Forerunner 165 Series - Recent Threads

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.

Audio prompts - missing settings

8751864 — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 11:24:42 GMT

Hi guys,

In the user manual, audio prompts are described as follows:

Playing Audio Prompts During an Activity

You can enable your Forerunner music watch to play motivational status announcements during a run or other activity. Audio prompts play on your connected Bluetooth headphones, if available. Otherwise, audio prompts play on your phone paired through the Garmin Connect app. During an audio prompt, the watch or phone mutes the primary audio to play the announcement.

NOTE: This feature is not available for all activities.

1 Hold UP.

2 Select Audio Prompts

3 Select an option:

• To hear a prompt for each lap, select Lap Alert. • To customize prompts with your pace and speed information, select Pace/Speed Alert. • To customize prompts with your heart rate information, select Heart Rate Alert. • To customize prompts with power data, select Power Alert. • To hear prompts when you start and stop the activity timer, including the Auto Pause® feature, select Timer Events. • To hear workout alerts play as an audio prompt, select Workout Alerts. • To hear activity alerts play as an audio prompt, select Activity Alerts (Activity Alerts, page 71). • To hear a sound play right before an audio alert or prompt, select Audio Tones. • To change the language or the dialect of the voice prompts, select Dialect.

But my connect app and watch don't have the items highlighted in red. Why? I use Iphone and airpods.

RE: Audio prompts - missing settings

8155629 — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 13:21:58 GMT

I would like to confirm something..

The thread seems to hint that it is possible to receive workout prompts from your phone. I own a Forerunner165 (no music). Currently I'm following a coaching plan and am getting no cues during workout runs which makes it hard to follow, especially on interval runs.

1- is it possible to set up training prompts through your phone? Has anyone got it working?

2- how??

I'm extremely disappointed if it isn't possible to set up since this is the main reason I got this watch. I didn't get the music version because I didn't mind bringing my phone along but NEVER thought it wouldn't allow me to get training prompts. I hope I can return the watch if this isn't possible. Garmin needs to do a better job at explaining model limitations. Even the official response below seemed surprised by this.

RE: Audio prompts - missing settings

8155629 — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 13:12:35 GMT

I would like to confirm something.

I own a Forerunner 165 watch (no music) and am currently not getting workout audio prompts at all. Ie: I'm following a Coach plan and am getting 0 cues during a scheduled run. I've setup pace/mile prompts and that works fine.

Your message above seems to say that it is possible to get workout audio prompts directly from my phone.

1-is it possible on a Forerunner 165 no music

2- where can I find divination on how to set it up since I can't get it to work on my phone/watch.

The documentation is extremely convoluted on this and seems to assume everyone has the music option, offering menu item not present on the 165 no music.

If these are indeed limitations, they should be outlined clearly so users can make informed purchases and not end up with a useless expensive watch.

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

Jacquers — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:33:56 GMT

I've seen reports of a black screen and someone I know had his replaced. Reach out to customer support 🙂

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!

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

7898494 — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:30:31 GMT

Thank you so much for making the files available!

I'm having problems with a black screen on the watch. It happens randomly, but I'm starting to think it's an electrical problem with the watch. It turns off randomly, but mainly during activities. I think the watch overheats and shuts off. I've tried cooling it in the refrigerator for a few minutes and it starts working again, haha, but the problem persists. I've already tried updating to version 25.04, but it didn't work.

25.04 file: limewire.com/.../ZOJem

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

Jacquers — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 09:59:35 GMT

What are the issues?

27.10

non music https://download.garmin.com/gsup/006-B4432-10/27.10/full/rel/407575a7-2093-4f0d-bd69-d10b266e7f34/gupdate.gsp

music https://download.garmin.com/gsup/006-B4433-10/27.10/full/rel/d75fb0d9-4a8b-485e-8ea6-393a71f3c1f7/gupdate.gsp

Subject: Looking for Forerunner 165 firmware prior to 28.05 (update.gsp file)

7898494 — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 02:20:20 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)?

Thanks in advance!

Garmin 165 com tela preta. Versão 28.05

4651143 — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 01:35:41 GMT

Garmin 165 versão 28.05 com tela preta. Está 100% funcionando, mas a tela fica acendendo e apagando sozinha. Vi que é um problema crônico da linha porém não achei solução.

Acredito que o downgrade da firmware resolva mas não encontro em local algum para realizar o download.

RE: Garmin 165 com tela preta. Versão 28.05

brunimcs — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 17:13:58 GMT

Amigo, aconteceu comigo (e com mais um monte de gente, vide esse mesmo fórum) e, após contatos pelo chat oficial do suporte, ofereceram trocar o meu relógio NOS EUA porque estava fora da garantia e não tinha sido comprado em uma revenda oficial (foi comprado fora do Brasil). Por sorte, um amigo estava indo para os EUA e trocou pra mim. Quando chegou o relógio novo, a primeira coisa que fiz foi desabilitar atualizações automáticas. Ficará até o fim da vida dele sem atualizar firmware.

RE: Black screen cant get watch face to turn back, everything else still functions (Heart Rate, Sleep Tracking, ect..)

nicedream06 — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 15:59:43 GMT

Happened to me just last night. I am so SO done with the 165 watch. It has never worked properly since I got it almost 2 years ago.

Garmin support is basically useless. They will tell you to do the basic stuff, like make sure you are on the latest software version, maybe have you do a full reset.

If that doesn't fix it, they will claim it's a hardware issue and have you send in the watch for a replacement.

They cannot fathom the possibility that there might be a bug in the software.

Black screen cant get watch face to turn back, everything else still functions (Heart Rate, Sleep Tracking, ect..)

Jackson R — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 01:26:36 GMT

I have a Forerunner 165 that is currently about 8 months old. The display screen has randomly turned off while the rest of the watch continues to function fine, it still tracked heart rate, sleep, activities, ect... The first two times this happened it was about 3 months and 4 months in respectively and a soft reset seemed to resolve the issue and bring the watch back to normal function. About two months later the issue repeated and the watch once again was still able to connect to bluetooth, track activities, track heart rate, and sleep, however I could not get the screen to turn back on with a soft reset. This lead to me doing a hard reset on the device and after which the device began to function as normal. This time around I feel as if I have tried just about everything, ive tried soft reset, hard reset, plugging in the watch to power sources, and nothing seems to be able to get it to turn back on. At one point I plugged it in and the screen came back for about 20 minutes and was functioning fine but then randomly cut out again which leads me to believe it may be software related. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

RE: Black screen cant get watch face to turn back, everything else still functions (Heart Rate, Sleep Tracking, ect..)

6285536 — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 07:19:34 GMT

Thanks. I have sent them an email just waiting for contact now. Thanks x

RE: Black screen cant get watch face to turn back, everything else still functions (Heart Rate, Sleep Tracking, ect..)

Jacquers — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 05:59:11 GMT

Try contacting support directly, they might be able to help. Seems like a known issue.

RE: Black screen cant get watch face to turn back, everything else still functions (Heart Rate, Sleep Tracking, ect..)

6285536 — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:03:19 GMT

Black screen of death happened to me tonight. Started with battery needing to be charged after 3 days for the last week. Plugged in tonight made a few beeping noises and now nothing. Only bought it April 25! So annoyed

RE: Problem with headphone connectivity while playing music. Sound breaks several times. Help.

ronand — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 17:50:43 GMT

It seems most/all garmin music watches suffer the same problem. The only solution is to find a set of buds that will work. I was hoping that my Soundcore V20i open ear buds would work with my 965 but no luck. My Sony WF-1000XM5 work perfectly but I would prefer not to use them in case they get wet. Strangely the Sony buds are affected by my body when connected to my phone if it is in my back pocket but no such issues connected to the watch. So blaming the watch for having a poor bluetooth antenna might not be correct.

Problem with headphone connectivity while playing music. Sound breaks several times. Help.

Guique — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 14:48:45 GMT

Hello. Just changed from 245 Music to 165 Music. Now I am having problems with the headphone and music connectivity with Spotify. I start to run then the music starts breaking/pausing. I didn´t have this issue with 245. Does anybody have this problem too? What can I do to solve this problem? It´s very annoying.

RE: Problem with headphone connectivity while playing music. Sound breaks several times. Help.

5661915 — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 11:35:42 GMT

Not sure how Garmin can call it a 'music' watch! I bought the new 170 Music and biggest waste of time trying to solve the disastrous music stuttering issues with different earbuds, downloads, formats, equaliser settings, alternating wrists. The music controls also freeze. I might try running with the attach strapped to my ear so 'no body parts are interfering with the signal':)
Garmin have been analysing my data files for 4+ weeks and their head office tech team say they don't use the Music watches when running. Enough said.

RE: Problem with headphone connectivity while playing music. Sound breaks several times. Help.

ZeppReichlin — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 20:48:10 GMT

Thanks for the information, maybe it is the cheap ear buds I bought

RE: Problem with headphone connectivity while playing music. Sound breaks several times. Help.

Guique — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:14:59 GMT

I ended up buying a Baseus Headphone to run and it stopped. It is really annoying, so swith headphones and it might end that issue. Cheers and good runs!

RE: turn off prompts and audio prompts phone garmin

Bit — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 08:44:47 GMT

[quote userid="2395452" url="~/sports-fitness/running-multisport/f/forerunner-165-series/434587/turn-off-prompts-and-audio-prompts-phone-garmin/2041826"]

Has anyone found a real workaround that does not sacrifice music or watch battery life?

[/quote]

No.

I briefly considered figuring out how the speech is produced by Connect, with the idea of making some kind of provision that makes the call to the speech production return with success immediately (so not actually doing anything), but that requires knowledge, skill, time and system level access that I don't have.

Anyone here who could do this?

turn off prompts and audio prompts phone garmin

8523363 — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 12:30:46 GMT

I can't find the awnser anywhere. When I create a custom map, there are voice promts coming from my phone.
Around 6 hours of testing and all I find is nothing.

- I have disabled every notification from garmin connect app
- Restarted phone
- Reinstalled app
- Turned off all notifications and sounds on my watch (not that it has anything to do with my phone, but still)
- Having the app closed (still voice promts)

I'm about to give up on Garmin. It's unaccapteable that there is not button in like the garmin app that says "Audio > Voice promts > off". And why is this on by default?
Is there anything that can be done about this please? Or a third party app I can use that has similar functions.

I think it's insane that one person has had this issue 2 years ago, and it still has not been fixed.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Garmin/comments/tt5tr7/hello_i_have_a_instinct_2_solar_i_cant_turn_off/

forums.garmin.com/.../turn-off-voice-prompts-from-phone-when-navigating

Here is a video recording from my phone when I start a run with "navigation>Courses>[my course]"
[View:/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-discussions-components-files/897/ScreenRecording_5F00_04_2D00_11_2D00_2026-14_2D00_27_2D00_42_5F00_1.mov:320:240]

Return to watch face from activity?

9885849 — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 16:02:18 GMT

There appears to be only a workaround to return to the watch face while in an activity - and thus to access important information like Intensity Minutes, Weather etc.

The workaround is holding down the UP button, going into the Settings and through to reapplying the current watch face...

Pressing or long pressing the BACK button does not work, even when it is disabled as a Lap counter; nor can Hotkeys be set.

Surely this is a basic function and should be possible without a workaround?

RE: Return to watch face from activity?

SDMark — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 23:48:20 GMT

This worked beautifully on my Vivoactive 3. A quick swipe and I could see the main watch again. The 165 has lots more data available; I sure would like to be able to see it while I'm on a walk.