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

Learn the steps to get your Garmin back on track—Fenix, Forerunner, Venu, and more

Your Garmin watch may be reliable most of the time, but it’s good to know how to perform a soft or hard reset just in case.

Yet, despite the steps being simple, it’s still important to understand the various types of Garmin resets. You can perform a soft reboot to restart the device, a hard reset to delete data and settings, or a full factory reset to return the device to its original condition.

This guide covers all you need to know about resetting your Garmin. While some steps may differ slightly between models, the overall process is similar for most devices.

How to perform a soft reset on a Garmin watch (restart)

(Image credit: Wareable)

Advertisement

A soft reboot on many Garmin watches can fix minor issues you might experience during usage.

For instance, turning the watch off and then on again can often resolve issues with features that aren’t functioning as intended, such as GPS lock-on. Additionally, it’s the most effective method to address an unresponsive screen.

There are also two ways to do so.

Use either of these methods to perform a soft reset (restart):

• Hold down the power button (also labeled ‘Light’ and ‘CTRL’ on some watches) for 15 seconds
• Press down the power button until the carousel of options appears, then select ‘Power off’ from the menu

Power on your Garmin watch by holding the power button for two seconds.

Tip: Some data may be lost when restarting, so sync your data before performing a soft reset.

Advertisement

How to perform a hard reset on Garmin (factory settings)

(Image credit: Wareable)

Most Garmin watches allow you to perform a factory reset while maintaining the odd setting.

This is through the ‘Reset Default Settings’ option, which is a slightly less extreme step than the ‘Reset Default Settings & Delete Data’ option, which we’ll discuss in the next section.

However, you’ll be required to go through setup again in Garmin Connect if you apply this reset. It will restore original factory settings and clear info such as your user profile, personal records, and metrics.

That means personalized metrics your Garmin has learned from tracking you (including advanced features like VO2 max and HRV Status) will need to be relearned unless your watch supports Physio TrueUp/Unified Training Status.

To perform this hard reset, use either of the methods below. Which is best for you will likely depend on whether your device’s display is frozen.

Advertisement

1. Open the ‘Menu’ on your Garmin watch by holding the button (often labeled ‘Up’).
2. Scroll down to ‘Settings’, then ‘System’.
3. Find ‘Restore & Reset’ > ‘ Reset’ > ‘Reset Default Settings’.
4. You’ll then be asked to confirm before restoring these settings.

Method 2: Use the buttons

1. Power off your Garmin device by holding the ‘Power/Light’ button.
2. Before powering the watch back on, hold down the ‘Back/Lap’ button. With the ‘Back/Lap’ button still held down, press the ‘Power/Light’ button to power on the watch.
3. Continue to hold the ‘Back/Lap’ button until you see ‘Restore Default Settings’ on the watch face.
4. Release the Back/Lap button and select ‘Yes’.
5. Once the process is complete, a blue triangle will appear on the display. This indicates it’s time to set up and pair the watch again.

Perform a hard reset and clear user data (nuclear option)

(Image credit: Wareable)

Most of the time, the hard reset method mentioned above will suffice to achieve your goal. However, this nuclear option can erase the watch’s entire contents. It will remove user-entered information, activity history, personal records, Connect IQ content, and your user profile.

It’s the best setting for those selling or handing over a Garmin watch to somebody else.

However, like with the typical hard reset method, it’s important to know that learned training data can still be regained via Physio TrueUp/Unified Training Status after this reset.

Advertisement

There are slight variances in this method, which we’ll explain below.

• On Garmin Forerunner, Fenix, Instinct and Vivoactive watches: Settings > System > Restore & Reset > Reset > Delete Data and Reset Settings
• On the Approach golf watches: Settings > Reset > Delete Data and Reset Settings
• On the Quatix and Descent watches: Settings > System > Restore Defaults > Reset Settings
• Earlier Forerunner watch models: Menu > Settings > System > Restore Defaults > Yes.