Why Is My Garmin Device Not Acquiring GPS Satellites?

There are a number of factors that can cause your Garmin® device to take a long time or perhaps not find and acquire a GPS satellite signal. Giving the device an unobstructed view of the sky and horizon will allow for the quickest satellite acquisition.

My Device Will Not Find Satellites

If an Outdoor or Fitness device will not acquire satellite signal, the following may help resolve the issue:

NOTE: Cloud cover does not affect the device's ability to acquire a GPS signal.

• Make sure the device has a clear view to the sky with no obstructions (buildings, patio covers, dense foliage).

• If you have traveled over 100 miles since last using the device, have not synced or acquired a signal in more than two weeks, or have reset the device recently, it can take an extended amount of time to acquire a satellite signal. In most cases, it can take up to 5 minutes to acquire a signal in ideal conditions but in some instances it could take up to 20 minutes. To assist with faster acquisition times, see How to Get a Faster GPS Signal on a Garmin Watch or Edge Device.

• Sync with the Garmin Connect™ App or Garmin Express™ program to get the latest available satellite location information. For more information, see .

• If the device does not have the latest software installed, check for updates with Garmin Express.

• Powering the device off and back on may also help correct the issue (check the owner’s manual for steps on turning off the device).

Keeping Software Up to Date

It is important to be on the latest software version for your device. Software updates will often include updates that improve GPS. For updating your software, see - Installing the Latest Software On Your Fitness Device.

What Is EPO, CPE, or Ephemeris on a Garmin Watch?

Extended Prediction Orbit (EPO), Connected Predictive Ephemeris (CPE), or simply Ephemeris data allows GPS devices to predict where satellites will be in the sky, which reduces GPS acquisition time. With updated EPO, CPE, or Ephemeris data, instead of taking 2-3 minutes to find GPS signals, it will usually take less than 30 seconds.

How Do I Check EPO or CPE Status?

EPO, CPE, or Ephemeris status can be checked under About in the System or Setup menu of your Garmin product. EPO, CPE, and Ephemeris files expire, and are usually only good for a range of 3-14 days. Sync the Garmin product regularly to download new EPO, CPE, or Ephemeris data. Refer to your owner's manual for help finding the About menu of your device.

How is GPS Location Data Downloaded?

Satellite location information is refreshed periodically when your device syncs data with your Garmin Connect account. This data can be out of date if the device has not been used in over 14 days or when it has traveled more than 100 miles from its last satellite connection. Before you start a GPS activity, updating your GPS location data will facilitate a quicker satellite fix in the new location.

Syncing your device either through the Garmin Connect™ App, Garmin Express™ program, or when a compatible device connects to a previously configured Wi-Fi network will ensure that it has the latest available satellite location information.