Related
Options

If you're stuck on loading maps...

CuriousConstruction
over 2 years ago

I'm honestly not sure if this will help you if you're in this state or not but if your watch reboots and sticks on loading maps, hard power it off (power menu for 30 seconds) then power it back up while holding the Lap button.  For my acting up watch this pops up a menu "Restore Defaults" that I'd never seen before.  Saying Yes allowed the watch to boot although it had a "Unable to unlock maps" error afterwards but at least it boots right so in theory you can try to side load an older firmware to do an actual system wipe. 

For mine it ended up crashing again after a little time and then got stuck in a triangle to fenix splash boot loop and I'm having to get a replacement out of warranty ($199). 

But it 'might' help someone recover a watch to working order so I thought I'd post it. 

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to Mpuche

    When my watch is in service mode, I can access the file system through my laptop. You can try to delete the "deletable" files and see if that helps

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to darnich

    Thanks a lot for the suggestion. I'll try this. How do you enable service mode ? I managed to get forced test mode and a partial set of function. 

    I've seen some of you managed to access through stealth mode and wedupadter. In my case web updater doesn't do zilch. How could I access/activate stealth mode ?

    Thanks a lot, it is very fustrating that a simple update to 26.00 through Garmin Express could crash the whole thing....

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to Mpuche

    Keep the Down button pressed during power on and you will enter service mode. When you're done keep the Power button pressed until it shuts off. Then power up as usual 

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to darnich

    I don't know Mpuche's watch but the problem is that  even in Service Mode, the watch keeps restarting after this bug. There's no way we know the computer can recognize the watch.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to dreamer_

    Good news from my end, although it doesn't directly address the system issue. They've agreed to replace my 6x Sapphire unit, out of warranty, for free (with a 3-month delay). Alternatively, I could opt for a non-Sapphire set of 7x for 200€.

    This resolution required extensive discussions with the support team and the support manager, involving numerous emails with supporting evidence. I hope my experience can be beneficial to others in the future. Sending them the service mode pictures I posted (SKU info missing) and a compilation of forums and YouTube links where users express dissatisfaction with how premium product support is handled likely played a significant role in reaching this resolution.

  • 0 10 months ago

    Hi guys, forget everything you saw on the internet, if you're stuck loading maps on your watch. Just follow these steps:

    1. Switch off the watch (long press on the light button).

    2. Once switched off, press and hold the Start/Stop button and, while pressing, connect the watch to the PC.

    3. Keep holding the Start/Stop button until the watch appears on the computer.

    4. Go to the Garmin folder and delete one of the large image files in this folder named "Dxxxxxxx". (These are the maps; one of them is the corrupt map preventing your watch from starting correctly.)

    5. Unplug the watch from the computer and restart.

    6. If it gets stuck again, repeat the process until you find the corrupt map.

    7. Once the watch starts correctly, reinstall the maps using Garmin Express.

    Thank me later.

  • 0 10 months ago in reply to 3339323

    Tried it but never managed to access the Garmin Folder. It just never showed up. I tried on 3 different computers. 

  • 0 10 months ago in reply to Mpuche

    Same for me. It is impossible to access the watch. In my case, Garmin support did not work in Spain.

    When you speak with them, is like to talk to a robot. They don't understand and don't want to read about the many users that have faced this bug

  • 0 10 months ago in reply to Mpuche

    I was in the same situation until last week. I have a Tactix 7, and by pressing the start/stop button while connecting the watch to the computer, after about 15 seconds, the watch initiates a connection to the computer.

    I don't know what model you are using, but it should be similar for watches with storage.

    Make sure the watch is completely turned off.

  • 0 10 months ago in reply to 3339323

    Probably this method only works in the Fenix 7 series.