Garmin VIVOACTIVE 3 Installation guide

FAQ
My Garmin Device Is Paired but Not
Connecting to Sync Data to My Garmin
Connect Account.
If data from your Garmin device has stopped syncing to your Garmin Connect account, There
are some troubleshooting steps that you can take which should resolve your issue.
Troubleshooting Steps:
NOTE: Make sure that your Garmin device is within Bluetooth range of your smartphone and
that the Bluetooth setting on your device is not turned off. Either of these factors will result in
your Garmin device not connecting to sync with the Garmin Connect App on your smartphone.
Try each step followed by checking to see if the problem is resolved:
1. Close the Garmin Connect App. Then reopen it.
oApple instructions
oAndroid Instructions
2. Power the Garmin device off and then power it back on
oRechargeable devices without a power button: Plug your device into a USB
power source using the charging cable. This is the equivalent of a restart.
ovivofit devices: skip this step since you cannot power cycle your device
3. Power down the smartphone then power it back on
4. Remove then add the Garmin device from the Garmin Connect App
oInstructions to do this can be found here: Removing and Adding a Device in the Garmin Connect
App

How can I tell when the issue is fixed?
You can tell when your Garmin device is connected and syncing from the top of the My Day
view of the app:
The device status ring will display a green dot.
The sync arrows will spin during a sync
The Garmin Connect App is Not Finding my
Garmin Device During the Pairing Process
If you are attempting to add your Garmin device to the Garmin Connect App and the app is not
finding your device, review the following common solutions that may solve your problem.
Make sure that pairing mode is enabled on your Garmin device.
oTurning on pairing mode will trigger a Bluetooth beacon signal that the Garmin
Connect App will look for. Access Settings and then Bluetooth or Phone options
to enable pairing mode on your device. Location of this setting can vary, consult
your Owner's Manual for specific instructions.
Turn the Bluetooth setting on your smartphone off and then back on.
oCycling this setting on your smartphone can resolve some pairing issues.
Power off and then power on your Garmin device.
oIf you have a Garmin device that does not feature a button, use the charging cable
and plug it into external power. The device will reboot automatically when you
connect it to an external power source.
I am getting a "Pairing Failed" message
when setting up my Garmin device through
the Garmin Connect App

If you receive a "Pairing Failed" message went attempting to add your Garmin device to the
Garmin Connect App, review the following common solutions that may solve your problem.
Example of error message
NOTE: When prompted from the phone, make sure that you are entering the six-digit code displayed on your Garmin device into your smartphone. Not
entering this code or entering the wrong code will result in a "Pairing Failed" message
Select the option to Retry the process. Sometimes attempting the process a 2nd time will finish the pairing process.
If the issue persists, reboot the Garmin device by powering it off and then powering it back on. Attempt to complete the
pairing process again.
oFor devices without a button, plugging them into external power with the charging cable will reboot them.
Try rebooting the smartphone by powering it off and then powering back on. Attempt to complete the pairing process
again.
My Garmin Fitness Device Is Not Receiving
Smart Notifications from My Phone
In order to receive smart notifications on your Garmin device, it must be paired to your phone
through the Garmin Connect app. If your device is paired and you are not seeing notifications,
check the following which will resolve most issues:
1. Review App Permissions settings:
Select your platform below to reveal instructions
Android InstructionsiOS Instructions

2. Review App Notification settings:
Select your platform below to reveal instructions
Android InstructionsiOS Instructions
3. Check the Smart Notifications setting on your Garmin Device.
oThis setting is usually found under Settings > Bluetooth/Phone. This setting
needs to be turned on. For specific steps, refer to your device's Owner's Manual.
4. Android Users: Confirm that Notification Access has been granted to the
Garmin Connect app.
oThe location of this setting will vary by phone manufacturer. If you cannot find this
setting Contact your phone manufacturer for specific instructions.
NOTE: The following are general steps and may not match your particular phone
1. Open the phone's Settings menu
2. Select the magnifying glass icon at the top of the screen
3. Input “Access” into the search box
4. Select Notification Access or Access to Notifications
On some phones you may need to select Special Access first
5. Enable access to notifications for Connect
Controlling What Android Smart
Notifications Display on a Garmin Device
Managing which notifications from an Android phone that come across to a Garmin device can
be controlled from the settings within the Garmin Connect app.
To manage Smart Notifications:
1. From the Garmin Connect app select (upper left-hand corner)
2. Select Settings
3. Select Smart Notifications
From here, toggle to enable or disable all Smart Notifications or customize by selecting
individual apps.
If these steps have been completed and you are not receiving any smart notifications, See Related
content below to further troubleshoot your issue.

Controlling What Android Smart
Notifications Display on a Garmin Device
Managing which notifications from an Android phone that come across to a Garmin device can
be controlled from the settings within the Garmin Connect app.
To manage Smart Notifications:
1. From the Garmin Connect app select (upper left-hand corner)
2. Select Settings
3. Select Smart Notifications
From here, toggle to enable or disable all Smart Notifications or customize by selecting
individual apps.
If these steps have been completed and you are not receiving any smart notifications, See Related
content below to further troubleshoot your issue.
Improving the Accuracy of the Optical Heart
Rate Sensor
The optical heart rate sensor on your Garmin watch uses light to penetrate your skin and estimate
your heart rate. This allows you to get heart rate information without the need for an additional
sensor such as a heart rate strap. To ensure best possible accuracy, follow the below guidelines.
Make sure the watch is snug tight to the point it cannot move up and down your wrist. A
little tighter when working out and a little looser when not.
Wear the watch on outside of wrist, away from wrist bone
Avoid wearing the watch over dark tattoos
Check to see if the watch has locked on to your heart rate prior to starting your activity. You can
confirm this by looking at your heart rate widget
oFlashing heart symbol: Watch is looking for your heart rate
oSolid heart symbol: Watch is locked onto your heart rate
Ensure green lights (LED's) are functioning
Limitations and Accuracy of Garmin’s Wrist Based HR (Elevate)
The optical wrist heart rate monitor for Garmin wearables is a valuable tool that can provide an
accurate estimation of the user’s heart rate at any given point in time. The optical heart rate
monitor is designed to attempt to monitor a user’s heart rate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The
frequency at which heart rate is measured varies, and depends on the level of activity of the user.

When you start an activity with your Garmin Optical Heart Rate device, the optical heart rate
monitor provides feedback more frequently as the optical sensor is on all of the time and is trying
to measure heart rate on a continuous basis during a given activity period. The intent is to
provide the user with a more frequent and accurate heart rate reading during a given activity.
However, while Garmin’s wrist heart rate monitor technology is state of the art, there are
inherent limitations with the technology that may cause some of the heart rate readings to be
inaccurate under certain circumstances. These circumstances include the user’s physical
characteristics, the fit of the device, and the type and intensity of the activity as outlined above.
The heart rate monitor data is not intended to be used for medical purposes, nor is it intended to
diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition.
What Can Cause the Heart Rate Sensor from
My Watch to Be Inaccurate?
Optical heart rate sensors* work by using lights that can measure small changes in blood volume
in the capillary layer just below the epidermis as blood flows through the wrist area. While
Garmin’s wrist heart rate monitor technology is state of the art, there are inherent limitations
with the technology that may cause some of the heart rate readings to be inaccurate under certain
circumstances. The information below describes three main challenges we face when it comes to
wrist heart rate monitor technology:
False Heart Rate Detection
Changes in blood volume aren't always caused by changes in heart rate. Your vascular system is
like a balloon, so movement of your body or flexing of large muscle groups can affect the level
of blood volume in the wrist area and make it more challenging to accurately detect heart rate
among the presence of other signals that have a much larger magnitude and that change more
dynamically.
In the following example the watch initially detected and locked onto the runner's pulse,
but around 20 minutes in it locked to their running cadence:

Why does this happen?
In some cases there isn't much blood in the tissue on the back of the wrist. This issue is
common when it is cold outside or early in a workout before your blood really starts pumping.
How can I prevent this from occurring?
When you plan to workout, warm up a bit before starting the activity. In addition to this, make
sure you are properly wearing the watch. Tips on fit are described in the next section.
Not Wearing the Watch Properly
For the best heart rate performance from your watch, ensure the following.
The optical heart rate sensor must remain in contact with your skin at all times
The watch must also be worn snug, but not too tight
oIf worn too loose the watch can slide around, creating a gap between the optical heart
rate sensor and your skin.
oIf the watch is worn too tight it can actually restrict blood flow..
The watch is properly tight when you can move the watch and the skin underneath moves with
it.

Certain Types of Activities Can Affect Heart Rate
Performance
Activities that cause flexing of the wrist (ex. rowing, weight lifting, or gripping a tennis racket)
may create an effect similar to wearing the watch too tightly and restrict blood flow. When this
occurs the watch may have a difficult time detecting an accurate heart rate.
Skin Tone and Tattoos Can Affect Heart Rate Accuracy
Skin tone has an effect as the melanin in the skin absorbs some of the light. Garmin designs our
watches to work on all skin tones.

For higher Fitzpatrick classifications, more melanin is present in the skin. The sensor may have
to work harder to find pulse which can require slightly more battery power
What about tattoos?
Tattoos absorb much of the light from the optical heart rate sensor which can cause major
problems with accurately detecting heart rate. The sensor needs to be on an area free of tattoos.