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Restore backup from previous 955 watch ? Not possible ?

road-run
2 months ago

My 955 was replaced by Garmin. I thought I could restore a backup from my previous watch (I had the auto backup working) but apparently I can't. 

I can't enter settings of previous watch because it doesn't exist any more. On connect app - new watch I can see the latest backup in the system menu but the only option I have is to delete it....

Disappointed

  • 0 2 months ago

    Unfortunately this is a fundamental design problem with the backup.  By associating it tightly with a device Garmin has excluded one of the important use cases - restoring settings to a replacement watch.  Backup should be available on the "Devices" page and not by clicking into an individual device.

  • 0 2 months ago in reply to PubBike

    Actually some time after having setup the new 955, the backup has been recognized and allowed me to do a restore. Some things are missing, but other have been correctly restored. So it's possible to do it, although not perfect and basic stuff is missing, like iq watch layout, and some iq fields. but iq apps have been restored

  • 0 2 months ago in reply to road-run

    I had the same experience. Once my replacement watch was at the same SW version, I could see the backup in Garmin Express on my laptop.  It restored some apps, others, no.  Overall, 95% was restored.

  • 0 1 month ago

    I was happy to get a 955 replaced like you. It took me two installations to get the backup from the previous watch largely restored.
    Overall, the restore was helpful to some degree, but disappointingly this will need quite a bit of manual rework. 

    Here's what I experienced: 

    - During the initial setting up of the watch, I was not prompted to apply a backup. After installation, there was also no trace of the backup and restore settings. 

    - After I ran all software updates, at least I got the "backup and restore" menu, but still no option yet of selecting the existing backup. 

    - I then chose to reset (option to "Delete Data and Reset Settings"), and also removed the watch from Garmin Connect and from Bluetooth devices. 

    - When setting up the watch again, the existing backup was identified and I was prompted to apply it. 

    - This brought back at least a couple settings (overviews, controls), but not the original display design, data fields, music, and I continue finding missing bits.
    It also installed my IQ apps and, a bit unexpectedly, more: it also installed the women's health tracker app I am *quite* sure I did not have installed before for lack of a use case :)

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to flowing42

    It makes sense that the watch had to be updated to the latest software version that incorporates the backup functionality as both the watch and Garmin Connect need to be compatible to perform the backup.  So it is also logical that a backup won't appear until the watch has been updated.

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to PubBike

    Absolutely but it's not well documented; or at least it was not when I looked into this after receiving my replacement.