This discussion has been locked.

You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion

Watch records the wrong GPS track and Distance, but elapsed time is right. [Details and Screenshot Included]

Hi, I went for a run this morning and when I was done, I noticed the Garmin Connect app on my phone showed the correct elapsed time, but the wrong GPS track and wrong distance.

A screenshot from Garmin Connect: https://imgur.com/a/OBTABjB

GPS track is VERY wrong
Distance is wrong
Pace is wrong
Elevation Gain is wrong
Elapsed time is correct
HR is correct (And there is HR data for the entire run ~33 minutes)

I've successfully used this new watch for runs and rides so I know it can be accurate. And yes, before I started the run, I waited for a good GPS signal. When I was done, I pressed the stop button, then saved the activity. A few moments later, when I was near my phone again, I got the notification that the activity summary was ready to be viewed, just like always.

I already edited the activity in the Garmin Connect web version, to show the correct Distance and Elevation Gain. Updating the distance in Connect also fixed the Pace. But, I don't think you can edit the GPS track? In any case, I'm not going to manually edit every activity on the web; I obviously need the watch to record my GPS track properly!

Could this be a corrupted file? Is there a way to fix it (recover it)? [Update, this has happened at least 3 times in a row now, so it's not just one "corrupted" file; it's something that started recently and is still happening.

I have run these same roads with this watch before, and the GPS map turns out fine. The roads are mostly clear overhead; probably 90%+ clear and NO tall buildings at all.

Thank you!

0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

Can you share remember please what folder you delete. I having the same issue.

0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

Hi! I connected the watch directly to the laptop (mac).
i downloaded Android Data Transfer (sth like that) app onto the computer, so I could see folders (content) on the watch. On windows or android it can be solved without downloading any application (stupid mac user here).

I binned the following folders from the watch (folders, with all the files included in them):

Activity, Monitor, newFiles, RemoteSW, SettingS.

I emptied bin on the laptop and disconnected the watch.

it fixed the problem, but it comes back every now and then (every 2-3 months-ish). If it happens I just repeat the same. Sometimes I reset the watch as well, just to refresh everything.

hope it helps (and lasts)

0 Former Member over 4 years ago

I went on my 2nd run yesterday with my new Garmin 245 music watch. I ran my usual 12.5k run. I noticed from k 6 to k 7 my watch beeped way to early. Said I ran a 3min k. The next 3 kilometers it had similar readings. In total after I'd completed my 12.5 k run, it recorded that I did 14k.

Does it do this often?

0 pshare over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

I only had this happen to me one time in probably 5 or 6 years.

0 Former Member over 4 years ago

i live in SW London and it recorded that i ran VERY hard and fast somewhere near Norwich today !

0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

Mine's not as bad as that, but my Venu recorded my run 2.5km off from the correct location

0 Former Member over 4 years ago

This recently posted in Garmin Support Center:

The Activity GPS Track From My Garmin Watch Is Inaccurate

Garmin experienced an issue where saved outdoor GPS activities recorded on or after January 1st 2021 displayed a track in Garmin Connect that shows a significant deviation from the actual path taken. This issue has been resolved as of January 3rd. Your watch will automatically download the latest satellite position data to your watch during a sync with the Garmin Connect app.

Data can also be updated by performing one of the following:

Sync your watch via Garmin Express from a personal computer
Sync your watch via Wi-Fi Setting Up a Wi-Fi Connection on a Fitness Device
Power your watch off and then on, wait a minimum of two hours, and then manually sync via the Garmin Connect app

Can my affected activities be corrected?

Affected activities cannot be fixed. Data such as distance, pace, heart rate, etc. were not affected by this issue.

0 2628411 over 3 years ago

I have had this issue several times with my Venu - have emailed Garmin twice and they have ignored me. I walked almost 7 miles and it only clocked 5k steps, I average 1800 steps per mile. this is really annoying as hard to keep track and manage goals. Not what you would expect from Garmin. Also my walk data says I burned 803 calories, but yet my active overall calories are only 658.

As you say 'the Glonass and Gps combo should help - be interested to hear ig it does resolve your problem, but again not what you expect from Garmin, especially when no evident obstructions to GPS signal when outdoors... My problem seem sto be the same as you - initially tracks ok and then seems to go to sleep at some point and stop recording...

0 3943292 over 3 years ago in reply to Former Member

Well, as of Nov 9th 2021 it seems very broken.

I just did a regular 0.91 mile walk (it’s a walk with the dog I do three times a day and record for fun). When I pressed stop as I returned home the route shown was a straight line - not a loop as I had just done, the pace was twice as fast, the length recorded was 2.1 miles and the location was over 20 miles away.
The only thing correct was the start time.

feels to me like a huge data breach - like I somehow got someone else’s run log instead of my walk.

I did have my phone on me with the Connect app open in the background. I had waited for gps to connect.

something is very wrong.

0 2150340 over 3 years ago

I was in a school parking lot walking laps with a friend and we were only at it for about 40 mins and it said I walked 273 miles. That's just not a signal/satellite lock problem, there is something else, right? This is the 2nd time it's done this before. I mean, I'd kill for the 0:26 pace and all but ...