This troubleshooting page will help you diagnose problems with the Garmin Fenix 3.
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The battery is losing its charge more quickly than usual.
Sometimes software such as Bluetooth will cause excessive drain on the battery. Disable Bluetooth or other outstanding software and monitor the battery drainage.
Power issues can sometimes be solved by performing a soft reset, which will not result in lost information. Press and hold the LIGHT button until the watch turns off. Press the button again to turn it back on. Charge the battery to 100%. Use as normal and monitor the battery drainage.
If any of the previous fixes fail to solve the issue, you may need to replace the battery. See our guide on how to replace the battery here.
The buttons stick when pressed, or do not register input.
The buttons can become sticky or unresponsive when exposed to salt water. If this symptom has appeared recently, quickly soak the watch in warm, fresh water for 30 minutes. Check the buttons for responsiveness.
Sometimes the electronics can become faulty if the watch is left on for too long. If the buttons are still responsive, hold the LIGHT button until it shuts off, then press it again to turn it back on. If the buttons are unresponsive, wait for the battery to drain, and then recharge it. Turn the watch back on and check the buttons for responsiveness.
Garmin Fenix 3 watches can experience wear in all components, including the electronics. If resetting the watch does not solve the issue, the motherboard may require replacement. See our guide on replacing this part here.
Screen is frozen, blank, or responding improperly.
Software or display issues can sometimes be solved by performing a reset. Press and hold the LIGHT button until the watch turns off. Press the button again to turn it back on. Ensure the screen is displaying properly.
If possible, backup your data. A hard (factory) reset will wipe your personal data from the watch. First, turn off the watch. Then press and hold the BACK/LAP button. Power the watch back on while still holding BACK/LAP. Release the button when a screen appears with the message “Clear user data?” Select “Yes.” The watch should power back up and bring you to a setup wizard screen. Repeat these steps if the setup wizard does not appear. After setup is complete, ensure the screen is displaying properly.
The information is responsive, but distorted or faulty on the screen.
Sometimes the watch face can get scratched during intense activity. If the scratches are small, they can be concealed without needing to replace the lens. Acquire a screen protector for your watch. Then apply Vaseline to the scratches carefully using a toothpick - do not apply enough for it to smear, as it will warp the image. Once the scratches are filled, place the screen protector over top. The scratches should no longer be noticeable.
If the watch face is cracked beyond easy concealment, you may need to replace the watch face yourself. See our guide for replacing this part here.
If none of these steps have worked, the device may have a hardware issue that can only be fixed by Garmin itself (such as the display containing dead pixels). Please refer to the Garmin website to learn about their Return/Replacement process for the device.
The wrist strap coming loose, or coming unsecured.
Garmin Fenix 3 wrist straps can break after a period between one to two years. This depends on the kind and frequency of use, and is not uncommon. The wrist strap may be torn or stretching. To replace the wrist strap, see our guide here.
“GPS locates slowly, inaccurately, or not at all.”
Software or display issues can sometimes be solved by performing a reset. Press and hold the LIGHT button until the watch turns off. Press the button again to turn it back on. Ensure the GPS is locating properly.
If possible, backup your data. A hard (factory) reset will wipe your personal data from the watch. First, turn off the watch. Then press and hold the BACK/LAP button. Power the watch back on while still holding BACK/LAP. Release the button when a screen appears with the message “Clear user data?” Select “Yes.” The watch should power back up and bring you to a setup wizard screen. Repeat these steps if the setup wizard does not appear. After setup is complete, ensure the GPS is locating properly.
Garmin Fenix 3 watches can experience wear in all components, including the electronics. If resetting the watch does not solve the issue, the motherboard or GPS antenna may require replacement. Replace them one at a time, and check if this solves the problem. See our guide on replacing the motherboard here. If this doesn’t work, see our guide on replacing the GPS antenna here.
