SW 16.22 (CIQ System sw 7.0 added, CIQ API 5.0.0), but in 2025 February cannot install/set ciq contents

Before downgrading my Enduro 2 from sw18.16 to sw16.22 I had made some cross check whether I would be able to use the same CIQ contents as with 18.16.

I saw that with sw16.22 CIQ System 7 came and there was no change between 16.22 and 18.16.

So I downgraded, but even if I was happy that not just the downgrade, but also the Restore was perfect for the first time for me, I realized that CIQ Store app denied not just any update of my ciq datafields and watchfaces, but also their settings.

I am totally confused. Is there anybody who can explain what else I should have considered? If CIQ 5.0.0 is not good for none of my ciq watchfaces and ciq datafields what else should be checked?

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0 Tisztul_A_Visztula 6 months ago

I see only this minor change in CIQ version, and 18.16 had the same version as 18.14

Version updates - sub-components

System Update : 18.14 (was 17.28)
CIQ : 5.0.1 (was 5.0.0)

0 Flavien_Fcubed 6 months ago

You can't do anything about that if you use a up to date Connect IQ app. You should be able to install your apps using Garmin Express on a computer.

You won't be able to install apps built with a SDK version > system 7.

That's really disappointing as recent firmwares are extremely buggy for my use case but that's how it is...

Don't try to find any logic, Garmin is just blocking app update/settings access on watches with downgraded firmware even if the SDK version used to build the app is compatible with your current version.

0 Tisztul_A_Visztula 6 months ago in reply to Flavien_Fcubed

Thank you for your answer.

Do you mean that with Garmin Express (which I erased from my laptop just 2 hours ago as a revenge to my Garmin related pains :-) ) I can install and set the same ciq contents having 16.22 as I could earlier having 18.16?

0 Flavien_Fcubed 6 months ago in reply to Tisztul_A_Visztula

I successfully installed apps using Garmin Express yesterday so yes, it should work. If the app is automatically removed from your watch it means it was built with a SDK version unsupported by your watch firmware. Be aware you won't be able to change settings on your mobile though (if you absolutely have to there's a workaround but it requires a android phone, pm me for more details if you're interested).

0 Tisztul_A_Visztula 6 months ago in reply to Flavien_Fcubed

Thx, I use an IOS phone.

Anyway, by now I got hated both GE and CIQ app, and I decided to get rid of the latter. As regards GE I am going to try to avoid the settings of my ciq contents, because each time there is the sw update threat.

Maybe a very old GE would help with the latter, but as far as I remember the very old versions have to be updated before using them.

0 Tisztul_A_Visztula 6 months ago in reply to Flavien_Fcubed

Flavien_Fcubed said:
I successfully installed apps using Garmin Express yesterday so yes, it should work

I tested it and I can confirm, thabnks again for this hint.

0 Flavien_Fcubed 6 months ago in reply to Tisztul_A_Visztula

Great ! Your welcome !

0 GregorS 6 months ago in reply to Tisztul_A_Visztula

How can I avoid a firmware update when using GE? I am on 16.22 and do not want to upgrade. Since GE does an auto-update each time I use it (also when auto-update is disabled on the watch), I stopped using it altogether....

0 Tisztul_A_Visztula 6 months ago in reply to GregorS

So far I have not invented a good solution. I even created fake GUPDATE file in Garmin folder, but I could not “defend” it with Windows security rights, so it is always overwritten by GUPDATE file of the actual sw version.

The only thing that you can do is manually deleting the file each time before you unplug your watch.

0 Tisztul_A_Visztula 6 months ago in reply to Tisztul_A_Visztula

I figure out another way just now, which works better (BUT DO NOT FORGET TO CHECK GARMIN FOLDER!!!)

The GUPDATE.GSP file is copied from a folder like this one: C:\ProgramData\Garmin\CoreService\Downloads\Firmware\Firmware_Firmware.006-B3907-10.20.16\gsup\006-B3907-10\20.16\full\rel\97cee59d-bd3c-41df-95d5-3323ca1d75b3

So I put the fake GUPDATE.GSP there (it is empty file) and denied all of the rights of all users including SYSTEM.

Now GE cannot override it. :-))) And GE is crying like a baby that there is an error :-)

Of course, other sw version will be copied to different folders, so I guess the ultimate solution is to make C:\ProgramData\Garmin\CoreService\Downloads\Firmware\ folder unaccessible for any users including SYSTEM.

But so far so good....