Forerunner 165 Series - Recent Threads

Falha no pareamento foreruner 165 music!!

7505573 — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 19:48:16 GMT

Tenho um S25 e há umas duas semanas estava com muita falha no pareamento com o telefone!!! Já fiz todas as recomendações que vi na Internet... reiniciei o telefone... o garmin... e após a dica de esquecer ele da lista de bluetooth todas não consigo mais parear com o telefone. Não sei mais o que fazer!!

Forerunner 165 automatically broadcasts heart rate

1777571 — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 16:42:59 GMT

In the last 24 hours, my Forerunner 165 keeps going into broadcast HR mode. I disable it. A few hours later it goes into the mode again. I haven't don't any recent activities. I'm not manually enabling it. There is no shortcut/hotkey in the controls menu... it's just turns this feature on by itself.

Training Effect - App vs Daily Suggested Workout

5880691 — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 10:22:24 GMT

Hi everyone,

New Garmin (Forerunner 165) owner and new runner here. For context, I'm a 35M, 185cm (~6'1), ~90kg (~198 pounds).

I've been loving the Daily Suggested Workout feature as it's giving me a structured progression as I build up my running capabilities and knowledge.

I have a question regarding how Training Effect is being labeled on the workout vs the application - I have set up my training to use HR instead of Pace for the workout suggestions as I very quickly learned that it's impossible for me to follow the required pace without emptying my tank in the first few minutes of it.

For the HR setup, I've changed my watch settings to use %HRR as I read that's a better estimation than the default HR zones and after I updated that on the Garmin Connect application, I reset the zones as recommended by other users.

The problem is that each time I finish a Daily Suggested Workout, I'm getting an incorrect Training Effect label than what the goal was.

Here's an example of a suggested Threshold workout that was afterwards labeled as Tempo on the app; the workout was split in the following manner:

Warm-up, 10 minutes @ 138 bpm
Run, 7 minutes @ 163 bpm
Recovery, 2 minutes @ 125 bpm
Run, 7 minutes @ 163 bpm
Cooldown, 10 minutes @ 138 bpm

Here's a screenshot of my heart rate zones and time spent in them during the workout:

And here's the training effect in the application:

This is consistently happening for all my workouts that are meant to be at Threshold, and semi-consistently happening for Base workouts being tagged as 'Recovery' after finishing. I wonder if I have misconfigured something that might be causing this?

Please, any and all tips and feedback welcome, I'm still learning a lot and maybe I've missed something or haven't done something right!

Thank you in advance!

Limited sport selection

9401192 — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:05:37 GMT

Can I ask why a common sport like Badminton isn't available on my FR165?

I have had to get by this by replicating pickleball and renaming it badminton, but it's driving me crazy as it keeps awarding pickleball badges then removing and copies to strava as pickleball. Why on earth isnt badminton available?

Please consider updating the 165 to have more variety of sports available as we dont just use them for running!

Garmin stop working -blue triangle

1233966 — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 05:02:18 GMT

My watch stop working and it’s becoming frustrating.

I already did the pressing of the buttons. It displays the icon of restarting but then again continues to display the blue triangle. Please help. The watch is useless at this point.

excessive battery drain problem after 29.05

6050697 — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 01:17:38 GMT

My Garmin FR 165 is experiencing a battery issue. Until about two weeks ago, the battery was performing perfectly, and I only had to charge it every 9, 10, or even 11 days. However, I noticed that for a little over 12 days now, the battery has been draining fast, and I have to charge it every 4 days. I don't know what happened, whether it was a software update or something similar. I use the original Garmin watch faces that came with the watch and do not use third-party apps. I even performed a factory reset through the app to see if it would resolve the issue, but it was unsuccessful.

Loss of ABC functions {altimeter, barometer, compas} after automatic update

9574013 — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 20:18:07 GMT

Hello, today the 6 th of september 2026 an automatic update occured on my Garmin forerunner 165 that I have been using for 1 year.

Since this update: the ABC functions (altimeter, barometer, compass) are no longer available and in the system menu, it is no longer possible to access the altimeter and barometer settings.

How is that possible? The use of these functions was the reason why I elected to buy this watch. If the functions are removed by Garmin is it legal? Of course not because they can not change the capabilities of a product after they sell it.

So GARMIN please advise me how I can return my watch to have a refund or how I can cancel your update and recover the capablities of the watch that I purshased 1 year ago.

Loss of ABC functions after automatic update. ILLEGAL supression of capability by GARMIN

9574013 — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 14:40:50 GMT

Hello, today the 6 th of september 2026 an automatic update occured on my Garmin forerunner 165 that I have been using for 1 year.

Since this update: the ABC functions (altimeter, barometer, compass) are no longer available and in the system menu it is no longer possible to access the altimeter and barometer settings.

How is that possible? The use of these functions was the reason why I elected to buy this model. If the functions are removed by Garmin is it legal? Of course not because they can not change the capabilities of a product after your sell it.

So GARMIN please advise me how you can refund my watch or how I can cancel your update and recover the capablities of the watch that I purshased 1 year ago.

Music has very low quality

3579464 — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 17:13:22 GMT

Hello everyone,

I just bought the Forerunner 165 Music and the music it outputs is of very low quality. There are crackling sounds on the higher frequencies like cymbals and the bass doesn't sound precise at all. I tried multiple headphones and it's the same problem on each one. I use Spotify on the watch. I tried different quality download settings in Spotify and nothing changed.

Is this a known issue and are there any fixes for this? I bought this watch so I don't have to take my phone on runs, but this music quality is unacceptable and I will have to return the watch if there is no fix to this.

Thanks for your help

Chris

Forerunner 165 v29.05, No steps, no sleep data, no body battery data.

8975897 — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:45:18 GMT

I have been using my Forerunner 165 with version 29.05 whenever it automatically installed. Today I went on a 6.5 mile hike and several other short activities. All the activities recorded accurately with GPS data but when I looked at my step count at the end of the day I have no steps for the entire day and no sleep or Body Battery data. Everything was working fine until today. I didn't noticed until the end of the day.

Software updates making arbitrary changes to settings.

1749998 — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 16:51:36 GMT

I am using a Forerunner 165 and my standard runs have suddenly started uploading to the Garmin Connect app as Intervals with a bar chart summary instead of standard, continuous laps.

I have not changed any settings on my watch or phone. My Auto Lap feature is and always has been turned on. Despite this, the backend software is completely overriding my preferences and forcing my run data into an intervals layout, making it incredibly difficult to view my normal mile-by-mile splits.

Worse yet, trying to fix this within the app is a total headache. The Intervals heading is missing under Show More Data, making it impossible to re-categorise the laps back to a standard run on mobile.

Garmin, please stop changing personal settings and data layouts on our devices via background software updates without at least asking first or giving us a clear toggle to turn it off. If I wanted to track an interval workout, I would select one. Please fix this bug and restore our standard lap views.

Is anyone else experiencing this with the recent Forerunner updates?

problem synchronizing activities

3633342 — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 11:14:25 GMT

After installing version 29.05, an issue occurs when syncing activities with the Garmin Connect app on the phone

Firmware 29.05 - oval exterior/wrong data

7122197 — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 09:06:17 GMT

Hi. Problem in the latest beta 29.05. Running on an oval track outdoors. The GPS randomly gets stuck several times for about 30 seconds, it is not visible in the graph (Connect does not, STRAVA does), the pace is distorted. Also, the heart rate jumps irregularly to meaningless values of 175+ when using the HRM DUAL chest strap, for up to 7 minutes. The GPS shows a meaningless elevation of 100+ meters on the oval even after correcting the data in Connect.

Last activity - Connect data/FIT file drive.google.com/.../view
STRAVA - data /GPX file - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ip-712z7vggY8FxErUOr9p3iXfYsrGel/view?usp=sharing

https://imgur.com/a/YKNEbPf

Thanks for the advice..

Frozen watch face and extremely slow response to input after Update to 29.05

7516273 — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 17:06:01 GMT

Since installing update 29.05, my original Garmin watch face freezes and the watch is extremely slow to respond, sometimes not responding at all to input. It works again for a few seconds at a time, then freezes again. Is anyone else experiencing these extreme performance issues since the update?

Forerunner 165 Series - 29.05 - 100%

Garmin-Kevin — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 17:51:07 GMT

Software Version 29.05 is now available for the Forerunner 165 Series. You may manually download this software update by following the path below:

Menu > System > Software Update > Check For Updates

Change Log

Fix an issue with syncing strength personal records to Garmin Connect.
Fix an issue with configuring heart rate and power fields from Garmin Connect Mobile.
Various bug fixes and improvements.

Option to disable the wrist gesture only during sleep needed

8699200 — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 10:44:14 GMT

I would like to suggest adding a separate setting to disable the wrist gesture for activating the display while sleeping.

The wrist gesture is useful during the day, but at night it can be quite disturbing. Normal movements while sleeping can repeatedly activate the display, causing the screen to light up and potentially disturb sleep.

It would be great to have an option such as:

System → Display → During Sleep → Wrist Gesture: On/Off

This would allow users to keep the gesture enabled during the day while automatically disabling it during sleep.

I think this would be a small but very useful improvement for the Forerunner 165, especially for users who wear the watch overnight.

Option to disable the wrist gesture only during sleep needed

8699200 — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 10:40:02 GMT

I would like to suggest adding a separate setting to disable the wrist gesture for activating the display while sleeping.

The wrist gesture is useful during the day, but at night it can be quite disturbing. Normal movements while sleeping can repeatedly activate the display, causing the screen to light up and potentially disturb sleep.

It would be great to have an option such as:

System → Display → During Sleep → Wrist Gesture: On/Off

This would allow users to keep the gesture enabled during the day while automatically disabling it during sleep.

I think this would be a small but very useful improvement for the Forerunner 165, especially for users who wear the watch overnight.

When running on a treadmill (I have calibrated several times) it still records slower speed, pace and distance? How can I get it to match

2772181 — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 12:16:31 GMT

I have calibrated my Garmin to the treadmill several times but it still records slowe speed, pace and distance? How can I get it to match.

it also keeps telling me to run faster even on an easy run and I am running as fast as I can!

When running on a treadmill (I have calibrated several times) it still records slower speed, pace and distance? How can I get it to match

2772181 — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 12:15:05 GMT

I have calibrated my Garmin to the treadmill several times but it still records slowe speed, pace and distance? How can I get it to match

Training Status not showing up?

Jenna.Ritter — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 21:44:46 GMT

Hello,

I switched to a Forerunner 165 about 3 weeks ago and haven't been able to view my training status. I've been running multiple times per week and my VO2 max is showing up. I tried updating my watch and doing a hard reset. Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

GPS- Innacurate and underdistance.

4647096 — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 07:32:30 GMT

Had several runs with the FR 165 vs Apple watch on the other wrist, Compared the GPS data against th GR 165.

Usually will underdistance.

Crash after backing out of saved activity

smitherbmatthew — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:52:56 GMT

Crashed on v28.05. I believe I finished my run activity, was reviewing it, and then backed out to the watch face and then it crashed. I have not been able to reproduce the issue and I still have the ram dump and error logs if needed.

Fonctionnement de la détection d'incident sur forerunner 165

Nd73 — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 17:57:36 GMT

Lors d'une descente VTT en forêt, j'ai eu une détection d'incident avec une alarme sonore assez stressante émanant de mon téléphone. Or je n'ai trouvé aucune information sur cette alarme. Cette expérience a t'elle été vécue par d'autres personnes ? Je précise qu'apparemment j'avais perdu le signal Gps avant cette détection d'incident.

Issue with touch after saved activity on FR165

8741818 — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 17:30:05 GMT

I have noticed an issue appearing after i save an activity on my FR165, when the screen goes back to sleep (black) and i try to wake it up the touch does not work.

i have to press the Light button to wake it up, and after that the touch works perfectly fine again, is this a known issue?

I'm on the Bundle 28.05 software update if that helps.

Looking for Forerunner 165 firmware Prior to 28.05 (update.gsp file)

7898494 — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 14:54:26 GMT

Hi I’m looking to downgrade my Forerunner 165 to a version prior to Software Update 28.05, due to issues I’ve run into after updating. If anyone has a copy of an earlier update.gsp file (ideally something stable pre-28.05, e.g. 27.10 or 27.09) saved locally from a previous Garmin Express sync, would you mind sharing a link (Drive/OneDrive/Mega, whatever works)?

For context: if you’ve ever updated your 165 via Garmin Express on a PC, there’s a good chance the installer cached the old firmware file locally before overwriting it — even a copy from your own machine would help a lot.

Also happy to hear if anyone has already tried downgrading past 28.05 successfully and can confirm which file names/versions worked for the 165 specifically (update.gsp + force.tmp in the GARMIN folder, from what I understand).

Thanks in advance!