can't connect to the app

I am having the same issue with my instinct. It completely stopped syncing with the latest update. I’ve tried all the steps you did. I can’t even pair my instinct with the app anymore and the time is out of sync by several minutes. This latest update of 19.01 for the firmware really stuffed things up. Only bought the insintct brand new in September 2022,not even a year old.

You should go back to Garmin.  There's a 1 year warranty against defects.  Mine is older than 1 year.

Full factory reset didn't work either.  Now, i have a $300 useless device.

Call Garmin Support.

Well, i was reluctant to call Garmin support.  I figured that would be a deep black hole.  What a nice surprise.  The rep was super helpful and is replacing my out-of-warranty Instinct at no charge.  I couldn't have asked for a better outcome.  Well done Garmin and Cody (support rep in Kansas).

There are some here that will argue differently, but I've always been treated extremely weill by support.

With support like i experienced today, i'll be a Garmin customer for a long time.

I’ve sent off a query to support to see if they can fix the issue from their end. But since where I live, I may need to go back to the shop where I bought it and see if they will do a product replacement for a different Garmin watch. Other than this current issue,this is my second Garmin. I love the product. I switched to Garmin after researching what products the band material was made of,since I had been having constant massive allergic reactions to the watch bands of Fitbit. I will never go back to that brand. My car gps is also a Garmin product (that thing has been used multiple of times and worth the $)