Garmin frozen? Restart and reset your watch step by step
A frozen Garmin can usually be restarted with a single button. If it won't connect to your phone, adding it again in the app can help.
- Most common cause
- a software bug or low battery
- Time
- 5–15 minutes
- Repair shop, if nothing helps
- 200–680 zł for a battery or screen replacement
A restart may delete some data or settings, so sync the watch with Garmin Connect first if you can. Removing the watch from the app can also cause unsynced activities to be lost. A factory reset deletes data from the watch.
Step by step
Charge the watch
Put it on the charger and wait until the battery reaches at least 30 percent. A low battery causes freezing.
Sync your data
If the watch responds, open the Garmin Connect app and sync your activities so you don't lose them.
Force restart
Hold the LIGHT button for 15 seconds until the watch turns off, then hold it for 1 second to turn it on. The button may differ depending on the model, so check the manual.
Update the software
You can update the watch in the Garmin Connect app or in the Garmin Express program on a computer.
Check Bluetooth on your phone
Turn on Bluetooth, bring the watch close to the phone and restart both devices. Turn off battery saver mode on the phone.
Warning: remove the watch and add it again
In the Garmin Connect app, go to Garmin Devices, select the watch, remove the device and then add it again. Sync the watch before removing it so you don't lose activities.
Warning: factory reset
The reset deletes data and settings from the watch. Sync first. You can find the option in the watch's settings menu, but its name and location depend on the model. Search the manual for “reset” or “restore default settings”.
- The watch doesn't respond to a restart and doesn't charge.
- The charging contacts are corroded or green from moisture.
- The screen is damaged or touch doesn't work.
- The battery lasts a very short time even after a reset.
How much does a repair shop charge?
| Battery replacement | 200–540 zł |
| Screen / glass replacement | 340–950 zł |
| Charging port repair | 140–410 zł |
| Diagnosis | 70–200 zł |
Typical prices at independent repair shops in Poland, October 2026. Authorised service centres and big cities can be more expensive.
Repair or buy new?
Restarting and adding the watch again in the app cost nothing. If the battery is the problem in a more expensive Garmin, replacing it usually pays off. For the simplest models, it can come close to the price of a new watch. Check it in the calculator.
Check if repairing your watch is worth it
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Open the calculator →FAQ
Does restarting a Garmin delete data?
It may delete some data or settings, so sync the watch beforehand.
Which button should I hold?
On many models, LIGHT for 15 seconds. It depends on the model, so check your watch's manual.
The watch won't connect to my phone. What should I do?
Remove it in Garmin Connect, sync your data first and add it again.