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

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

However, despite the simple steps, it is still important to understand the different types of Garmin reset. You can perform a soft reset to restart the device, a hard reset to delete data and settings, or a hard reset to return the device to its original state.

This guide covers everything you need to know about resetting your Garmin. Although some steps may vary slightly between models, the overall process is the same for most devices.

How to do a soft reset on a Garmin watch (reset)

A soft reset on most Garmin watches can fix minor issues you may encounter during use.

For example, turning the watch off and on again often solves problems with features not working as intended, such as turning off GPS. Additionally, it is a very effective way to deal with an unresponsive screen.

There are two ways to do so.

Use any of these methods to perform a soft reset (reboot):

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

Turn 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.

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

Most Garmin watches allow you to perform a factory reset while retaining custom settings.

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

However, you will need to go through the setup again in Garmin Connect if you use this reset. It will restore the original settings and clear information such as your user profile, personal records, and metrics.

That means the personal 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 any of the methods below. What’s best for you will depend on whether your device’s display is frozen.

1. Open the ‘Menu’ on your Garmin watch by holding down the button (usually labeled ‘Up’).
2. Scroll down to ‘Settings’, then ‘Program’.
3. Find ‘Restore and Reset’ > ‘Reset’ > ‘Reset default settings’.
4. You will then be asked to confirm before restoring these settings.

Method 2: Use the buttons

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

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

Most of the time, the hard reset method mentioned above will be enough to achieve your goal. However, this nuclear option can erase all the contents of the clock. It will delete user-entered information, activity history, personal records, Connect IQ content, and your user profile.

It is the best setting for those selling or giving away a Garmin watch.

However, as with a normal hard reset, it is important to know that the learned training data can still be retrieved via Physio TrueUp/Unified Training Status after this reset.

There is a slight variation to this method, which we will explain below.

• For Garmin The predecessor, Phoenix, Instinct again Vivoactive watches: Settings > System > Reset and Reset > Reset > Wipe Data and Reset Settings
• You have The way golf watches: Settings > Reset > Clear data and reset settings
• You have Quatix again Getting down watches: Settings > System > Restore Defaults > Reset settings
• Previously The predecessor view models: Menu > Settings > System > Restore Defaults > Yes.