Why Does My Garmin Watch Keep Vibrating? (EXPLAINED!)
There is something quite disappointing in buying a new device, only to have some troubleshooting. This is especially worse when it is a constant, loud, and often startling vibration from your Garmin smartwatch! Why does this happen and what are ways to fix a Garmin watch’s vibration?
Garmin watches vibrate for notifications, alarms, and alerts. The easiest way to stop unnecessary vibrating is to disable vibrations from settings. If this does not work, completing a soft reset, a hard rest, a default restore, or updating the software may help.
To understand how to perform these resets or updates, as well as other reasons for vibrations, continue reading below!
Why does my Garmin watch vibrate?
Your Garmin watch may vibrate for a number of reasons. Traditionally, it vibrates only for alarms, alerts, and notifications. However, the vibrations can sometimes malfunction or simply get out of hand. Here are three simple ways to handle vibrations from your Garmin watch.
Disable Garmin Connect Notifications
If your Garmin Connect app also has notifications on, your watch can vibrate and display the same notifications more than once. To stop this, simply disable notifications on your phone for the Garmin Connect app. You can do this through your phone’s settings application.
Power Off and Charge
If your Garmin is still continuously vibrating, it can be for a number of reasons. It can be from being removed from the charging cradle when the battery is critically low. The watch could also be locked on the vibration motor while it was spinning.
To stop this, hold the power and light button until the watch stops vibrating. Place the watch on the charger and allow it to fully charge to 100%. Once it is fully charged, the device should work as normal.
Turn off Vibrations
The arguably easiest way to stop unnecessary vibrations from your watch is to turn off the vibration in your settings. This may not be the most convenient option if you do want your watch to vibrate, but it may just do the trick if your watch is vibrating unnecessarily. You can turn off vibrations on your watch like so:
- Select settings.
- Select systems.
- Select Sounds.
- Select Vibration to turn the device’s vibration on and off.
How do I reset my Garmin watch?
If your Garmin watch does not stop vibrating even after the previous troubleshooting tips, you need to reset your watch. You can either do a hard or soft reset. Restarting devices is helpful because it gives the user a clean slate to work with by resetting background processes or troublesome coding.
For general care, especially for older devices, it is best to restart your devices through a soft reset at least once per week. Too much background information can decrease your watch’s speed and cause malfunctions such as unnecessary vibrations. Soft resets will give you a “new start”, so to speak.
Soft Reset
A soft reset means simply turning your watch on and then off. This kind of reset can solve simple glitches and is the best first step for issues with your Garmin watch. This can be done often.
- Hold the power button until the screen turns dark.
- Wait 15 seconds.
- Hold the power button until the screen turns on.
If your Garmin watch is still having issues after repeated soft resets over a period of time, the next step would be to do a hard reset. Keep in mind, this will wipe all of your data.
Hard Reset
A hard reset means completely wiping any information or data that is on your watch. By doing this, it can reset any hidden glitches that are not satisfied by a soft reset.
- Power off the watch.
- A confirmation will appear that you want to turn off your watch.
- Select yes and wait for it to power off.
- Press and hold the Runner and Down buttons simultaneously.
- Press the light button too and see the watch turn on.
- Wait for a beep then release the Runner button.
- After a second beep, release the Down button.
- Your watch is now completely reset.
- Set up the new setting.
What if resets don’t work?
If resets, fully charging your device, turning off vibrations, and disabling smartphone notifications do not work, the next step is to make sure your software is updated. You can do this through the Garmin Connect App or computer device.
Update through Garmin Connect (Smartphone)
- Download or open the Garmin connect app.
- Go to settings.
- Select Start/Stop.
- Select System.
- Select Software Update.
- If your watch is not updated, an option will say “Install Now.”
- Tap this option to download the latest update.
- If there is no “Install Now” update, your watch is completely up to date.
Update through Garmin Express (Windows or Macbook)
- Download the Garmin Express application.
- Connect the Garmin watch via USB to a computer.
- Follow instructions to connect the watch, as instructions will automatically show.
- Do not disconnect the watch while the update is installed.
What is Garmin Limited Warranty?
If all of these troubleshooting tips do not work, the final step is to check if your watch is eligible for warranty coverage.
All Garmin watches have a manufacturer’s warranty or extended rights to your product by consumer laws. It has a duration of two years from the purchase date of your Garmin product.
This warranty replaces components that fail in normal use at no charge for parts or labor. However, the customer must be in charge of transportation costs.
This warranty does not apply to:
- cosmetic damage (scratches, nicks, or dents)
- consumable parts (batteries) unless the damage occurred due to a product defect
- accidental damage (abuses, misuse, water, flood, fire, or external causes)
- damage caused by modification done without written permission from Garmin
Ultimately, Garmin reserves the right to refuse a warranty against GPS services. All repairs have a 90-day warranty and Garmin does not promise that any information or data will be kept on your Garmin device. Additionally, when you first purchase a Garmin watch, the retail store will refund or exchange your purchase within 30 days of purchase.