Garmin Weather Waiting For Data? – Complete Fix Guide

Garmin watches are perfect for athletes and adventurers as they show plenty of detailed data. Weather is one of those. However, is your Garmin weather waiting for data indefinitely?

Let’s fix that.

If your Garmin can’t load weather data, you must ensure that it is connected to the phone app and the permissions are set correctly. Additionally, the issue can be solved by restarting the watch, updating its firmware, or factory resetting it.

We understand it is annoying when a certain feature of a smart device stops working. We will help you get through that in quick steps.

Please ensure that you follow all the instructions below.

Garmin Weather Waiting For Data – Reasons

Garmin watches have a lot of features to help you daily, which include info regarding the current weather.

But is your Garmin watch weather waiting for data? We have some ideas of what is going on.

Here are the most common causes of that issue:

✅ Phone Not Connected

Depending on your Garmin watch model, it can’t access weather data on its own but rather needs to connect to your phone.

✅ The Phone Is Unsynced

Even if you have a connected phone and watch, you must ensure they stay in sync at all times.

✅ Problems With the App

The Garmin watch depends on the Garmin Connect app on your phone for some info. You must check the app’s integrity.

✅ Firmware Issues

Finally, it is possible that the watch itself can’t load/retrieve some info correctly due to a firmware glitch.

Solve The Garmin Weather Waiting For Data

There are different reasons that could be at play, interfering with your ability to check the weather info.

Normally, the Garmin watch should have no problem displaying such data.

So let’s see what you can do to solve the issue quickly.

1. Connect The Watch To The Phone

Is this your first time using a Garmin watch? In that case, you might not be familiar with the fact that you need to download the Garmin Connect app.

After you have downloaded it, you must do the following:

1. Put the Garmin watch into pairing mode;
2. Turn Bluetooth on your phone;
3. Open the app;
4. If the app doesn’t find the watch immediately, tap “More” or the three-stripe icon (depending on OS);
5. Choose “Garmin Devices”;
6. Choose “Add Device”;
7. Confirm your watch;
8. Follow the quick instructions.

It is important not to pair the watch directly via the Bluetooth settings on your phone. Rather, follow the steps above accordingly.

2. Check The Phone’s Settings

Depending on the privacy and safety default settings on your phone, you will have to do a bit more work. Some settings won’t allow data transference between your phone and watch.

So here is how it goes:

For iOS Users

If you have an iPhone, here are the steps you will need to follow to allow the phone to transfer weather data to the Garmin watch:

1. Go to “Settings” 
2. Select “Privacy”
3. Tap on “Location Services”;
4. Tap on the Garmin Connect app;
5. Set the option “Access to Location Services” for this app to “Always.”

Restart the watch, and the changes should take effect immediately.

For Android Users

Android users, on the other hand, will have to follow this route:

1. Head to the phone’s Settings;
2. Tap on “Apps”;
3. Find the Garmin Connect app and tap on it;
4. Look through its info and locate “Permissions”;
5. Find “Location Sharing” and set it to “Active.”

Restart the Garmin watch afterward. Once it boots the system, weather data should be available.

3. Adjust The Settings On The App

Perhaps your Garmin watch keeps waiting for weather data because the weather settings are not correct in the Connect app.

Here is how you will manage and set them up properly:

1. Open the app;
2. Access its menu;
3. Click on “Settings”;
4. Choose “User Settings”;
5. Select “Weather Location.”

From there, you will need to enter the location correctly. That might require interacting with your phone’s GPS. You should allow it.

4. Restart The Watch

It might be necessary to restart the watch so it can get weather data again. The procedure will differ for watches with and without a power button.

Models With A Power Button

If you have a Garmin watch that sports a power button, power cycling is very simple:

1. Hold the power button for up to 30 seconds;
2. Release it when the watch turns off;
3. Turn the watch back on.

Model Without A Power Button

It is weird for a smart device not to have a power button, right?

However, you can still power cycle your Garmin watch by doing the following:

1. Connect the USB charging cable;
2. Let it for a few seconds;
3. Disconnect;

Once the watch successfully restarts, you must check if the data capacities are working. Thus, verify if weather data is being collected. If not, go to the next solution.

5. Disable Power Saving Mode

Just like phones, your Garmin watch also has a power-saving mode. That is useful when you are running long distances with a low battery.

However, it might prevent weather data from loading correctly.

Do this:

1. Locate the device’s main menu;
2. Select “Power Manager”;
3. Tap on “Battery Saver”;
4. Switch it to “Off.”

Alternate Procedure

The power saving mode on some Garmin watches might also be activated/deactivated differently.

Follow the steps below:

1. Start from the watch’s main menu;
2. Choose“Activity Settings”;
3. Locate “Power Save Timeout”;
4. Set it to “Extended.”

Note: If you have been using power saving mode because your watch's battery is not lasting enough, it might be time to replace its batteries. Most Garmin watches have easily replaceable batteries.

6. Update The Watch’s Firmware

We shouldn’t discard the possibility that your watch needs a nice firmware update.

That will certainly make it connect to the Garmin Connect app and allow it to load weather data.

Here is how to update:

1. Long press the menu button;
2. Locate “Software update”;
3. Choose that option;
4. Check if there is an update available;
5. Click “Install Now” if there is.

The update might take a while, but you should wait through it.

7. Allow Garmin Connect On The Background

It is highly possible that your phone is blocking the proper communication between Garmin Connect and the smartwatch.

That happens because you haven’t set up the app correctly or some privacy/safety options override the app. 

How To Manage On Android

Here is what to do if you have an Android phone:

1. Go to the phone’s Settings;
2. Locate the “Apps” option;
3. Select “Connect”;
4. Choose “Mobile data & Wi-Fi.”
5. Locate “Background data” and switch it on.

How To Manage On iOS

And this is what you must do if you own an iPhone:

1. Open your iPhone’s settings;
2. Tap on “General”;
3. Choose “Background App Refresh”;
4. Locate “Garmin Connect” and switch it on.

8. Reset The Garmin Watch

Finally, we must consider the possibility that your Garmin watch’s firmware has glitched in a way it can’t load weather data.

Fixing that will require factory resetting the device:

1. Press the “Menu” button on the watch;
2. Locate “Settings”;
3. Tap on “System”;
4. Select “Reset”;
5. Allow to “Delete Data and Reset Settings”;
6. If the watch prompts you, use the “Down” button;
7. Select “Continue”;
8. Tap on “Yes” to confirm the reset.

Note: Garmin stores some data on the cloud. If you are afraid of losing important info on your watch upon resetting, don't forget to back it up on the cloud.

What We Learned

A Garmin weather waiting for data indefinitely indicates an error in the network, phone, or watch. Figuring out which the culprit is will take a few minutes of investigation.

Once you have done all of the above, you should get the weather widget to work again. If not, it is time to get in touch with the brand.

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