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Serious privacy issue on Garmin watches including epix pro (gen 2)

KuBuR
5 months ago

Hey! I'm frustrated that it there is no option in Garmin to keep notifications low profile.

On Samsung watch I can make the display stay off while the notification is coming. Therefore no one sees it, I just feel the vibration and if I want to review it then I do the wrist gesture, which makes the screen turn on and display the notification with the content. Works like a charm.

On Garmin the display always pops up and you can only hide the content. Still, everyone in the room know that you have just received a WhatsApp msg or e-mail and moreover they know from whom! Of course they don't know the content (if you used privacy mode) but come on! That is a serious privacy issue! Your wife will know that your lover just texted you! Wink

Additionally, the screen stays on for 30 seconds minimum! Showing the world everything... It is a serious privacy issue Garmin!

Do you know if there are any ways to make the Garmin display stay blank and not pop-up during notifications from apps? I see no such way. Searched the internet and garmin app. Nothing.

All you propose is weak privacy mode, which only hides the content, but the rest is broadcasted by the display to everyone who looks at it.

So frustrating that this basic privacy stuff is neglected here... Or maybe I missed something in the process?

  • 0 5 months ago

    I think it's an all or nothing type thing, if you want see the app alert you of a notification you'll also see the preview of the message.  You CAN turn off app alerts to the watch.  This will then prevent anyone else seeing a message. It's in the settings on the Garmin connect mobile app. 

    I think garmin could give the option to just alert you with the app icon and no text preview.  That doesn't seem to be a difficult software change/update in Garmin connect?  But I would also say that your experience with a Samsung wearOS watch is a different planet compared to the garmin world of watches.  You will find other 'quirks.'  But that battery life makes up for a lot of annoyances. :-)

  • 0 5 months ago in reply to net1994

    Hi, the feature you are describing is already implemented. You can turn on the privacy mode and the the preview is not visible. You just see the icon of the app.

    But for emails or whatsapp you see the icon + the name of a person who wrote e-mail or msg.

    This is ridiculous, because even though you don't see the exact msg, you still see who send it.

    So my point is - why there is no option which allows the screen to stay black. So you can pick if you would like only to have Just the vibration or sound or both, but not the screen notification.

    Then if you want to see the notification, you just raise your hand and this is the moment when the screen turns on and shows you the details.

    It is also very simple to implement.

    I simply don't agree that the screen should turn on for each notification and then stay on for another 30 seconds. Even from the battery life perspective it is not wise, not to mention privacy.

  • 0 5 months ago in reply to KuBuR

    Additionally to the current privacy feature I would love the screen to go back to privacy again, if you turn your arm away from you again. Currently you have to interact with your watch to be private..