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Forerunner 45 won't turn on

I was having trouble getting my FR45 to connect to iPhone (which I struggle with every time) so after trying everything else I thought maybe if I turn it completely off and then back on again it would connect.  So I shut it off, and now it won't turn back on again.  I had probably 50% of the battery left when I shut it off, and I've got it connect to the charger right now, but it still won't turn on.  

Any ideas?  Anyone else had this issue?

  • I called Garmin Support and he had me hold down the power button for 30 seconds (watch did not turn on at this time), then let go, then plugged in the charging cable, and it booted back up.  Then we powered it back down, turned it back on, and finally it seemed back to normal.  

    So that's the fix, if anyone else runs into this.

  • Thanks. It works 

  • Thanks! I was having this issue and the fix worked for me too. Such a relief!

  • Thanks so much. I was having this issue also and this fix worked great. 

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago

    I held the top L button down for 3 mins. Did not turn on. Then pressed top and bottom L buttons and started instantly.

    This is an incredibly unreliable device - I've had nothing but connection problems. Already replaced one.

  • Thanks for posting this.  It worked for me too.

  • Thanks so much I thought it won’t turn on but after trying it woke up thanks and brilliant idea 

  • I had the same problem an hour ago and it was solved by the way you told. Thanks for sharing.

    To Garmine support team,  it seems so many people encounter this problem. Also, the watch disconnects with the App very frequently. You should fix this problem. I’m so regret for choosing Garmin Watch indeed. So many problems! 

  • That is my same experience.  Probably once per day it seems like it disconnects from my phone.  Usually, but not always, if I toggle my phone's Bluetooth off and back on it will reconnect.  Sometimes however I have to remove my FR45 completely from my list of devices, power everything down and then re-pair it.   

    What's funny is that the Garmin Connect app says "Enable Bluetooth technology on your FR45S device and on your iOS device.  They should then connect automatically."  Yeah right!

  • Former Member
    +1 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to lytleric

    I KNOW!!!

    Sometimes it connects as if nothing is wrong. Other times I try every possible combination of techniques.

    Sometimes 5 or 6 times a day!

    The most reliable method is to connect the Forerunner 45S to my laptop. After it's synced I disconnect it from the laptop, then it connects easily to my phone.