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VivoActive 3 and Smart Notification Issues (Dismiss / Block App Options)

I just received a new Garmin VivoActive 3 last week and easily paired it with my phone (a Samsung Galaxy S8 Active running Android 8.0) and while the device does all of the fitness things i had hoped it did; the watches smart features have hit a snag.

I am unable to get any interactions with notifications on my watch.

1. While I will be notified of a single new text message, I am unable to read the text message and I am unable to reply to the message with the standard auto-reply messages that you configure in Garmin Connect.
2. I receive no notifications of new email or gmail (even though they are enabled with appropriate permissions to receive notifications of new email)
3. I am notified of a new message from FB Messenger, however I am unable to read the message or replay to it.
4. When I do receive a new notification from text or FB Messenger, I am given only two responses "Dismiss" or "Block App". I do not receive the ability to respond to the text message.

I have begun to become frustrated with this device. It was purchased for its smart notifications, but currently I am not getting email or sms notifications. I have worked with Garmin Text Support this morning via telephone and the "Dismiss / Block App" issue is a common issue that they have passed on to engineering. I was asked to send in my Garmin folder from the device along with several screenshots (which I did). Hopefully this will get resolved soon.....otherwise, I might have to return the device or exchange it for a Fenix5.

Below are the screenshots that I sent in from my Samsung Galaxy S8 Active (Model SM-G892A) along with photos of my VivoActive 3 and the notification messages.

If you are receiving a "Dismiss / Block App" message without other options, please take the time to report it to Garmin. It is a bug that they are aware of.....but can not give an eta on when it will be fixed, because they do not know what is causing it at the time.

Phone Information:
*Samsung Galaxy S8 Active (Model SM-G892A)
*Android Version = 8.0.0 (Patch Security Level March 1, 2018)
*Samsung Experience Version = 9.0
*Garmin Connect Version = 4.5.1 (Build Version Code 3554)

VivoActive 3 Information:
SW Version = 3.5.0

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

Are you using the default messaging and phone apps? I had the exact same thing happen while trying to use third party apps. I switched to the default apps and everything resolved immediately on both my Vivoactive 3 and my Edge 1000.

0 Tucker.Matt.D over 7 years ago

I am using the default messaging app (aka "Messages") and Microsoft Outlook Mobile for Android for my email, I also have FB Messenger on my phone (but do not have it set up for SMS).

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

I am experiencing the same thing with SMS text notifications work fine for me from outlook and microsoft teams. Haven't tried gmail. Text messaging I have tried messages and message+ and neither have worked.

I was able to get Garmin to lengthen my return date by 30 days to try and give them time to fix it and post a software update. Unfortunately that date is coming up soon. Maybe I'll ask for another 30. I like the watch in general, but if it cannot display text messages it has too high a price point.

One other frustrating thing is the only thing support says is "Engineering is working on it". I get no progress updates. I cannot find a release history anywhere to see how often they publish updates. Support does an awful job of setting expectations since the only answer they will give is "Engineering is working on it".

0 Tucker.Matt.D over 7 years ago

Its been 7 days since my initial post and contact with Garmin Support. I was contacted on 5/01/2018 from Garmin Support only to be told that:

===========================================================
Hello Matt,

The engineers have escalated the issue but there is no resolution at this time.

Thank you for choosing Garmin,

Susanna

Product Support - Fitness Team

Garmin International

For 24-hour access to support videos, manuals, FAQs & more, visit the Support Center.
===========================================================

So I continue to wait until this issue is addressed. I really want to like the VivoActive 3......but right now, i just can't.

0 HermoT over 7 years ago

Are you using the default messaging and phone apps? I had the exact same thing happen while trying to use third party apps. I switched to the default apps and everything resolved immediately on both my Vivoactive 3 and my Edge 1000.

Third party watch faces have no impact on notifications. Should this be the case then it is probably a very isolated case and should be reported to Garmin.

0 Tucker.Matt.D over 7 years ago

So, I have a Garmin Vivoactive2 HR that I used for awhile. Today, i turned it back on and low and behold, it does not pass notifications. I get the same message "Dismiss" or "Block" on the VA2 that i was getting on the VA3.

So my guess is that this is an issue with GarminConnect / Android 8.0 or perhaps even something to do specifically with the Samsung Galaxy S8 Active phone software and Garmin Connect.

Now, I am going to hunt up another phone this weekend and see if i can test out that theory.

0 Tucker.Matt.D over 7 years ago

Still waiting for a response from Garmin other than "engineering is working on it" and "its a known issue".

At this point, I can't recommend the VivoActive 3 if you are using a Samsung Galaxy S8 Active.

0 Tucker.Matt.D over 7 years ago

So, i heard back from Garmin and was told "the watch is behaving this way by design" regarding my inability to view notifications. Apparently it is a compatibility issue between Garmin Mobile Connect and Samsung Galaxy S8 Active. I confirmed that my Vivoactive HR also can not view notifications.

To make matters worse, they are not allowing me to ask for a refund from product, even though it was bought directly through Garmin utilizing a discount code.

===========================================================================
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <[email protected]>
Date: Wed, May 9, 2018 at 12:55 PM

Hello Matt, Thank you for sending the proof of purchase.

The issue with your vivoactive 3 and Android phone is possibly an app issue between the phone and the Mobile app. The watch is behaving this way by design. We are working on future improvements.

As far as an exchange or upgrade, because the device was purchased through a wellness app with a their discount. You will need to contact the wellness program for any exchanges or refunds.

Thank you for choosing Garmin,
Susanna
Product Support - Fitness Team
Garmin International
For 24-hour access to support videos, manuals, FAQs & more, visit the Support Center.
===========================================================================

0 Tucker.Matt.D over 7 years ago

So, I convinced Garmin to accept a return on my VivoActive 3, given the smart notification issues. However, I was still floored that the engineering department hadn't found a workaround to this common (according to Garmin support staff) problem. So, I wouldn't give up.

I wiped my phone and started from scratch, thinking that perhaps another application was not playing nice with Garmin Connect Mobile. However, in the end, that was not the case. I did in fact find a "work around". In order for smart notifications to be seen on the VivoActive 3 on my phone (Samsung Galaxy S8 Active running Android 8.0) I had to ensure that the default "Messages" was the default messaging app and I also needed to enable "Preview Message" in Settings\Notifications\Messages\More Settings In App\Preview Message. Once this was enabled, all of my smart notifications for SMS worked properly and I could send replies to phone calls, etc. However, Facebook Messenger still was not working properly. So, I did the exact same thing for Facebook Messenger and it fixed the smart notification problems I was having. However, it introduced a new issue. Now on my phone, and on my Vivoactive 3, when I get a SMS message or a FB Messenger message it immediately pops up on both my phone screen and on my watch. Obviously, there are times when I may not want the world to see my text messages -- so the app still is not 100% functioning, but is now passable for me, thanks to the fitness tracking ability.

I bought a Samsung Gear S3 as a replacement, but the battery life just isn't what I am used to with garmin products. More details to follow.

0 HermoT over 7 years ago

Sometimes Garmin's battery life outweighs all the other small issues.
Beats all those other fancy watches like Samsung Gear and Apple Watch ;)