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won't stay on unless I continuously press the light button

michael_galt_1984
over 2 years ago

This is absolutely hilarious.  My watch powered off at some point, all by itself.  It had about 50% battery.  I then tried a billion things to try to get it to power back on, but it would only power off again within 10 seconds of being powered on.  Just this morning, I figured out how to get it to "work".

I have to continuously press the power button.  Over, and over, and over again, continuously.  If I do that, it will power on and stay "on".  In fact, I was even able to connect it to "Connect" on my computer and update my software on the watch.  I watched it charge at least 3%, maybe 4%.  I was able to connect it to my phone via my "Connect" app on my phone.

But, here is what is hilarious.  Since I saw it had updated the software and was able connect to both my computer and my phone... I thought, "You know what, maybe the issue is fixed.  Maybe it just needed to update the software and get reconnected to my phone.  Surely it will be fine now."  

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

No.  As soon as I stopped incessantly and continuously pressing the light button over and over again in short intervals (more frequently than 1x per second), it promptly powered off, despite being hooked up to my computer, showing it was charging.  

So, the absolutely only way I can "use" my $1,000 watch now is to continuously press the power button over and over again without stopping.  It is like the movie "Speed".  No more button presses on the light button?  No watch for you!

Has anyone else had this issue?  Any idea how to keep my stupid watch on without developing carpal tunnel or breaking my fingers?

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  • 0 over 2 years ago

    You started another thread under your other user name () with other problems with your watch - see it here:Companion thread

    I understand you are frustrated by the rules of international warranty claim coverage, but how many threads are you going to start with more whining?

    Better to keep everything in one thread (and under one user name) for best feedback.

    HTH

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to gaijin

    Not "whining".

    This is a "Garmin Support Forum", no? That is what it says.

    There are 2 different issues:

    - Garmin not helping me with the product I purchased directly from them in the country I am in

    - my Fenix 7 won't stay on unless I press the light button continously 

    Now that you understand why those are 2 different threads, you are welcome. Perhaps there are people who unlike you, are helpful here, and can provide feedback in regards to either issue to help me fix either problem.

    If I can get the watch to work properly... I don't need Garmin to fix it or replace it. If I can't, I have no intention of paying them up to $200 additional dollars to repair their defective product. 

    Hope you have a great weekend. Also, thank you for your useful feedback and information. 

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to michael_galt_1984
    michael_galt_1984 said:
    This is a "Garmin Support Forum", no? That is what it says.

    This is a peer to peer discussion forum.  Occasionally, a Garmin rep will jump in, but usually the advice is to "contact Garmin Support in your area."

    michael_galt_1984 said:
    - Garmin not helping me with the product I purchased directly from them in the country I am in

    While you were in the Middle East, you made a U.S. online purchase of your watch for delivery in the U.S.,  and are now trying to get product support in Colombia.  Sorry for your predicament, but rules are rules when it comes to international warranty support.  If it were me, I'd pony up the US$200 and send my watch to Garmin Support in the U.S.

    michael_galt_1984 said:
    - my Fenix 7 won't stay on unless I press the light button continously 

    What fenix 7 Series watch do you have?

    What software version are you running?

    Did you update using Garmin Express on your computer?

    Did you tried resetting all default settings:

    Resetting All Default Settings

    Before you reset all default settings, you should sync the watch with the Garmin ConnectTm app to upload your activity data.

    You can reset all of the watch settings to the factory default values.

    1. From the watch face, hold MENU.
    2. Select System > Reset.
    3. Select an option:

      • To reset all of the watch settings to the factory default values and save all user-entered information and activity history, select Reset Default Settings.

      • To delete all activities from the history, select Delete All Activities.

      • To reset all distance and time totals, select Reset Totals.

      • To reset all of the watch settings to the factory default values and delete all user-entered information and activity history, select Delete Data and Reset Settings.

        NOTE: If you have set up a Garmin PayTm wallet, this option deletes the wallet from your watch. If you have music stored on your watch, this option deletes your stored music.

    HTH

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    Here's some more you might want to try:

    Garmin Watch Freezes, Reboots, or Will Not Power On

    If a Garmin watch is freezing, rebooting, or will not power on, there are a number of troubleshooting steps that can be performed that can help restore your watch to working order.

    The Watch is Frozen and Unresponsive

    NOTE: Most watches will not reset data when performing this process. With vivosmart HR/HR+ watches, this may factory reset your watch and it will need to be set up again before using it.

    1. Press and hold the power button on the watch until it powers off.  This typically takes up to 20 seconds. Leave the watch off for about a minute and then press the power button to turn the watch back on.

      • For information on where the Power button is located, see your owner's manual. 

      • For a watch that does not feature a physical button, plug the watch into a power source using the USB charging cable for 60 seconds and then unplug. This will act as a reboot.

    2. Plug the watch into a power source using the USB charging cable, then press and hold the power button on the watch until powers off.

    If none of these steps resolve the issue of the watch being frozen and unresponsive, product support for further assistance.

    The Watch Will Not Power On

    One of these icons may display on your watch when the battery is too low to boot up and allow MTP, Mass Storage, or Garmin mode.    Try each of the following steps moving to the next if the issue is not resolved:

    1. Press and hold the power button on the watch for up to 20 seconds. Release the button if the watch display starts to come on.

    2. Plug the watch into a power source, then hold the power button until the watch turns on. Allow up to 20 seconds for this step.

    Additional Troubleshooting

    My Device Keeps Rebooting

    If your watch is rebooting, ensure you have applied all available updates to your watch. Available updates can be installed by using Garmin Express. 

    If you have tried these solutions and are still having a problem, Contact Product Support and we will assist you.

    HTH

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to gaijin

    Finally, after continuously pressing the light button approximately 1 time every second, I was able to get through the settings menu and conduct a hard reset, resetting it to factory settings.  I did this twice.  After doing this, I was able to confirm it was reset to factory settings (continuously pushing the light button), but it still won't stay on.  So, it is almost certainly a hardware issue. 

    Something inside the watch broke or stopped working correctly, because resetting it to factory settings should have fixed the issue if it was a software issue, with maybe something being corrupted.  Something internal to the watch is preventing it from recognizing it is charged, or from making sure that the power is getting delivered where it should be.  Pushing the light button perhaps is physically facilitating this connection, but if it doesn't get pushed, it no longer draws the power.  

    The battery is fine.  It was at probably 48% when it first powered off and when I finally got it to stay on by pressing the light button while it was connected to a power source, it was at 47%.  It will charge when connected... but only when it recognizes it is on.  If it doesn't identify itself as on, it won't charge.  

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to gaijin

    Already did all those steps you provided above, multiple times, making sure that I didn't deviate from the instructions in the slightest.  There is some sort of hardware issue. 

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to michael_galt_1984

    This may not help or you may have already tried , a hard button reset can fix potential software firmware bugs but will not fix a hardware issues.

    1. Turn off your Garmin watch**
    2. Press and hold the down, start, and back buttons
    3. Power on your Garmin watch while holding in these two buttons - when watch starts to power up release the power button only
    4. Listen carefully for a beep After the first beep release the start button
    5. After the second beep release the back button

    The watch should now be reset.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to AndrewRuns

    Also did that. It is definitely a hardware issue of some sort. The battery is fine, everything works "properly" if I keep pressing the light button... but, it won't stay on.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to michael_galt_1984

    Have you tested if the power button is stuck due to dirt?

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to subra

    It is not. It appears to be functioning perfectly.