#20 The Deep Dive Fix Files: Week Ending 16 October 2026
This is a weekly roundup of significant sports tech problems that the endurance community has encountered and, where possible, resolved. Each entry covers the issue, the affected hardware or software, and the current best fix or workaround known to the community.
Garmin Fenix 8 no vibration for incoming calls or notifications after a firmware update
After a recent software update, several Fenix 8 owners no longer feel their watch buzz for calls and notifications, even though the vibration motor still works in other places. That means missed calls and messages while you are out training.
Holding the Light button for 30 seconds and waiting ten minutes brought vibration back for one owner, but it did not work for two others. Standard restart and re-pairing steps failed, and Garmin support only pointed owners to a suggestion form.
This issue remains unresolved — if you have encountered it and found a fix, the discussion is open on r/the5krunner.
Garmin Edge 1050 freezing and blank pages on long multi-day rides
Riders on multi-day tours report that the Edge 1050 freezes and shows blank data pages as the ride gets long. That is a risk when you depend on it for navigation and records.
The only workaround so far is to save the ride at the end of each day and merge the files afterwards. Power cycling did not help, and Garmin staff have not replied.
This issue remains unresolved — if you have encountered it and found a fix, the discussion is open on r/the5krunner.
Garmin Fenix 8 weather map cloud overlay showing green and red blocks and pink lines on software 23.31
On software 23.31 with an iPhone, the cloud overlay on the Fenix 8 weather map shows coloured blocks and pink lines instead of a clear forecast picture.
A reset without restoring the backup cleared it only for a short time, and reinstalling the maps did not help. A Garmin moderator could not reproduce the fault.
This issue remains unresolved — if you have encountered it and found a fix, the discussion is open on r/the5krunner.
Forerunner 970 rebooting when pausing or resuming a run with an HRM 600 and Bluetooth headphones on software 18.29
A Forerunner 970 reboots whenever a run is paused or resumed while paired to an HRM 600 and Bluetooth headphones. Losing a run to a reboot is the last thing you want on race day.
Garmin staff say software 18.32 is rolling out, and you can check for it under Menu, Watch Settings, System, Software Update. Nobody has yet confirmed that it cures the reboots, so for now consider running without the Bluetooth headphones on important days.
This issue remains unresolved — if you have encountered it and found a fix, the discussion is open on r/the5krunner.
Edge 1050 rebooting every time the ride timer reaches 5:00
One Edge 1050 restarts at exactly five minutes into every ride, which makes it impossible to record a clean session.
A guess is to turn off the lap alert in the activity profile’s Alerts and Prompts, but nobody has reported whether it works. Other 1050 owners on software 32.20 describe random reboots too.
This issue remains unresolved — if you have encountered it and found a fix, the discussion is open on r/the5krunner.
Garmin Fenix 8 showing a phone call as active after the call ends with call waiting
On a Fenix 8 Pro and Solar 51mm paired with a Samsung S24, the watch keeps showing a call as live after it has finished when call waiting was involved. It has now lasted 21 days.
Garmin’s suggested steps of updating the phone, the Connect app and the watch, then re-pairing, did not help. A hidden-menu software reinstall is unconfirmed.
This issue remains unresolved — if you have encountered it and found a fix, the discussion is open on r/the5krunner.
Edge 1040 TopoActive Europe 2026.11 turn prompts disappearing partway through a long course
On a course of about 525 km, turn guidance stops around kilometre 331 because the map’s routing cache runs out of room. You keep the line on screen but lose the turn prompts.
The workaround that worked is to split the course into sections of about 150 km in RideWithGPS and load each as its own course. Free OpenStreetMap maps did not show the fault, though a retest is pending. Resets and going back to the older map mostly did not help.
Edge 1040 stuck on Transfer in Progress and not syncing or auto-uploading rides on firmware 31.31 and 31.33
Some Edge 1040 owners find the device stuck on Transfer in Progress, so rides do not reach Garmin Connect or Strava.
One owner fixed it, and their son’s Edge 1050 too, by uninstalling all maps, installing the firmware and smaller updates, then reinstalling the maps. The fix did not last in one case, and clearing temporary files can remove the update file and slow the GPS fix.
Garmin Fenix 8 battery life dropping from 10 days to 2 days after software 23.39
A 47 mm Solar Fenix 8 went from about ten days of battery to two after software 23.39.
Turning off the OK Garmin voice feature helped one owner but not the original poster. A hidden-menu reinstall has been suggested with no result reported. Garmin has acknowledged a separate screen brightness fault in another thread.
This issue remains unresolved — if you have encountered it and found a fix, the discussion is open on r/the5krunner.
Garmin Instinct 3 Solar run distance and pace stuck at zero on firmware 15.19
Runs on an Instinct 3 Solar recorded no distance or pace on firmware 15.19, which defeats the point of the run.
The fix is to turn off 3D speed in the Run profile settings. Trail Run already has it off by default, which is why that mode worked all along.
Garmin Fenix 7 rebooting during bike rides after software 27.18 with Shimano Di2
After software 27.18, Fenix 7 watches reboot during cycling when connected to Shimano Di2 shifting.
Turning off the Di2 connection on the watch stopped the reboots for two owners with 105 and Ultegra groupsets. It did not fully cure the original poster, who also uses an HRM 600 and Favero Assioma pedals. One rider went back to 25.11 and the reboots stopped.
Garmin Fenix 7 Pro software 27.18 downloading but never installing
The 27.18 update downloads to some Fenix 7 Pro watches but never installs. Garmin says it is a staged release reaching 50 percent of watches.
Garmin’s suggestions are to update over Wi-Fi or Garmin Connect, remove and re-add the watch in Garmin Express, or reinstall through the hidden About menu. Joining the beta, or switching off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, power cycling and waiting 15 to 20 seconds before updating, worked for some owners.
Garmin Edge 840 Strava saved routes not syncing to Garmin Connect after firmware 31.33
Strava saved routes no longer appear on the Edge 840 after firmware 31.33, so your planned rides are not on the device.
What worked every time is to export the GPX file from Strava, import it into Garmin Connect on the web and then sync. Clearing temporary files helped two users. The 31.64 beta fixes newly starred routes only.
Garmin Fenix 7 Pro navigation crash and a not enough memory route calculation error on software 25.11
Route calculation on the Fenix 7 Pro crashes or reports not enough memory, which spoils navigation on the trail.
Turning TopoActive off and on worked for a while. Replacing it with an OpenStreetMap base map and contour data worked for weeks, calculating a 15 km route in about 20 seconds. Garmin staff say 27.18 has some crash fixes, though that is unconfirmed.
Garmin Fenix 7 sleep watch face staying on after Sleep Mode is turned off since software 26.09
Since software 26.09 the sleep watch face stays on after Sleep Mode ends, and it persists on 27.18.
You can remove the problem by turning the Sleep Mode watch face off in System settings, but then the sleep face never appears. A factory reset did not help. Garmin says engineers are aware and expect a fix, with no date.
Suunto Vertical 1 backlight staying on all the time after a restart on software 2.50.28
After a restart the Vertical 1 backlight can stay on permanently, which drains the battery.
Toggling the backlight setting fully off and then on cleared it. A soft reset fixed it for another user, and a hard reset fixed a 9 Peak Pro. Suunto has no official fix yet.
Suunto Race 2 showing no power from a Van Rysel D500 V2 smart trainer
The Suunto Race 2 does not show power from a Van Rysel D500 V2 trainer because Suunto watches do not support the FTMS trainer standard.
Running the QZ app on a Mac so that it presents the trainer as a Bluetooth power meter worked a year ago, but it is untested now and failed on an iPad. ANT+ did not help.
This issue remains unresolved — if you have encountered it and found a fix, the discussion is open on r/the5krunner.
Suunto Vertical 2 custom data fields below the map doing nothing when tapped in Running and Trail Running
Custom data fields under the map on the Vertical 2 do not respond to taps in Running and Trail Running.
Set Touch to On, or to Map only, in the sport mode’s Exercise options, and check each sport mode separately. That restores the taps.
Suunto Run offline music not playing FLAC or some MP3 files and playing songs in the wrong order
Offline music on the Suunto Run skips FLAC files and variable-bitrate MP3s, and tracks play out of order.
Re-encoding to fixed-bitrate 320 kbps MP3 fixes playback. WAV also works but takes far more space. Track order is still unresolved, and playlists built in the app are unconfirmed.
This issue remains unresolved — if you have encountered it and found a fix, the discussion is open on r/the5krunner.
Edge 1050 with Varia UT800 and Rearvue 820 light network switching from Auto to Individual after sleep
A Varia UT800 headlight and Rearvue 820 on an Edge 1050 lose their Auto light network setting and revert to Individual after sleep or power off.
The workaround is to set Auto by hand at the start of a ride and check partway through. Garmin is collecting reports for a ticket.
This issue remains unresolved — if you have encountered it and found a fix, the discussion is open on r/the5krunner.
Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM 3 beeps and navigation sounds much louder and fading in after the latest update
After the latest update the ELEMNT ROAM 3 alerts and navigation sounds are much louder and fade in, which can startle you on a quiet ride.
Using voice navigation prompts is the only workaround. Wahoo said on 13 October that it is working on an update with no date, and there is no way to roll back.
This issue remains unresolved — if you have encountered it and found a fix, the discussion is open on r/the5krunner.
Edge 1050 Bluetooth sync with iPhone never finishing and ride notifications stopping after firmware 32.20
Since firmware 32.20 the Edge 1050 never finishes syncing over Bluetooth with an iPhone, and ride notifications stop.
Syncing over Wi-Fi gets your rides across, though it does not bring notifications back. Re-pairing and reinstalling the apps did not help, and Garmin only suggested Garmin Express.
This issue remains unresolved — if you have encountered it and found a fix, the discussion is open on r/the5krunner.
Edge 1050 Wi-Fi extremely slow and firmware download timing out while it scans for sensors
On firmware 32.20 the Edge 1050 Wi-Fi crawls and firmware downloads time out while the unit scans for sensors.
Removing saved sensors before a Wi-Fi sync or update restores speed, and a full power off brings the sensors back. It is worth trying but not yet confirmed as a lasting fix. Garmin staff have not answered.
This issue remains unresolved — if you have encountered it and found a fix, the discussion is open on r/the5krunner.
Forerunner 970 recovery time jumping to 96 hours after easy runs on firmware 18.32
After easy runs the Forerunner 970 shows a 96-hour recovery time, which could scare you off a perfectly good training week.
It is not purely an 18.32 problem, since the same thing happened in July and September. Only a reset has been offered, and the max heart rate profile changed from 177 to 173 on 7 October. Garmin has not replied.
This issue remains unresolved — if you have encountered it and found a fix, the discussion is open on r/the5krunner.
More from last week’s Fix Files roundup.
Browse every issue in the archive at the Deep Dive Fix Files hub.
Last Updated on 16 October 2026 by tfk the5krunner
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Kineon MOVE+: Red light therapy for niggles. It works.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
