Garmin users report smartwatch boot loop issue since morning: The Verge

Many Garmin smartwatch users woke up to a frustrating surprise on Tuesday morning as their devices became stuck in an unresponsive boot loop. The issue, which displays a “blue triangle of death” or a frozen boot screen, has left users unable to access their watches. Reports of the malfunction have surfaced across multiple Garmin product lines, including the Epix, Venu, Forerunner, Descent, and Fenix models.

The issue appears widespread, affecting users across different regions and various device models. Posts on the r/Garmin subreddit detail numerous complaints, while tech publication The Verge independently verified the issue on a Garmin Venu 3 smartwatch. Initially, some users found that resetting the device temporarily restored functionality, but in many cases, the watches eventually returned to the boot loop, rendering them unusable.

Garmin has acknowledged the problem and is actively investigating the cause. A company spokesperson, Natalie Miller, confirmed the issue in a statement to The Verge, stating, “Garmin is researching reports of devices displaying a blue triangle when starting a GPS activity. A reset by pressing and holding the power button may restore functionality. We will provide more information on a permanent fix when available.”

The Garmin Support Center has also posted a notice regarding the issue, but it warns that any temporary fix may not be effective in the long run.

Early reports suggest that the issue is linked to GPS activities. Users have anecdotally found that engaging in non-GPS activities does not seem to trigger the boot loop, which may indicate a software-related bug affecting GPS initialization. Until Garmin issues an official fix, experts recommend avoiding GPS-based workouts and activities to prevent the device from becoming unresponsive.

For now, affected users have limited options beyond attempting resets and avoiding GPS functions. Garmin has not provided a timeline for a resolution, but given the scale of the issue and the number of devices affected, a software patch or update may be necessary to fully address the problem.

As users await a fix, frustration continues to mount, particularly among athletes and outdoor enthusiasts who rely on Garmin smartwatches for training and navigation. Many are urging Garmin to act swiftly to resolve the issue and restore functionality to their devices.