Can't connect to android app through bluetooth any more!

I was away from my phone for about an hour today and thus the Bluetooth connection was disconnected. Then when I came back to my phone (Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+), I noticed I could not sync to the Garmin Connect app anymore and on further checking saw that the bluetooth icon was flashing on the watch.

I tried to turn on and off the bluetooth from both the phone and the watch, but it just would not connect, so I tried the following.

1. Remove the Garmin Forerunner in the devices on my Garmin Connect app on phone. Try to add it again, it would not find it. Tried this several times, no luck.
2. Pair through the phone bluetooth settings, it would find the FR235 and pair it after I entered the pairing code displayed on the watch screen. But when going in to the Garmin app, it would still not be able to see it. The watch and the phone both show that bluetooth is connected! The app can't find it.
3. Remove the paired device from my phone bluetooth settings, then turn off and on bluetooth settings and try to find it in the Garmin app. It failed to find it a couple of times, but the last time it did find it and then went on to proceed to 'Setting up your device' and stays there forever, seems it can't set it up.

Not sure what else I can try, this is frustrating, I expected that once it was paired (as it was since last week when I bought it and connected it), I would never have to re-pair it again!!! I hope this is not going to be a regular occurrence.

In the meantime, please help as I can no longer connect the android mobile app.

I've got the same issue this morning, but with iOS. Tried all the things you described with no luck either. I updated both the firmware on the watch and the app yesterday - not sure which to blame

I've got the Same problem on iOS after updating the app yesterday

My Forerunner 220 hasn't connected to my Android app for over a week. Extremely frustrated. Initially, I could connect but not sync. After I removed and downloaded the app again, it will now not connect.

Since mobile connect update, my fenix 3 has started playing up. Keeps connecting then disconnecting without any reason.

Losing Bluetooth connection/pairing happens all the time with me (watch S/W 3.10).

When I first purchased the watch (watch S/W2.??) it paired with Smartphone fine and reconnected OK.

For the last week and a half - I now have to do:

On Smartphone:
1) Kill Garmin Connect App on Smartphone
2) Stop Bluetooth on the phone
3) Start Garmin Connect App on Smartphone (will complain that Bluetooth is off)
4) Follow the Garmin Connect App prompts to turn-on Bluetooth on the Smartphone. (have visibility set for 5min+)
5) Go to Garmin Devices (watch for Connected)

If not showing "Connected" or "Syncing" - on watch:
6) Run->Settings->Bluetooth->Status =>Off
7) Run->Settings->Bluetooth->Status =>On
8) Run->Settings->Bluetooth->Pair Mobile Devices

Then usually works...

Watch updated this week and Sync widget screen gone?

Anyone else having this issue?

My watch won't sync through the app and there is no place on the watch to force it.

I'm copying this to as many places as possible so apologies if it feels like I'm spamming

This is for future reference for me (I'm probably going to have the same problem again and want to just throw out the bloody watch *again*) but I think I have cracked the issue.

Garmin's app is EXTREMELY sensitive to the settings of other apps on your phone. It's almost like the Devs assume you'll have a completely factory fresh phone with only the Garmin app installed. All other apps trying to use your phone will cause problems.

After struggling for the better half of the morning, I have finally figured out the issue; App Overlay.

To effectively pair your watch, first disable any overlay that you have before connecting your watch. This will be different for each Android phone so google how to find your screen overlay settings. The most likely culprit is facebook messenger although LastPass was also a cause for problems.

After that try connecting again, you might need to open the app, search, then open up your Bluetooth options in settings and manually connect your watch and switch back to the app. After that, it should connect.

After you have connected your watch to your phone, you should be able to re-enable app overlay for those you have disabled.

What is app overlay?: It allows one of your apps to generate 'pop ups' over whatever app you're using. In Facebook's example, the chat head is able to exist over whichever app you're currently using because there is a clear messenger layer over your current app. If you have any apps that can do that (LastPass, for example, will pop up whenever it detects a username/password slot), then it's probably stopping Garmin's app from working properly. Although this is arguably more secure, it is extremely frustrating that they do not mention it in the connection wizard of the app AND their troubleshooting/tech support does not tell you to try disabling app overlays.

Hope this helps.

My opinion is that GARMIN don't have an idea on what the problem ist, and they don't even want to know it.

I've contacted the help desk and they told me that they know they have a problem with Huawei phones. Mine has also the problem and it's a Motorola. And they don't even ask what exactly the problem is, when occur..... They don't want to work and solve the problem

The solution that I found (finger crossed, it's working for a day now) is to disable doze for the Garmin Connect app

valentinrf How do you disable doze on Huawei EMUI ?

valentinrf How do you disable doze on Huawei EMUI ?

I don't have a Huawei, but on mine, you must go to battery settings - triple dot up right - Battery optimization - Select all apps on the menu, and there search for garmin connect and disable optimization.

Anyway.... today it's not working anymore :(