If you’ve had to deal with a Garmin that won’t charge, then you know how frustrating it can be to stare at a black display with the hopes that the device isn’t completely dead. But why is your Garmin watch not charging in the first place?
Your Garmin isn’t charging because of a system glitch, a defective power socket, a faulty charger, a power blackout, or an outdated operating system. Moreover, the watch won’t charge if the charging ports/plates are dirty or rusty.
But here’s the thing:
All these problems are easy to fix. So you can get your smartwatch charging and working well again.
Why Your Garmin Watch is Not Charging
The table below is a summary on why your Garmin smartwatch battery won’t charge, as well as the best possible solution:
| Probable Cause | Possible Solution | |
| 1. | Your Garmin watch has a system glitch and therefore won’t charger. | Restarting your Garmin watch should clear system glitches caused by stored cache and conflicting apps. |
| 2. | The wall socket is likely defective. | Try a different wall charger if the one to which you’ve attached the charger isn’t working. |
| 3. | Your Garmin watch charger is not in good condition. | Replace the damaged charger with a new one. Ensure it’s compatible with the watch. |
| 4. | The Garmin operating system is obsolete. | Update the Garmin OS to keep the watch up to date. |
| 5. | The charging port or plates on the charger are dirty or rusty. | Clean the charger with a soft brush and rubbing alcohol and try again. |
| 6. | You don’t have power at home. | Just wait until power is back and charge the smartwatch. |
| 7. | Probably your Garmin watch is already too old to function properly. | I suggest you get a new Garmin watch or something similar from another brand. |
How to Fix a Garmin Watch that Won’t Charge
Here’s the deal:
Garmin watches have the most promising runtime on a single charge. Many models have a battery life of 7 to 11 days in standard smartwatch mode.
Although quite rare, charging problems can disrupt the normal operation of the watch, and even render it useless in worst cases.
So if your Garmin watch is not charging, here’s what you can do to fix the problem:
1. Restart Your Garmin Watch to Fix System Glitches
I’ve used a smartwatch long enough to know that system glitches caused by stored cache and conflicting apps can be problematic.
I also know from experience that a system glitch is a temporary problem that you can easily fix with a quick restart.
So if your Garmin won’t charge and the battery is about to die, you should restart the watch as your first troubleshooting option.
To do this:
- Long press the power button for up to 30 seconds to turn off the watch.
- Wait for a minute or two for the errors to clear.
- Again, press and hold down the power button to turn the watch back on.
2. Update Garmin OS to the Latest Version
Running your Garmin watch on an obsolete version of the firmware can cause performance and operation problems, including the inability to charge the battery.
Understand that Garmin will from time to time release new OS updates to fix bugs, tighten security, add new features, and enhance user experience.
And it’s important to install these updates to continue the smooth operation of the watch.
- Connect your Garmin watch to a Wi-Fi network.
- Go to Settings.
- Navigate to About Device
- Choose System Updates
By connecting your Garmin watch to a Wi-Fi network, you can keep it up to date without necessarily having to connect it to a computer with the Garmin Express software.
3. Switch to a Different Power Source
It’s likely that your Garmin watch won’t charge because the power socket is faulty.
Don’t get me wrong.
Wall chargers and power extensions hardly ever go bad. With proper maintenance, you could use your power service in what might seem like a lifetime before you even think of calling an electrician to do a random power check.
However, some power sockets go bad over time. A fuse might flow from power surge and mishandling a power extension can break the cord from the inside.
I highly recommend that you try a different power outlet to charge your watch, as this is the most reasonable solution in this case.
4. Clean Your Watch’s Charging Port
If your Garmin OS is up to date, the power source is working well, but the watch isn’t charging, you should inspect your charger for dirt and debris.
Specifically, check the plates.
If you see anything out of the ordinary, such as dirt or rust covering the plates, it means you haven’t been taking good care of the charger.
So clean the charging contacts before you try charging your Garmin watch again.
- Use a soft brush to scrub off all the dirt from the charging contact.
- If there is rust on the charging contacts, apply some rubbing alcohol and scrub with a soft bristled brush.
If the charger failed to work because of dirt or rust, merely cleaning it should be sufficient to fix the problem.
Move on to the next step if the charger doesn’t work.
5. Get a New Garmin Charger for Replacement
If your Garmin watch keeps connecting and disconnecting from the charger, there’s a high chance you’re dealing with a faulty charger.
And if the watch won’t charge, it means your charger damaged and it’s completely dead.
The only fix I can think of here is getting a new charger that’s compatible with your Garmin model. And these are readily available and affordable, so you don’t have to scratch your head over it.
E ECSEM is one of the options to consider when searching for a replacement charger. It’s compatible with multiple Garmin devices, delivers a fast charging experience, and it only goes for under 10 dollars.
