A recent update to the Garmin Connect app for Android has caused an unexpected and frustrating change for many Garmin smartwatch owners. Specifically, some users have reported that their watches no longer vibrate when they receive smart notifications from their connected Android phone. This unannounced shift in functionality led to numerous complaints and discussions on the official Garmin user forums.
Cause Identified: Android’s Do Not Disturb Setting Synced
The root of this problem appears to be linked to the Garmin Connect app version 5.18, which became available on the Google Play Store around October 8th. Following the installation of this version, users began to notice a difference in how notifications behaved on their wearables. Previously, a Garmin watch would typically vibrate upon receiving a notification, even if the user’s Android smartphone was set to Do Not Disturb (DND) mode.
The update, however, caused the Android smartphone’s DND setting to be automatically mirrored on the connected Garmin smartwatch. This synchronization explains why a lack of vibration was suddenly observed for notifications. While users could still see messages and alerts appearing in the notification center on their watch, the essential tactile alert was missing. This issue seems to have impacted a wide range of devices, including newer models like the Vivoactive 6 and Venu 4.
Official Confirmation and Upcoming Resolution from Garmin
Garmin has officially acknowledged this notification issue. A user shared a direct response from the Garmin product support team, confirming the problem was real. The company stated that this behavior—where the Android phone’s Do Not Disturb setting overrides the watch’s vibration—is not the intended functionality. They plan to revert this change in a subsequent Garmin Connect app update for Android.
While the brand has committed to releasing a fix to restore the previous vibration functionality, a definitive release date for the resolution is currently unavailable. Users are advised to keep their eyes on the Google Play Store for the next version of the Garmin Connect app.
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