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Garmin Device Not Receiving Smart Notifications From Phone

Most issues with not seeing notifications on your Garmin device are solved by correcting a setting on your paired phone. Review the following FAQ carefully to ensure both the settings on your phone and your Garmin device are configured correctly. 

NOTICE: If you are getting notifications on your Garmin device but not for a specific app, see: How Do I Set Up Which Notifications Display on My Garmin Device?.

Check the Settings on Your Phone

Select your phone type below to reveal instructions on how to manage which notifications you see on your Garmin device.

iOS

The following settings are for phones running iOS 16 or higher. To ensure the best possible compatibility between your phone and your Garmin device, make sure that your phone's operating system is up to date.

Step 1: Check iOS Bluetooth Settings

  1. Open the Settings app on your phone and select Bluetooth®.

  2. Ensure Bluetooth is toggled on.

  3. Under MY DEVICES select the Blue i in a circlenext to the name of your Garmin device.

  4. Toggle Share System Notifications to on.

Screenshot showing iPhone Bluetooth settings 

Step 2: Review Garmin Connect™ App Permission Settings

  1. Open the Garmin Connect app.

  2. Select More (bottom right).

  3. Scroll down and select Settings.

  4. Select Phone Permissions.

  5. Select Manage Permissions.

Your phone settings should look like the screenshot below. Turning on each setting allows full functionality of the Garmin Connect app and the device you have paired to the app.

screenshot of iPhone Garmin Connect App Settings 

Step 3: Review iOS App Notification Settings

The setting recommendations under this step are required by Apple to display notifications on a Bluetooth® paired device. 

  1. From the iPhone Settings, select Notifications.

  2. Ensure that Show Previews is set to either Always or When Unlocked. This is an Apple requirement for any app that you want notifications to display on your Garmin device.

screenshot of iPhone Notification Home Settings

Step 4: Review Notifications Settings For Each Application

IMPORTANT: You will need to follow the steps below for each app you want to receive notifications from. Below is an example for Messages.

  1. From the iPhone Settings, select Notifications.

  2. Select an application you want to receive notifications from. Example: Select Messages.

    1. Ensure Allow Notifications is enabled.

    2. Ensure the Notification Center has been check-marked Blue Checkmark screenshot .

    3. Ensure Show Previews is set to Always (Default) or While Unlocked.

Notifications at App Level Screenshot

Step 5: Review Focus Settings

Focus allows you to customize when you receive alerts and notifications on your phone. Focus profiles can be enabled by schedule, location, or they can be manually turned on. When this happens you will not receive a pop-up notification on your Garmin device. Notifications will still display in your notifications widget. To check the settings of this feature: 

  1. Open the Settings on your iPhone.

  2. Select Focus.

  3. Review each Focus profile. Any that are listed as on will prevent you from seeing notifications on your Garmin device:

screenshot of iPhone Focus Settings 

Step 6: Confirm iMessage Contact is Not Muted

If you have muted a contact in the past, check to see if that is the reason why you are not seeing notifications from that specific contact. 

  1. Open the Messages app on iPhone.

  2. Slide right to left on a thread in the messages list.

  3. The image below shows a contact that has not been muted. If the contact has been muted the bell icon will not have the slash through it. 

Image shows the Mute function in iOS 

Android

To ensure the best possible compatibility between your phone and your Garmin device you want to make sure that your phone is on the latest available version of the operating system.

Step 1: Review App Permission Settings

  1. Open the Garmin Connect app.

  2. Selecting More (bottom right).

  3. Select Settings.

  4. Select Phone Permissions.

  5. Select Manage Permissions. If any permissions related to notifications (SMS, Contacts, Phone) say OFF, enable the related permissions.

Step 2: Review the Notification Access Settings

  1. Open the Garmin Connect app.

  2. Select More (bottom right).

  3. Select Settings.

  4. Select Notifications.

  5. Select App Notifications.

  6. Toggle Notification Access on.

Step 3: Review App Notification Settings

  1. Open the Garmin Connect app.

  2. Selecting More (bottom right).

  3. Select Settings.

  4. Select Notifications.

  5. Select App Notifications.

  6. Toggle to enable or disable smart notifications from All Applications or customize by selecting individual applications from which you would like to receive smart notifications

Step 4: Review the Message Preview Setting

For instructions on enabling Message Preview see: Incomplete Text Message Notifications Displaying on My Garmin Device.

Step 5: Check Battery Optimization Settings

Enabling battery optimization of the Garmin Connect app can cause your Garmin device to not receive smart notifications. For additional help see: Garmin Device No Longer Syncs or Receives Notifications From an Android Phone.

Step 6: Confirm You Have Not Blocked an App From Sending Notifications

Android phones offer a setting to block notifications. If this may have occurred, review the following FAQ and select Android for steps to fix this: How Do I Set Up Which Notifications Display on My Garmin Device?

Persistent Notifications

Some Android apps deliver persistent notifications to your phone that cannot be dismissed. An example of this is reminder apps. These types of notifications are not shared from the phone to the Garmin device due to a priority setting. If you frequently use these kinds of apps, you need to rely on your phone to see those notifications.

Huawei and OPPO Phone Users

Huawei Phones: You may be required to perform additional troubleshooting. For more help, see - Huawei Smartphone Bluetooth® Troubleshooting with a Garmin Fitness Device.

OPPO Phones: See the following FAQ from OPPO regarding your phone and notifications - Unable to Receive Notifications Using the Garmin Connect App.

Apps Installed to a Samsung Knox Secure Folder Will Not Display Notifications on Your Device

Some Samsung phones have a Secure Folder feature that allows apps to be isolated from the rest of the phone. Although a Garmin device may be paired with a phone that has this feature, any apps installed into this Secure Folder will not be able to have their notifications displayed on your Garmin device, even if the Connect app is installed to this Secure Folder as well. If you have apps with notifications that you need to be shown on your Garmin device, install both the Garmin Connect app and the apps in question outside the Secure Folder.

Check the Settings on your Garmin Device

Recommendations below will vary by model. For specific steps see your owner's manual.

  • Confirm Bluetooth® is on. This setting is usually found under Settings > Bluetooth/Phone.

  • Confirm the Notification widget/glance is turned on. This setting is usually found under Settings > Widgets/Glances or in the Garmin Connect™ app under your Device Settings > Appearance.

  • Ensure that the watch settings reflect your choice of notifications you wish to receive (e.g., on, off, show calls only, show calls and texts only, etc.). This setting is usually found on the watch under Settings > Connectivity/Phone > Notifications.

  • Confirm Do Not Disturb is set to off. This setting is usually found on the watch under Settings > System > Do Not Disturb Half moon icon for do not disturb setting. You can also check in the Controls Menu.

Do Not Disturb Icons 

  • Confirm battery saver mode is disabled. On compatible devices, this is usually found in the watch under Settings > Power/Battery Manager > Battery Saver. To confirm compatibility refer to your owner's manual.

  • Restart both the phone and Garmin device. If this does not resolve your issue continue to the next section.

Confirm That Your Sleep Settings are Correct

Sleep time settings in the Garmin Connect app enables Do Not Disturb preventing notifications from displaying on your Garmin watch. For instructions on how to check and make sure your sleep times are correct see - Setting Sleep and Wake Window Times in Garmin Connect.

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