A fresh update to the Garmin Connect app is leaving many smartwatch owners suddenly disconnected, and the timing couldn’t be worse for anyone who relies on their watch for everyday notifications, payments, and navigation.
After updating Garmin Connect to version 5.21 on iOS, a growing number of users report that their Garmin smartwatch can no longer properly connect to their iPhone. The complaints appeared quickly across community discussions, with affected devices reportedly including popular models like the Garmin Fenix 8, Forerunner 970, and Venu 4. In many cases, the watch simply can’t find the phone after the update is installed, and basic troubleshooting—like restarting both the iPhone and the smartwatch—doesn’t fix it.
When the phone connection breaks, the impact goes beyond syncing workout data. Users say they lose iPhone notifications on the watch and may be blocked from features that depend on a stable Garmin Connect connection, including Garmin Pay and several navigation-related functions. For people who use their Garmin daily, that effectively turns an advanced smartwatch into a much more limited device until the connection is restored.
Garmin has already pushed a quick follow-up update, version 5.21.1, but according to user reports it doesn’t fully resolve the issue. Until a permanent fix arrives, a temporary workaround seems to bring many watches back online: removing the existing Bluetooth pairing and setting it up again from scratch.
Here’s the workaround users say helps:
1) On your iPhone, open Settings, then Bluetooth.
2) Find your Garmin watch in the device list.
3) Tap the “i” information button next to the watch name.
4) Choose “Forget This Device.”
5) Pair the watch again via Bluetooth.
6) Open Garmin Connect afterward—your watch may display a QR code you can scan to re-establish the connection properly.
If you haven’t installed Garmin Connect 5.21 yet, it may be worth waiting until Garmin releases an update that fully fixes the connectivity problem. For those already affected, re-pairing is currently the most reliable way to restore syncing and regain essential smartwatch features while Garmin works on a more permanent solution.
