9 Ways to Fix Garmin Watch GPS Not Working

If your Garmin watch is not updating pace, distance, time, and calories burned in real time, it’s likely that the GPS is not working properly.

The GPS problem may be because of a random bug, mobile network failure, or a lack of clear view of the sky.

It’s also possible that GPS is not working on your Garmin watch because Garmin Connect is not up to date, the current version of Garmin Express is obsolete, Bluetooth is off, EPO or CPO requires an update, or UltraTrac mode is active.

How to Fix Garmin Watch GPS Not Working

Try the following fixes if your Garmin watch isn’t getting GPS signal after an update or if it’s taking forever to find satellite:

1. Restart your Garmin watch.
2. Update Garmin Connect app.
3. Update Garmin Express.
4. Wait for network signals.
5. Charge your Garmin watch.
6. Deactivate UltraTrac mode.
7. Get a clear view of the sky.
8. Soak GPS and adjust data recording.

One of these fixes may be all you need to solve the GPS problem on your Garmin watch. However, in some cases, you may have fix multiple Garmin watch problems to get the Global Positioning System back on track.

1. Restart Your Garmin Watch

First, restart your Garmin watch to fix a possible system glitch. A simple reboot refreshes the smartwatch’s RAM and closes all activities that could possibly be preventing GPS from working properly on the device.

Reset the watch if you’re still getting a “not connecting to GPS” error. To do this:

• Press and hold down the side button.
• Select Settings.
• Go to System.
• Choose Reset.
• Select Delete Data & Reset Settings.  

Repeat the process but choose the Reset Default Settings if the Delete Data & Reset Settings doesn’t work.

2. Update Garmin Connect App

Some Garmin watches, such as Vivosmart 5, Lily, and Vivomove Luxe, don’t have on-board GPS sensors. These smartwatches rely on connected GPS to record and report different fitness activities, including walks, runs, and bike rides, and they do so with the help of the Garmin Connect app.

It’s likely that Garmin Connect is not up to date or it doesn’t have the permission to access your phone’s location if you’re not seeing your connected GPS data.

First, go to App Store or Google Play, search for Garmin Connect, and install the latest app updates if there are any. Second, give Garmin Connect the permission to access your phone’s location.

On Android:

• Open Garmin Connect. 
• Tap the menu icon and go to settings.
• Access Phone Permissions and tap Manage Permissions.
• Choose Permissions and select Location. 
• Tap Allow All the Time.

For iOS:

• Launch the Garmin Connect app and select “More”.
• Go to Settings and select Phone Permissions. 
• Select Manage Permissions.
• Go to Location.
• Choose Always to allow the app to access your phone’s location.
• Enable the Precise Location option. 

Keep in mind that Garmin requires cellular data permission for connected GPS to work. So, don’t turn Airplane mode on.

3. Update the Garmin Express

Go Garmin’s Official website, check if there is a new version of the Garmin Express, and download the app. Next, uninstall the older Garmin Express app from your Windows or Mac computer and install the file you just downloaded.

Update maps to get fast, accurate GPS navigation.

4. Wait for Better Network Signals

You don’t always have control over poor network signals, and you can’t do much in this situation. The only option is to wait a few seconds for the network issue to resolve itself.

Once your phone gets strong signals, it will automatically share the connection with your Garmin watch.

5. Charge Your Garmin Watch

Most smartwatch batteries don’t las long in GPS mode. So if your Garmin watch is randomly connecting and dropping GPS signals, it could be a sign that its battery doesn’t have enough charge.

In this case, charge your Garmin watch until the battery is 100% full.

6. Deactivate UltraTrac Mode

Your Garmin watch has an UltraTrac mode built into its GPS system. The UltraTrac mode keeps GPS from updating data in real-time and lowers the update frequency to once per minute to keep Garmin battery from draining.

Each time UltraTrac turns off the GPS modem, your Garmin watch switches to an accelerometer to calculate distance and speed. The back and forth switch between GPS and accelerometer results in unreliable data, as the watch tends to drop and pick signals whenever UltraTrac is active.

So, if your watch keeps connecting and losing GPS signals, check if the UltraTrac mode is active and turn it off.

• Go to Settings.
• Tap Activities and Apps.
• Choose an activity from the list. 
• Tap Activity Settings.
• Select GPS.
• Disable UltraTrac.

7. Get a Clear View of the Sky

Your Garmin watch will lose GPS signals from time to time in the presence of obstruction. This is completely normal.

Think of trees, extremely cloudy days, and tall buildings and you end up with a scenario in which your Garmin watch can’t get a clear view of the sky. But this is easy to fix.

Minimize excessive signal disruption from tall buildings and trees by moving as farther away from these structures as possible. That way, your Garmin watch will have a clear view of the sky and get strong satellite navigation signals.

8. Soak GPS and Adjust Data Recording

Is the bar on your Garmin watch green but you’re not sure if the signals are strong enough? Soak the GPS and adjust the data recording frequency.

To soak GPS means you wait a few minutes for your watch to get GPS signals, and then wait a few more minutes before you start an activity.

You should also adjust how often the watch records GPS data if your Garmin watch has a Smart Recording function built into it.

• Go to Settings.
• Select System. 
• Tap Data Recording.
• Adjust the frequency to every second.

The adjustment enhances the consistency and accuracy of the signals, so you get reliable stats from your activities.