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Troubleshooting an Issue Between a zūmo 550 and a Bluetooth Headset

Troubleshoot in the Following Order if you Experience Issues Pairing a Bluetooth Headset/Helmet to Your Automotive Device or Encounter Issues While the two are Connected:

  1. Software Update
  2. Clear Pairing History
  3. Check Compatibility
  4. Check for Supported Audio Type
  5. Alternate Pairing Modes 

Software Update

  • Ensure your mobile phone and headset have the latest software as well.
    • Consult your phone and headset owner's manuals for guidance on how to update.

Clear Pairing History

Clearing the pairing history on the automotive device and the phone will establish a new Bluetooth session between the devices.

To Clear the Pairing History:

1. Touch the Wrench

2. Touch Bluetooth

3. Touch Change

4. Touch the device you wish to remove

5. Touch Remove

6. Touch Yes

  • If the headset is also paired to your phone, clear the pairing history for this device on your phone as well.

Check Compatibility

  • While Garmin cannot guarantee compatibility between your device and a particular headset model, as long as the headset supports the hands-free profile and has a Bluetooth version of 1.1 or higher, it should be compatible with your device.

Check for Supported Audio Type

Your Device can Receive the Following Audio Prompts Through a Bluetooth Headset:

NOTE: zūmo devices play navigation audio using a mechanism meant for real-time voice, such as during phone calls.  zūmo devices play media audio using a mechanism meant for high-quality audio, such as music.  As a result, the quality will be different between the two types of audio.

Delivering navigation audio using a mechanism meant for real-time voice instead of high-quality media allows zūmo devices to play critical navigation audio to headsets in a timely manner.  It also gives the zūmo device a better chance to interrupt other third-party headset audio modes, such as intercom or media modes, to help ensure navigation audio will be heard.

  • Navigation Prompts - During navigation, when an instruction such as "Turn left in 500 feet" plays through the device, this prompt will be played in your headset.
  • Phone Calls - As long as your phone and headset are both paired to the device, whenever you receive a phone call, the phone audio will be played through the headset.
  • Music - Your device can receive mp3 / media audio through a Bluetooth headset.
    • Any audio played through the various media source options on the mp3 or media player on your device will play through the headset, as long as the two are paired.

Alternate Pairing Modes

  • Bluetooth headsets/helmets (especially those designed for motorcycle usage) will often have multiple Bluetooth pairing modes.

    • These are designed to give the Bluetooth accessory flexibility for different uses (phone, navigation, music, etc.).

    • It may be necessary to try the other pairing modes offered by your headset to find one that works best with your Garmin device.

  • The owner’s manual for your Bluetooth headset should include instructions on how to use these alternative pairing modes if it applies to your Bluetooth headset.

NOTE: A phone call is prioritized over any other audio.  The device will mute spoken navigation prompts when a call is active.  The visual on-screen navigation prompts continue.  Navigation prompts resume when the phone call is disconnected.