How to Reset Garmin Instinct: Step-by-Step Guide

Garmin Instinct is a popular outdoor GPS smartwatch designed to withstand harsh environments. However, there may be times when you encounter issues with your device, and a reset becomes necessary. Resetting your Garmin Instinct can help resolve various software glitches or restore the watch to its factory settings.

Here, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive guide on How to Reset Garmin Instinct effectively. So, make sure to read this article completely.

How to Reset Garmin Instinct

It’s important to know how to reset your Garmin watch when encountering issues or errors. By performing a reset, you can potentially resolve minor software glitches and restore your watch to its optimal performance.

Why Reset Garmin Instinct?

There are several reasons why you might need to reset your Garmin Instinct. Some common scenarios include –

• Software Glitches – If your Garmin Instinct is freezing, lagging, or behaving abnormally, a reset can help resolve these software-related issues.
• Connection Problems – When facing difficulties connecting your Garmin Instinct to other devices or syncing data, a reset may help establish a stable connection.
• Unresponsiveness – If your watch becomes unresponsive to commands or touchscreen inputs, a reset can potentially fix the problem.
• Battery Drain – In case your Garmin Instinct experiences rapid battery drain, a reset can help optimize power consumption.

Soft Reset Garmin Instinct

A soft reset is a simple and non-intrusive way to troubleshoot minor issues with your Garmin Instinct.

Follow these steps to perform a soft reset –

1. Press and hold the Light button on the left side of your watch.
2. Keep holding the button until the device powers off.
3. Release the button, and the Garmin logo should appear, indicating a successful reset.
4. Allow your watch to restart, and it should be responsive again.

A soft reset does not erase your data or change any settings on the Garmin Instinct.

Also Read: Sync Garmin Instinct Watch

Hard Reset Garmin Instinct

Here’s how to perform a hard reset –

1. Power off your Garmin Instinct by pressing and holding the Light button until it turns off.
2. Press and hold the Light button again.
3. While holding the button, press and release the Start/Stop button.
4. Continue holding the Light button until the device displays a message asking if you want to erase all user data.
5. Release the Light button and select Yes to confirm the reset.
6. Your Garmin Instinct will restart and return to its factory settings.

Note – A hard reset erases all user data, including activity history, customized settings, and paired devices. Make sure to back up your data before proceeding with a hard reset.

How to Reset Garmin Instinct

If you want to completely restore your Garmin Instinct to its original state, you can perform a factory reset by following steps –

1. Power off your Garmin Instinct.
2. Press and hold the Light button.
3. While holding the button, press and release the Back button.
4. Continue holding the Light button until the device displays a message asking if you want to restore all settings to the default values.
5. Release the Light button and select Yes to confirm the factory reset.
6. Your Garmin Instinct will restart, and the device will be restored to its factory settings.

Similar to a hard reset, a factory reset deletes all user data and settings. Ensure you have a backup of your important data before proceeding with a factory reset.

Backing Up Your Data

Before performing any reset on your Garmin Instinct, it’s crucial to back up your data to prevent permanent loss. To back up your data, follow these steps –

1. Connect your Garmin Instinct to your computer using a USB cable.
2. Access the Garmin Connect application on your computer.
3. Click on your Garmin Instinct device to view its settings.
4. Select the option to back up your data and follow the on-screen instructions.
5. Ensure the backup process completes successfully before proceeding with the reset.

Restoring Your Data

After resetting your Garmin Instinct, you can restore your data from the backup –

1. Connect your Garmin Instinct to your computer using a USB cable.
2. Launch the Garmin Connect application on your computer.
3. Click on your Garmin Instinct device to access its settings.
4. Choose the option to restore data from the backup you created earlier.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the data restoration process.

Also Read: Change Watch Face on Garmin Watch

Troubleshooting Tips

Here are some additional troubleshooting tips to consider –

1. Ensure your Garmin Instinct is running the latest firmware version. Update it if necessary.
2. Check for any specific error codes or messages and search Garmin’s support documentation for solutions.
3. Contact Garmin customer support for further assistance if the issue persists.

How to Restart Garmin Instinct

If you want to restart then you may follow these steps –

• Press and hold the light button and the start/stop button simultaneously.
• Keep holding until the device powers off and restarts.

Note – The process to turn it off is also the same as restarting the Garmin watch.

Wrapping Up

Knowing How to Reset Garmin Instinct is essential for maintaining optimal performance and resolving issues. Whether you choose a soft reset, hard reset, or factory reset, make sure to follow the instructions carefully and consider backing up your data beforehand. If you encounter persistent problems, don’t hesitate to seek support from Garmin’s customer service.

I hope this article was helpful to you and if you still find any queries then you may ask in the comment box. For more information visit the Help and Support Page.

FAQ’s How to Reset Garmin Instinct