Garmin Blue Triangle Bug: What Happened and How to Fix It

What is the Garmin Blue Triangle Bug?

The Garmin ‘Blue Triangle’ bug surfaced on January 28, 2025, causing widespread GPS failures across multiple smartwatch models. Users reported that their watches either crashed during GPS activities or got stuck in an endless reboot loop, displaying a blue triangle on the screen.

Garmin later confirmed that the issue was caused by a faulty CPE (Current Position Estimate) file, a satellite pre-cache data file that allows watches to lock onto GPS signals faster. The bad file caused affected devices to reset each time users attempted to start a GPS activity.

Which Garmin Devices Were Affected?

The bug impacted a wide range of Garmin smartwatches, including:

• Fenix Series (Fenix 7, Fenix 8)
• Forerunner Series (165, 255, 265, 955, 965)
• Epix Pro (Gen 2)
• Instinct Series (including Instinct 3)
• Venu Series (Venu 2, Venu 3)
• Vivoactive 5
• Lily 2 and Lily 2 Active
• Edge Cycling Computers

Not all units of these models were affected, as some managed to avoid downloading the corrupt CPE file.

Garmin’s Official Fix: Step-by-Step Solutions

Garmin quickly acknowledged the issue and provided fixes. The solution varies depending on the model of your watch.

1. Soft Reset (For Fenix 8 & Lily 2)

• Hold the Power/Light button until the device turns off.
• Wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.
• Sync the watch with Garmin Connect to ensure it receives the corrected CPE file.

2. Hard Reset (For Forerunner, Vivoactive, Venu & Approach Series)

• Hold the Power button until the watch turns off.
• Press and hold the Start/Stop and Back buttons.
• While holding them, power on the watch.
• Release Start/Stop after the first beep/vibration.
• Release Back after the second beep/vibration.
• Reconnect with Garmin Connect and set up the device again.

3. Garmin Express Sync (For Fenix 7, Epix Gen 2, Enduro 2, Instinct 3, and Quatix 7)

• Download and install Garmin Express on your computer.
• Turn off your watch by holding the Power/Light button.
• Connect the watch to the computer while holding the Start/Stop button.
• Add the device to Garmin Express and follow the setup instructions.

4. Manually Delete the Corrupt File (For Advanced Users)

If syncing does not resolve the issue, you may need to manually remove the corrupt CPE file:

• Connect the watch to a computer.
• Open the Garmin folder and locate RemoteSW.
• Delete the CPE.bin file.
• Disconnect and restart the watch.
• Sync with Garmin Connect.

What to Do If the Fixes Don’t Work?

If you’re still experiencing issues:

• Try factory resetting your watch from the menu: Settings > System > Restore & Reset (Warning: This will erase all settings and stored data.)
• Contact Garmin Support for further troubleshooting.

Lessons Learned from the Garmin GPS Outage

This incident highlights the reliance of wearable tech on external satellite data and the importance of preemptive bug testing. Garmin acted quickly to fix the problem, but the outage disrupted users’ activities globally, sparking concerns about smartwatch reliability.

Final Thoughts: Should You Worry About Future Garmin Issues?

While Garmin’s watches remain some of the best for GPS tracking and fitness, this incident serves as a reminder to always keep your device updated and sync it regularly to prevent outdated or corrupt files from causing disruptions. If you rely heavily on GPS tracking, having a backup device or alternative app (like Strava) can be a good precaution.

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