Garmin GPS Watch Bricking: Tech News and Troubleshooting Trends

4 min read

Garmin users worldwide are reporting that their GPS watches, including models like the Forerunner 265, Venu 3, and Epix Pro, are freezing or becoming unusable. The issue, which affects multiple series including Fenix, Forerunner, and Vivoactive, often manifests as a blue triangle logo on the screen. Users have tried temporary fixes like factory resets and holding the power button, but these solutions are not permanent. Garmin has acknowledged the problem and is working on a fix, but no permanent solution has been released yet.

Garmin, a leading brand in wearable technology, is currently facing a significant issue with its GPS watches. Reports have been flooding in from users in the UK, US, India, and France about their watches freezing or becoming completely unusable. The problem is not limited to a single model; it affects multiple series including the Fenix 7 and 8, Forerunner 165, 255, 265, 955, and 965, Lily 2 and 2 Active, Venu 2 and 3, and Vivoactive 5.
The symptoms of the issue are consistent: users start a GPS activity or reboot their watch, and it freezes, displaying a blue triangle logo. Some users have reported success with temporary fixes like factory resetting their watches, but these solutions are short-lived. The root cause of the problem is still unknown, but early indicators suggest it might be related to a firmware or software bug affecting the GPS subsystems.
Garmin has acknowledged the complaints and is actively working on resolving the issue. A red banner on their support page warns users about the problem and provides a temporary fix: holding the power button until the unit powers off and then turning it back on. However, this solution does not address the underlying issue and only provides temporary relief.
Given the widespread nature of the problem, even if your watch is not affected, it’s advisable to avoid any GPS activity tracks or device reboots until a permanent fix is available. Garmin’s priority is to resolve this issue quickly to minimize disruptions to its users.


Q1: What is happening to Garmin GPS watches?
A1: Garmin GPS watches are freezing or becoming unusable, often displaying a blue triangle logo.

Q2: Which models are affected?

A2: Multiple Garmin series are affected, including Fenix, Forerunner, Venu, and Vivoactive.

Q3: What are the symptoms of the issue?

A3: Watches freeze or become unusable when starting a GPS activity or rebooting, displaying a blue triangle logo.

Q4: What temporary fixes have users tried?

A4: Users have tried factory resetting their watches, holding the power button, and performing soft resets.

Q5: What is Garmin doing to address the issue?

A5: Garmin has acknowledged the problem and is working on a permanent fix. A temporary fix involves holding the power button until the unit powers off and then turning it back on.

Q6: Is there a known cause for the problem?

A6: The root cause is still unknown, but it might be related to a firmware or software bug affecting the GPS subsystems.

Q7: How widespread is the problem?

A7: The problem affects users in the UK, US, India, and France, and it is not limited to a single model.

Q8: What should users do if their watch is not affected?

A8: Users should still avoid any GPS activity tracks or device reboots until a permanent fix is available.

Q9: When can users expect a permanent fix?

A9: No permanent fix has been released yet, but Garmin is working on it.

Q10: Are there any other steps users can take?

A10: Users can try to avoid using GPS activities and reboots until a permanent fix is available.


Garmin is currently dealing with a significant issue affecting its GPS watches. The problem, which causes watches to freeze or become unusable, has been reported by users worldwide. While temporary fixes are available, they do not address the underlying issue. Garmin is actively working on a permanent solution, and users are advised to avoid GPS activities and reboots until the problem is resolved.


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