Forerunner 970 - Recent Threads

Forerunner 970 — sleep tracking ends permanently after a brief wake, please restore split-sleep detection

9382310 — Sun, 10 May 2026 21:08:51 GMT

Device: Forerunner 970 (latest firmware)
Previous device: Forerunner 255 Music

Issue:
When I wake up briefly during the night or early morning (e.g., bathroom break around 5 AM) and then go back to sleep, the 970 ends sleep tracking at the first wake-up and does not resume when I fall asleep again. Total sleep is reported as significantly shorter than reality, which then drags down Body Battery, Training Readiness, and recovery metrics.

Why this matters:
My old Forerunner 255 Music handled the exact same scenario correctly — it detected the brief interruption, kept the session open, and merged the second sleep block. The 970 is a regression here, and from the forums it looks like the same algorithm is shared across Fenix 8, Epix Pro, and other recent models.

Request:
1. Restore split-sleep / fragmented-sleep detection so short interruptions don't terminate the session.
2. Automatically merge a second sleep block if the user falls asleep again within a reasonable window (e.g., within 1–2 hours).
3. As a stopgap, allow manual sleep edits in Garmin Connect to also fill in stage data, not just start/end times.

This is the single biggest accuracy issue I have with an otherwise excellent watch. A firmware update addressing it would fix recovery metrics for a very large group of users. Thanks.

RE: Forerunner 970 — sleep tracking ends permanently after a brief wake, please restore split-sleep detection

Cyclist 24 — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 11:57:55 GMT

Same hapened to me today. Brief bathroom break like not more than 2 minutes. And forerunner 970 stopped tracking my sleep. I was shocked in the morning. I was also hardly awake. Moving like a zombie at 2 AM.. so im really confussed why did this happen.

Garmin could give us option to manually start tracking our sleep and manually finish it. So that could not happen.

RE: Is there a PacePro fix in progress?

4126693 — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 06:10:37 GMT

Hello, thanks for an insight. Actually, yes, I was using timing gates for course tracking and that one also stopped working after crash.

To find you, I have get running 21k+ with PacePro 😅

Is there a PacePro fix in progress?

4126693 — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 16:46:53 GMT

Hello,

Two times while using my Forerunner 970 for course map, race tracking and pacepro had a crash after 21 kilometers mark. It looks like PacePro is the problem, since during 30k trail running, watch crashed at 21k and when rebooted back it was down, leaving only course map and race tracking.

Is there any plans for a fix or at the moment it looks like no hope?

One of the reasons why I have chosen FR970 was PacePro and now it useless.

RE: Is there a PacePro fix in progress?

7dfcd1938c0146f1804397d33ddc9c14 — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 05:42:44 GMT

I too had a crash at the half marathon during a marathon. But I did not use PacePro. Did you have auto lap by timing gates enabled? I think that one might be the culprit

RE: Garmin v18.32 Bug: DND and Silent Mode Alert Issue

Garmin - CF — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 22:31:27 GMT

Toile Thanks for reaching back out! Can you try removing your device from the Connect app and Bluetooth settings following this article, then uninstall/reinstall the Connect app?

Hopefully that resolves this concern, please don't hesitate updating the thread if you still need help. I can take a look at creating a ticket once we have checked off that these troubleshooting tips didn't make a change!

Garmin v18.32 Bug: DND and Silent Mode Alert Issue

Toile — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 05:15:02 GMT

I saw that you closed the previous topic, yet i still encounter the issue.

After updating my Garmin to software version 18.32, the sound and vibration alerts keep going off even when the watch is set to Silent or Do Not Disturb (DND) mode.

Despite enabling Do Not Disturb mode and turning off sound and vibration in the system settings, incoming notifications, alarms, and system alerts continue to trigger both audible tones and haptic feedback. This issue started immediately after the 18.29 firmware update and persists through daily use

RE: Overnight skin temperature not synced with Connect

Garmin - CF — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 21:54:09 GMT

7dfcd1938c0146f1804397d33ddc9c14 Gotcha, please take a few moments to look over this article for troubleshooting with the Wi-Fi specifically. Also, if you have not done so already please try a different Wi-Fi network to see if that makes any change!

Overnight skin temperature not synced with Connect

7dfcd1938c0146f1804397d33ddc9c14 — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 11:19:53 GMT

The skin temperature change is not syncing since the latest update

It is on the watch but not uploaded to Connect.

RE: Blur on glances broken for light themed watch faces

PubBike — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 14:37:52 GMT

Is there any way to turn off the blurred "burn-through" of the watch face on the glances menu?

Blur on glances broken for light themed watch faces

Kaizad — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 19:58:32 GMT

When scrolling through glances on a lighter colored watch face like 'This is Fine' (ConnectIQ Link) the background blur for glances is white - with white text - and still used black artifacts in places like to the left of the glance. Renders like the glance does not belong in the rest of the UI.

[View:https://imgur.com/a/fi6bOrC:320:50]

Topology map for golf app

7000928 — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 04:26:34 GMT

Hello,

So I’ve been using my Forerunner 970 for golf and noticed I’m only getting the three distances and a green outline, no actual hole layout showing the fairway. I thought maybe I had a setting wrong so I spent hours while digging through everything, even called Garmin support. Turns out the 970 just doesn’t support course maps at all. Honestly pretty shocked given what this watch costs.

It already runs full color topo maps for hiking and navigation so the hardware can clearly handle it.

Would love to see Garmin add this in a future update.

Also wanted to flag a big inconsistency, the manual clearly mentions a Big Numbers setting that should be in Golf Settings, but it’s simply not there on the watch.
Spent a lot of time trying to find it and eventually Garmin support confirmed it’s not supported. Would be great to get some clarification on why the manual references a feature that doesn’t exist on the device.

As a golf enthusiast, it was also one of the reasons why i chose 970.

Thank you!

RE: Topology map for golf app

8463958 — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 14:15:22 GMT

I support this request. Please add the maps!

RE: Forerunner 970 — sleep tracking ends permanently after a brief wake, please restore split-sleep detection

5431952 — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 12:49:59 GMT

I have the same issue with my Forerunner 970.

For example, if I sleep from 00:00 to 03:00, remain awake until 04:00, and then sleep again until 08:00, the watch records only the second sleep segment (04:00–08:00). The first three hours are omitted, including their sleep stages and contribution to the sleep score.

Several people I know have reported the same problem.

Manually editing the sleep times does not adequately solve the issue if the missing sleep-stage data and sleep score cannot be recovered.

Could Garmin please confirm whether a software fix is planned and, if so, provide an estimated release date or target firmware version?

RE: Recovery Time jumps to 96 h after light runs (FR970, firmware 18.32)

Evgeny — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 05:51:23 GMT

Update 2026-10-24: a long easy run, also without the jump to 96 h (firmware 18.32)

2026-10-24 – long easy run (13.5 km, 83 min, avg HR 135 / max 141, training load 88, aerobic TE 3.2 / anaerobic 0.0, GPS off, HR from the chest strap): Recovery Time from 0 h (1 min) to 21.3 h (1280 min), readiness 77 → 61. No 96 h value.

This is the third run in a row without the jump (10-22, 10-23, 10-24). The load here (88) is higher than the light runs that did jump (55–60), but lower than the threshold run of 10-19 (105) that did jump, so load alone still does not explain it.

Counting all runs since 2026-10-08 (firmware 18.32): 13 runs, 7 of them jumped to 96 h (10-08, 10-09, 10-12, 10-14, 10-15, 10-16, 10-19) and 6 did not (10-10, 10-13, 10-20, 10-22, 10-23, 10-24). Load, training effect and intensity do not separate the two groups, and I have not found any setting or action that resets it. Could Garmin please look into what triggers the 96 h value?

Recovery Time jumps to 96 h after light runs (FR970, firmware 18.32)

Evgeny — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 05:29:55 GMT

Forerunner 970, firmware 18.32 (installed 2026-10-07; earlier 18.29 or older).

After some easy runs, Training Readiness shows Recovery Time = 5760 min (96 h, the scale maximum) immediately after the activity, and the readiness score drops from 60-66 to 17-18. All other readiness factors stay good (sleep 88%, HRV 82%, stress 92%, ACWR 83%); only the recovery-time factor is poor (10%).

This does not depend on workout intensity. Runs with training load 55-60 (TE 2.7-2.8, HR in zone 2, max HR 139-141) give 96 h, while a threshold run with load 105 gave 57.5 h and a VO2 Max session with load 205 gave 42.7 h.

Runs after which Recovery Time showed 96 h:

Date	Training load	Aerobic TE	Max HR	Recovery Time before the run, h	Recovery Time after the run, h
2026-07-25	107	3.8	143	0	96
2026-09-25	78	3.0	164	0	96
2026-09-28	67	3.0	156	29	96
2026-10-07	118	3.2	171	0	96
2026-10-08	60	2.8	140	73	96
2026-10-09	59	2.8	141	69	96
2026-10-12	55	2.7	139	23	96
2026-10-14	60	2.8	143	48	96
2026-10-15	114	3.0	175	72	96
2026-10-16	58	2.7	141	74	96
2026-10-19	105	3.4	156	23	96

The last seven (2026-10-08 to 2026-10-19) are already on firmware 18.32 (installed the evening of 2026-10-07), so the update did not help; the first four were on 18.29 or older. The value is not cleared by sleep; it only counts down by the hour (96 h -> ~70 h the next morning). I record my runs with GPS off (HRM chest strap), and normal recoveries happen the same way (e.g. 2026-09-07 and 2026-10-10), so GPS is not the trigger; it is also not tied to high HR. One change in the same period that I could not separate: max HR in the profile changed 177 -> 173 on 2026-10-07 (auto-detection on); the cases from July to September came before that.

Example 2026-10-12: 05:06 readiness 66, recoveryTime 1398 min; after the run (06:44) readiness 17, recoveryTime 5760 min.

I have also sent this to Garmin support by email. Has anyone else seen this on the FR970, and does it go away after any setting change or reset? A similar report exists for a Fenix 8 on 23.39 ("Recovery time maxed out at 96 h without training").

RE: Reduce Vibration Intensity?

Garmin - KS — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 22:05:06 GMT

Thank you for the post, Nico! You can toggle vibration completely on or off, but the ability to adjust the vibration intensity is not available on the Forerunner 970. I don't have any information on whether this feature will be added in the future, but your Ideas Portal submission is the perfect way to share that feedback directly with our team of innovators for future consideration.

In the meantime, the best workaround to prevent disruptive alerts at night without completely missing daytime notifications is to utilize the Sleep Focus Mode on your watch. You can configure it to automatically mute the vibration alerts during your sleep window. For more information, visit Using Focus Modes on a Garmin Watch.

Reduce Vibration Intensity?

Nico — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 23:47:31 GMT

Has anyone found a way to lower the vibration strength on the Forerunner 970?

As far as I can tell, the Sound & Vibration menu only lets you turn vibration on or off, with no intensity setting.

The current vibration is way too strong for everyday notifications, especially at night, but turning it off completely means I miss alerts. A simple Low / Medium / High option, ideally adjustable per Focus Mode, would solve this.

Has anyone else raised this, or found a workaround or setting I’m missing? Has Garmin said anything about adding it in a future update?

I’ve also submitted it through the Garmin Ideas page.

Thanks!

RE: Touch lock not working

luis — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 20:09:05 GMT

Thank you very much for your answer. Yes, I am still experiencing this behavior. How can I contact you regarding this?

Touch lock not working

luis — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 13:01:53 GMT

Hey guys, looking for some help here.

I am not able to activate the touch lock on my watch. I have tried every possible way; if I go to settings and turn it on, the switch is green, but the touch screen still works. When using the shortcut, it only says 'touch lock off,' and when pressing it again, it still shows 'touch lock off.' In controls, it is always labeled as off, and tapping on it or using the button doesn't change anything.

The thing is, after restarting the watch and trying again, the touch lock works, but after a few minutes, it goes back to the way it was.

Is anyone else having the same issues?

RE: Touch lock not working

Garmin - KS — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 19:53:35 GMT

Thank you for the post, luis! Although I'm happy to hear that you were able to resolve this, the Touch Lock feature on the Forerunner 970 should not be influenced by whether or not you have Do Not Disturb enabled. If you're still experiencing that behavior, please let us know.

RE: No line on Training Status Glance VO2 Max plot

OlleFu — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 13:21:43 GMT

Yes!

FR 970 Cycling performance glance:

FR970 in general Training Status Glance:

FR955 in general Training Status Glance:

The existing 4-week graph history for 970 remained visible at first, but gradually rolled off step by step until it vanished completely about 4 weeks ago.

No line on Training Status Glance VO2 Max plot

PubBike — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 18:15:04 GMT

When I open the Training Status glance and then the VO2 Max screen my VO2 Max is shown at the top but there is no line on the chart.

When I open the Cycling Performance glance and look at VO2 Max the line is shown.

This is the same on 18.32 and 18.29.

Anyone else seeing this?

RE: No line on Training Status Glance VO2 Max plot

Nogčo — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:29:22 GMT

That’s fine there. But not in the training status.

RE: No line on Training Status Glance VO2 Max plot

PubBike — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:27:23 GMT

Can you see the line on the VO2 max screen on the Cycling Performance glance?