Reset a Garmin watch: Soft reboot or factory reset with these steps

Your Garmin watch could also be a dependable companion more often than not, however there’s all the time a slight probability you’ll must know find out how to carry out a delicate or exhausting reset.

In any case, the major worldwide Garmin in January 2025 confirmed that that is generally important information.

But, whereas the steps are simple, it’s essential to know the various kinds of Garmin resets. You’ll be able to make use of a delicate reboot to restart the watch, a tough reset to erase knowledge and settings, or a full manufacturing facility reset to promote your gadget.

That’s the place this information is available in. Beneath, we clarify every little thing it’s essential find out about resetting your Garmin. The steps generally differ relying on particular Garmin fashions, however the basic vibe is similar no matter which one you have got in your wrist.

Easy methods to carry out a delicate reset on a Garmin watch (restart)

A delicate reboot on many Garmin watches can repair minor points you would possibly expertise throughout utilization.

As an illustration, turning the watch off after which on once more can usually resolve points with options that aren’t functioning as meant, similar to GPS lock-on. Moreover, it’s the best methodology to handle an unresponsive display.

There are additionally a few methods to take action.

Use both of those strategies to carry out a delicate reset (restart) on a Garmin gadget:

• Maintain down the ability button (additionally labeled ‘Mild’ and ‘CTRL’ on some watches) for 15 seconds
• Press down the ability button till the carousel of choices seems, then choose ‘Energy off’ from the menu

Energy your Garmin watch again on by holding the ability button for 2 seconds.

Tip: Some knowledge could also be misplaced when restarting, so sync your knowledge earlier than performing a delicate reset.

Easy methods to carry out a tough reset on Garmin (manufacturing facility settings)

Most Garmin watches permit you to carry out a manufacturing facility reset whereas sustaining the odd setting.

That is by the ‘Reset Default Settings’ possibility, which is a barely much less excessive step than the ‘Reset Default Settings & Delete Information’ possibility which we’ll focus on within the subsequent part.

Nevertheless, you’ll be required to undergo setup once more in Garmin Join when you apply this reset. It would restore unique manufacturing facility settings and clear information similar to your consumer profile, private data, and metrics.

Which means customized metrics your Garmin has discovered from monitoring you (together with superior options like VO2 max and HRV Status) will have to be relearned except your watch helps Physio TrueUp/Unified Coaching Standing.

To carry out this difficult reset, use both of the strategies under. Which is finest for you’ll probably depend upon whether or not your gadget’s show is frozen.

1. Open the ‘Menu’ in your Garmin watch by holding the button (usually labeled ‘Up’).
2. Scroll all the way down to ‘Settings’, then ‘System’.
3. Discover ‘Restore & Reset’ > ‘ Reset’ > ‘Reset Default Settings’.
4. You’ll then be requested to substantiate earlier than restoring these settings.

Technique 2: Use the buttons

1. Energy off your Garmin gadget by holding the ‘Energy/Mild’ button.
2. Earlier than powering the watch again on, maintain down the ‘Again/Lap’ button. With the ‘Again/Lap’ button nonetheless held down, press the ‘Energy/Mild’ button to energy on the watch.
3. Proceed to carry the ‘Again/Lap’ button till you see ‘Restore Default Settings’ on the watch face.
4. Launch the Again/Lap button and choose ‘Sure’.
5. As soon as the method is full, a blue triangle will seem on the show. This means it’s time to arrange and pair the watch once more.

Carry out a tough reset and clear consumer knowledge (nuclear possibility)

More often than not, the exhausting reset methodology talked about above will suffice to attain your purpose. Nevertheless, this nuclear possibility can erase the watch’s total contents. It would take away user-entered info, exercise historical past, private data, Join IQ content material, and your consumer profile.

It’s the most effective setting for these promoting or handing over a Garmin watch to any individual else.

Nevertheless, like with the standard exhausting reset methodology, it’s vital to know that discovered coaching knowledge can nonetheless be regained by way of Physio TrueUp/Unified Coaching Standing after this reset.

There are slight variances on this methodology, which we’ll clarify under.

• On Garmin Forerunner, Fenix, Intuition and Vivoactive watches: Settings > System > Restore & Reset > Reset > Delete Information and Reset Settings
• On the Method golf watches: Settings > Reset > Delete Information and Reset Settings
• On the Quatix and Descent watches: Settings > System > Restore Defaults > Reset Settings
• Earlier Forerunner watch fashions: Menu > Settings > System > Restore Defaults > Sure.