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Fenix 7X freezing/glitching when using flashlight outdoors in sunlight?

9417105
over 3 years ago

Just checking in to see if anyone else is having this issue or could confirm a possible bug. I've got a Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar that when I try to activate the flashlight outdoors during daytime (double taping the LIGHT button), it doesn't turn on the light and eventually (within 30 seconds or so), the whole watch locks up and requires a hard reboot. Sometimes the reboot isn't enough and the watch becomes stuck on a "FENIX 7X" wait screen indefinitely (at which point I will again hold the LIGHT button for 20 seconds to turn it off, wait some time, then push it to power on).

I think I've isolated the problem to operating the flashlight when the solar panel is being used to charge the device outdoors. Sure, why would I want to use the flashlight when I'm getting enough sunlight to charge the watch? I don't know. I don't think it should lock up like this though. When I restarted it, it also lost all my heartrate data but everything else (sleep, other data bars) were still there, oddly enough.

Anyone else experiencing anything like this? I've also tried navigating to the flashlight menu when outdoors and tapping on the brightness buttons for the white or red LED won't activate the light.

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    Assuming this does not effect all and is “some what” isolated. I ask as I ordered a new F7X sapphire. 

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to ericbfit

    I think it would effect a lot, but I guess the argument is most won't be using a torch where there is enough light to be charging via a solar panel! 

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to ericbfit

    And don't forget the watch is absolutely bloody amazing other than this.... the battery life if unbelievable! And Nav via the watch is spot on once you get used to Garmin logic 

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to KrapfenKringel

    Ok yesterday it worked today it froze first try. Reboot in my dark pocket worked on the spot though. 

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    I just tried starting the torch mode in bright sunlight with 8.37. What happened is the light didn’t turn on but the widget indicates it’s on. I tried both the widget and the double-tap the light button. 

    Power off and back on then froze on the fenix 7 screen until I forced a shutdown and plugged it into a power cable to boot. 

    Now the flashligh works again. 

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to 3018367

    been with garmin since 205 days and have many products including the F6X for 2.5 years

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Garmin - Chris

    Hi Chris. My 7x (FW 8.37) will freeze when trying to activate the flashlight during solar charging. 

    Are there any confirmation on whether it's due to hardware or software?

    Many thanks.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to XF F7x

    If there are any updates you will see on top of this thread. The latest update from Chris is dated June 17th, 2022. The same behavior was confirmed by Brian 17 days ago running the same FW 8.37.Previous comments contain the answer to your question if this issue is hardware or software related.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to ArionK

    Thank you ArionK. I saw some threads noticing that it's hardware issue. But no confirmation from Garmin Chris.  I will wait and see. :)

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to XF F7x

    Please note, this was the last update. The update is seen at the top of every page of this forum thread.

    "We believe we have identified the cause of why the flashlight is freezing the watch. Our engineering team will fix the issue with a software update in Q3 2022.

    A workaround has been found. If your watch freezes turning on your flashlight while your watch is solar charging, place your watch in a drawer for 3-5 minutes in total darkness. Your watch should recover from the freezing event and will avoid either a hard reset or full reset."