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Lots of issues in Vivoactive 4S

Former Member over 5 years ago

I bought a Vivoactive 4s last week and dont really know what to think. It is quite an expensie watch with a very good description and I really wanted to have it, but:

- I havent been able to connect my card in GarminPay. At first tgere was an error message that there is no communication with servers, today that message was gone but when I try to add a card, nothing happens at all.

- Sleeping data isnt working at all, not even one night. Even my cheap chinese watch is showing me some sleeping data without me needing to do anything.

- Not all data gets synced to the mobile app, much more goes to the website though, for example I did 3 walking activities in one day, I can see them on my watch and I could get them to the website but only one got to the mobile app, no matter how many times I synced.

- Cant get stats for different things, like steps or health measurements. For example, I do my walking activities and I see how many steps and such there were. But if I look in my Steps tab, there is nothing, shows only the number of steps (154) from my very first evening when I got the watch. So even though I see number of steps in activity data, in Steps tab there is only that 154 number and it stays there as an average.

- Why isnt there an option to manually add steps to the activity? I mean why can I add km and calories but no steps? I am doing daily challenges and want to be able to see my progess, I mean, I want to add data for the days before I got the watch and there is no pton to do that,

I was really expecting something good from this watch but looks like it isnt working even in half of what was promised. Is it me or is the watch bugged?

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0 Beatz over 5 years ago

Heya! - not sure I can comment on the issues that you are experiencing, but I too have had the VA4s for a short while and I'm having issues with a few bits and bobs (low battery life/performance, sleep data not always accurate, VO2 Max not updating, oddly low looking HR readings etc.) and I definitely think there are bugs/glitches that are in dire need of being fixed.

Coming over from Fitbit, I understand that these processes do need to occur so that they can be ironed out via updates and patches, but I assumed Garmin would be a bit more efficient at doing so. I've spoken to Garmin Support a few times about a few issues over time for two different devices that I've owned, and every time they have been really poor.

I just hope that enough people raise these concerns for them to sort it out. These devices are not cheap to buy, and I expect better support when things go wrong.

0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to Beatz

I am just trying to understand, is it just me being unlucky with being sold a buggy watch or VA4s just haven't been tested enough before going to the stores. I really like how it looks like and while thinking which watch to buy, I only really had 2 options, Samsung or Garmin and this watch seemed to be way better. And now after spending almost 300 euros I only got a very beautiful step counter. And step counter that doesn't show me any stats at all :). I am really not sure what to do about it. Will there be an update that will fix it all and I should just wait. Or should I send the watch back.

0 yaatzek over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member

What phone are you using?

0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to yaatzek

Samsung Galaxy J6+

0 yaatzek over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member

Ok, I'm not an expert here, VA4 is my first ever Garmin device, but here it goes:

- I connected my card with Garmin Pay flawlessly, check if you bank supports Garmin.

- sleeping data works like it should with puloxymeter. Are you wearing the watch tight enough and in proper place?

- all data syncs as it should with the app on the phone. Check if you phone's system doesn't interfere here: battery optimisation, proper permissions etc.

- don't know if it's a bug or a feature but "walk activity" doesn't count into daily steps. With running it's ok.

So for me the only issue for now is vo2 max.

0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to yaatzek

Yes, my bank is supported, that is why I wanted to try to connect my card. But setting up Garmin Pay doesn't go anywhere where I can even start submitting card details LOL. It doesn't really matter, Garmin Pay would be good to have but isn't that essential for me yet.

But all the rest, like sleeping data and all the stats from other measurements would be logical to have. Not sure what is wrong. Maybe I should find someone to show the watch and phone to, I don't know. It shouldn't be THAT hard to set it all up and I never had any issues with anything before, but looks like something is off, weather some setting on my phone, although I checked everything every single day, or the watch is really buggy and I am just one of the million who got the wrong one. Don't know. But good to know that for some people it is working very well. That is what I wanted to have also :)

0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member

I just wanted to write the update. Last night I did another reset and re-downloaded the app also. Had to set up everything from the beginning. And suddenly everything started to work. I was also able to add my card to Garmin Pay and when I woke up in the morning, even the sleeping info was there for the first time ever! And all the activities I added to the website also synced to the mobile app and show me the stats. That makes me so happy!

I hope it will stay like this as now I am pretty happy with the result. And I hope it was the only re-setup that was needed to do and I will be able to enjoy my watch :)

0 Ebuzolo over 3 years ago

I bought one, Vivoactive 4, two months ago and I'm really up set‎. Few features work well. It looks like the SW is with bug. There are hundreds of complaints on the Internet, but Garmin does not resolve them. They should have a recall. A shame, for Garmin.