You’re lacing up for a run, hit “start” on your Garmin watch, and… nothing. Just a flashing blue triangle or a frozen screen. Sound familiar? You’re not alone.
Garmin users across the globe are reporting crashes on popular models like the Fenix 7, Venu 3, and Forerunner 265—and the company’s finally addressing the chaos. Let’s break down what’s going on.
Which Devices Are Struggling?
Garmin Japan confirmed the issue affects these models (so check your wrist):
- Forerunner series (including the 265)
- Fenix 7 lineup
- Venu 3
- Epix Gen 2 & Epix Pro
- Edge 1040 bike computers
- Vivoactive 5
- Descent Mk3 dive watches
- Instinct 3 series
From Tokyo to Texas, forums and Reddit threads are flooded with frustrated users. One Redditor joked, “My Fenix 7’s new hobby is staring at the startup screen.” Oof.
What’s Triggering the Crash?
The glitch seems to strike when you try to start GPS activities (running, cycling, etc.). Symptoms include:
- A frozen screen with a stubborn blue triangle.
- Devices are stuck rebooting forever.
- Failed hard resets (yes, even after mashing the power button).
Garmin’s support page now has a red alert banner, and they’re scrambling to find the root cause.
On the bright side, Garmin Connect still works—so your data’s safe, assuming your device wakes up.
What’s Garmin Saying?
The company posted a brief but earnest apology:
“We’re prioritizing this issue and will share updates as soon as we have them. Thank you for your patience.”
This comes just weeks after a Garmin Connect outage in early January, though the two incidents aren’t related. (Bad luck, huh?)
Help! What Can I Do?
No official fix yet, but here’s what’s worked for some users:
- Force a reboot: Hold the power button for 15–30 seconds. (Fingers crossed.)
- Avoid GPS modes: Stick to indoor workouts or manual logging for now.
- Don’t factory reset: It’s like playing roulette with your data—most say it doesn’t help.
Pro tip: If your device revives, sync it to Garmin Connect ASAP. Better safe than sorry.
Your Game Plan for Now
- Skip outdoor workouts… or use your phone’s GPS as a backup.
- Bookmark Garmin’s support page: Refresh responsibly.
- Resist the urge to tinker: Overhandling might make things worse.
The Takeaway
Garmin’s track record took a hit here, but its transparency is a silver lining. For a brand built on reliability, this glitch is a hiccup—not a dealbreaker. Stay tuned for updates, and maybe swap that trail run for a yoga session today.
Had your own Garmin meltdown? Drop a comment below—we’re all in this together.
P.S. Follow us on Twitter or tap ‘Allow’ for push notifications 🔔—we’ll ping you the second Garmin drops a fix.
