Tech Desk 
Dec 01, 2024
A screengrab of Garmin Fenix 8 watch. — YouTube/Garmin
Garmin smartwatch users are facing an unusual problem that has left their devices crashing. Many users have reported that their watch faces freeze and display a strange “IQ!” logo with an orange exclamation mark.
The issue has been linked to a bug in Garmin’s Connect IQ platform and seems to have been triggered by recent firmware updates.
Glitch tied to Garmin’s connect IQ platform
Garmin smartwatches, known for their advanced features and reliability, are popular among fitness enthusiasts and tech lovers. However, this ongoing glitch has affected popular models like the Venu 3, Forerunner 965, and Fenix 7. Reports of the bug first surfaced months ago and are now increasing, leaving users frustrated.
The problem appears to stem from the Storage.setValue() function in Garmin’s Connect IQ platform. This function helps save data for watch faces and apps, but a glitch in it causes random crashes. Some users say the crashes happen when they receive notifications, while others experience them during normal use.
Restarting the watch provides only temporary relief, as the issue often returns. Firmware updates, including versions 11.16 and 20.29, are believed to have triggered these problems.
Developers are also feeling the impact, with one app creator reporting nearly 400,000 crashes since August.
Garmin has acknowledged the issue and is investigating it. However, engineers are struggling to consistently reproduce the problem, which is slowing down efforts to fix it. The company hasn’t shared a timeline for a permanent solution, leaving users and developers waiting.
