Instinct 2 Solar freezing on USB connexion

Brand new Instinct 2 Solar. I've been trying to add it to my Garmin Express account, but Express won't find it. I've tried all the common options : re-installed Express latest version, run it as administrator, downloaded latest Garmin driver set. Tried different cables. Nothing works. Neither Express on Windows on on Mac will find the Instinct.

In Device Manager, I see an entry for Garmin USB GPS, with a little blue question mark against it. The watch shows the USB connexion symbol, but nothing happens from here on. No amount of pleading with Express to have another look works. When I disconnect, the watch is frozen until I force a restart.

I'm out of ideas on how to proceed. Is this a known problem? Is it a problem with this watch? I'd be grateful for pointers and guidance.

  • Same issue with my 2X. I think they will fix it for next update.

  • Thank you for that. At least it's not a fault in my particular watch so waiting for a fix is the right thing to do.

    Thank you again.

  • At least it's not a fault in my particular watch so waiting for a fix is the right thing to do.

    No problem here

  • I'm out of ideas on how to proceed. Is this a known problem?

    I did not see anyone reporting it here on the forum yet (or perhaps a person in the past, though not completely sure it was the same issue). And I do not experience any such problems either.

    I recommend verifying the USB mode in the watch menu » System » USB Mode. Although it should work with both settings, I suggest using the default setting Mass Storage. Also please note that it may take several tens of seconds before the computer recognizes the USB device. 

    If it does not help, try the Master Reset of the watch. And clean the contacts - both on the cable, and on the watch. If still no go, call directly the Support. A replacement may be needed.

  • please note that it may take several tens of seconds before the computer recognizes the USB device. 

    Not sure why but it can take some time before the watch is recognised couple of minutes or more, at least on my Mac anyway. How long are you waiting ?

    If you've got no connection after 10 minutes (should show up before that) or so then reach out to Garmin Support.

  • Thank you, you finally got me sorted. Problem appears to be with the laptop.

    First, took on board the suggestion to let the MacBook have more time to register the watch, and that worked. Express recognised it, and I downloaded a new watch face to check that they were communicating.

    Mass storage mode wouldn't work on the Dell laptop. Switching mode to USB Garmin allowed Express to see the watch but then the watch face froze and Express reported Not Connected. Express launched Connect when I tried to sync but no data was retrieved from the watch. Even connecting the watch to the USB port without Express running resulted in a frozen watch face that required the twenty-second push restart.

    Encouraged by the Mac success, I switched from using my Dell laptop to my HP laptop. Worked straight away. Download another watch face. Synced it to show latest heart data and steps data.

    So now I'm back in business, the Instinct 2 is again my primary wearable. Don't know what the issue is with the Dell other than it's Windows 11 and the HP is 10.

    But all is now working, and I'm grateful for the patient help I've been given here.

    Kind regards,

    Alex

  • I'm having the same issue with instinct crossover. And this is happening with Win 10 & 11 (and a chromebook). Don't have Apple to test against. It appears the Crossover crashes as soon as it encounters a USB connection as it needs resetting post connection. It also required a reset post the latest over air update

  • I had the same problem with my Instinct 2 Solar Surf. My Forerunner 955 Solar would connect to my Windows 11 PC, but the Instinct with SW 12.25 would freeze reproducibly. I finally did a reset on the watch and restarted the watch. After this connection to the PC would work. I sideloaded the latetst beta (13.16.) . So far things work as expected.

  • Same problem. Instinct 2 Solar. Dell laptop. Windows 11. :(