Pairing Problems Instinct 2/Fenix 7 + Pixel Phones (Android 11,12,13)

Former Member over 3 years ago

I have trouble connecting newer Garmin devices to my phones. They can be found via the devices bluetooth managers and I can also pair them (both Fenix 7 and Instinct 2) but they are never found inside of the Garmin connect app. Both watches are APAC versions.

From what I read in this forum this issue seems different from what other people experience since the watches are never found inside of the applications.

I gave yesterday the Fenix 7 back to the store (BicCamera, Shinjuku, Tokyo) and while talking with the clerk he told me there were several Fenix 7 given back over the last month. Since he was seeing the issue before I did not have to explain it much. However, while demonstrating the issue my Phones showed up like 10 different unpaired Garmin watches from the store (no Instinct and no Fenix) + my Venu 2 also works without problems.

Possible similar issues:

forums.garmin.com/.../1420558

What i tried:

Factory resetting of the phones and watches
Updating the watches (The Fenix 7 to the latest Beta, not available on Instinct 2 APAC)
Flushing the Bluetooth last devices lists
Using only garmin connect on empty phones
Reinstalling the apps
That guide forums.garmin.com/.../instinct-solar-camo-will-no-longer-pair-with-pixel-5a

Devices i tried:

Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar
Instinct 2 Solar

Phones i tried:

Android 13 (Pixel 6 Pro (JP))
Android 12 (Pixel 6 Pro (JP), Pixel 4a 5g (EU))
Android 11 (Pixel 4a 5g (EU))

Garmin Connect Software Versions (Android) I tried:

4.55
4.54
4.53
4.52
4.51
4.50

(Update 1): A gif showing how the application does not find the watch, but it shows up in the bluetooth menu of the phone. The Pairing is activated on the watch and also on the phone. I did let it run for several minutes just cropped it for the sake of the gif.

Top Replies

Former Member over 3 years ago in reply to trux +1

Yes i did everything. I just realized that guide is from you! I think it would be really helpful also in some of the other related questions.

I contacted the support in japan and will update here on the…

All Replies

0 trux over 3 years ago

They can be found via the devices bluetooth managers and I can also pair them (both Fenix 7 and Instinct 2) but they are never found inside of the Garmin connect app.

I am not sure if I you know it, or if you tried the pairing just for the test, but if you pair the watch with the phone from the Bluetooth menu of the phone, then that will prevent the Garmin-native pairing over the GCM app. So if you previously already paired the watch from Android, remove the watch from BT on the phone, clear the BT cache, and then try pairing it from within Garmin Connect Mobile.

0 Former Member over 3 years ago in reply to trux

Thank you for your suggestion. Your suggestion is - I think - also covered by the guide I linked and followed. Just to be sure I just tried it again, sadly with no result. I updated the initial post with a gif showing what I meant in the beginning.

0 trux over 3 years ago in reply to Former Member

Well, if you did really everything described in the guide, and it did not help, then in your place I would call the Support and have them investigate the problem.

0 Former Member over 3 years ago in reply to trux

Yes i did everything. I just realized that guide is from you! I think it would be really helpful also in some of the other related questions.

I contacted the support in japan and will update here on the results. I hope they can help - I'd really like to keep my garmin watches so it would be sad if I would need to switch.