Garmin launches recovery mode: New feature saves smartwatches in the event of errors

Garmin smartwatches are getting a new feature—one you ideally never want to encounter: a recovery mode. As reported by Gadgets & Wearables, it is designed to address more serious issues that can render a device unusable. We may not be entirely neutral on this topic, but our own experience confirms that resolving software problems on Garmin smartwatches can be frustrating and not always successful. One reason is the lack of official downgrade options, as older firmware versions are generally not provided and, if available at all, tend to surface only in obscure archives.

The recovery mode is triggered automatically if a problem is detected during startup. Users are then presented with a menu offering several options. These include an automatic repair attempt that aims to fix common issues without data loss, as well as the ability to manually terminate any ongoing activity. It is also possible to delete locally stored maps. In addition, recovery mode allows users to establish a USB connection to a computer, enabling manual firmware installation. As a last resort, the smartwatch can be fully reset to factory settings. The feature is currently being rolled out to select devices as part of Garmin’s beta program.