A significant flaw within the Garmin Connect application seems to be causing widespread problems with the turn-by-turn navigation feature across numerous Garmin smartwatches. Users have taken to both the official Garmin forums and Reddit to report the issue, though the brand has not yet officially acknowledged the fault. Despite the silence from the company, a temporary fix appears to be available for affected smartwatch owners.
Smartwatch Users Report Navigation Errors
Many individuals utilizing Garmin smartwatches are currently encountering an issue specifically tied to the real-time turn-by-turn navigation functionality. This core feature is designed to offer users timely alerts for upcoming turns, displaying the remaining distance on the watch face. These prompts can take the form of vibrations or audio cues, utilizing maps transferred to the device via synchronization with the Garmin Connect app.
Bug Extends Across Multiple Garmin Models
Reports detailing this navigation problem are surfacing from owners of a broad spectrum of Garmin models on the Garmin Forum and Reddit. Devices impacted include the Fenix 8, Fenix 7, Epix 2, Forerunner 955, and Enduro 3. While some users initially linked the start of the problem to the recent system software update 20.19, evidence suggests the root cause lies within the Garmin Connect app, which is responsible for sending navigation guidance to the wearable devices.
Cause Likely Linked to Missing Course Data
It is currently theorized that the inability to receive turn-by-turn notifications stems from missing course_point entities within the corresponding route files generated by the app. Courses that were previously saved and already reside on a user’s smartwatch are not immediately affected. However, these pre-existing courses will also cease to function correctly once the device performs its next synchronization with the malfunctioning Garmin Connect application. As of now, Garmin has provided no official acknowledgment, explanation, or official solution for this user-reported issue.
Community Workaround Offered Via Third-Party Tools
Fortunately, a potential workaround has been proposed by a Garmin forum user known as “socorsu.” The solution involves utilizing a third-party mapping utility to create the desired course, with Plotaroute being specifically recommended. From this third-party tool, users can generate a FIT file. This file is expected to contain the critical data required to trigger the turn-by-turn alerts on the watch correctly. Users must then manually transfer this generated FIT file directly into the “Garmin/New Files” folder on their smartwatch device.
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