it is now very "clicky" just like the other buttons. Just wanted to share this in case anyone was as annoyed as I was because a button doesn't click on an otherwise perfect watch.

Top Replies

Dan.Boilermaker over 4 years ago +4 suggested

Had the same problem with my GPS button. Contacted Garmin support via email and they set up an exchange for another unit.
Garmin - Chris over 3 years ago in reply to Tom +3 verified

I am sorry you are having a hardware issue with your button. Please reach out to Outdoor Product Support. We will be happy to assist you further.
Dan.Boilermaker over 3 years ago in reply to Tom +2

I ended up getting the watch replaced twice. The last time I sold it and bought a Fenix 6.

All Replies

0 Dan.Boilermaker over 4 years ago

Had the same problem with my GPS button. Contacted Garmin support via email and they set up an exchange for another unit.

0 iceman91 over 4 years ago in reply to Dan.Boilermaker

Yeah, it is nice they offer a replacement, but someone responded in another thread that the replacement began doing the same after 3 days.

0 Dan.Boilermaker over 4 years ago in reply to iceman91

Fortunately for me, mine has functioned properly. Good luck.

0 DavideMTB over 4 years ago

iceman91 said:
I have my Instinct since December and the Back button has always felt different, like "mushy", no click. I always wash it thoroughly when I know sweat has drenched it during an activity. Today I was thinking about it and an idea came to me: What if I use a drop of silicone spray? I did just that, one or two drops of silicone spray around the button and it is now very "clicky" just like the other buttons. Just wanted to share this in case anyone was as annoyed as I was because a button doesn't click on an otherwise perfect watch.

Exactly same problem here. My Instinct is only 4 months old and I wear it only on weekends. My GPS button is getting worse day by day (soft feeling - no click - mushy) and I fear that soon it will stop working. Other buttons are really perfect instead.

0 DavideMTB over 4 years ago in reply to iceman91

iceman91 said:
Yeah, it is nice they offer a replacement, but someone responded in another thread that the replacement began doing the same after 3 days.

I have heard this from several other users too. So I will wait that my gps-button-feeling to become truly unsustainable before asking Garmin for a replacement. Fortunately, the warranty lasts for 2 years.

0 Rick11 over 4 years ago

Here my solution.

1. Wash with water the GPS and BACK buttons

2. Clean with compressed air the GPS and BACK buttons

They are NOT like new, but they more or less "click" when pressed. This is a design problem of the Instinct, I hope Garmin will fix it in the next generation.

0 WaleczneSerce over 4 years ago in reply to Rick11

I have a year of this model and I have no problem with the buttons and I use them very actively.

0 mr_mortar over 3 years ago in reply to Dan.Boilermaker

What sort of condition if the 'exchange' unit. I might need to log a call as my back button although working has gone spongy to the feel but scared i'd be sent a scuffed up 2nd hand repair belonging to someone else

0 4913021 over 3 years ago

This is the norm, I already have the third garmin instinct and each button was soft after a few days from the purchase

0 Tom over 3 years ago

The GPS button on my Instinct stopped clicking and went soft after about 8 months of use. It does get a bit annoying sometimes and the button presses in easier and sometime accidently gets pressed now. I don't really want to be without a watch and mess around sending it back and then waiting for a replacement though.