Fix: Garmin Forerunner 45 GPS Issue | Not Showing Accurate Location

Garmin Forerunners are sports watches produced by the American brand and manufacturer Garmin. Through GPS, these watches are useful for runners and athletes and anyone wanting to measure their speed, heart rate, and the distance they have walked. While these watches can be very functional, sometimes you might run into trouble with them.

As these watches are part of our daily lives, they are not safe from being knocked around on or rained on while they’re strapped to our wrists. Even Garmin watches are not safe from these issues. Users of the Garmin Forerunner 45, in particular, have complained about the slow GPS signal of the watch, some even saying that it takes over half an hour to be ready. Other users might have a faint GPS signal showing an inaccurate location. We’re here to show you how you can fix this issue.

How to Fix Garmin Forerunner 45 GPS Issue: Not Showing Accurate Location

There can be a wide variety of factors affecting your Garmin watch. Generally, it should show you an accurate location of up to 3 meters or 10 feet most of the time. This is required if you are tracking your step counting, for example, or want to know where you exactly are. With degraded GPS, the watch might even record more distance you have walked, so you need to find a fix.

As Garmin uses GPS signals from satellites, some environmental factors can affect your device. These can be dense tree covers or tall buildings, which might interfere with the GPS signal. Along with your location, the pace value might fluctuate quite a bit, leading to jumpy numbers instead of steady ones.

If your Garmin Forerunner 45 is not showing an accurate location, you can try these fixes to improve location accuracy.

1. Sync to Garmin Connect 

Garmin Connect is an app that you can get for your phone to interact with your device remotely. Syncing the watch to this app can help sort out some issues automatically, such as speeding up the GPS signal acquisition and correcting any errors. It prompts your wearable to scan for available satellites once it is properly synced.

2. Wait after Getting the GPS Signal

After the Garmin Forerunner 45 picks up a signal, it will usually tell you it’s ready for use. However, this often means that it has picked up only the initial few satellites it needs to get started, which is the bare minimum. Just by waiting a few more minutes before you begin moving around, you can give the watch some more time to communicate and pick up more satellites to improve its signal strength and accurately locate the position. This creates a strong bond with the satellites and is also known as GPS Soaking. 

3. Update Software 

Make sure your software is up to date by checking out the latest version with Garmin Express. This helps to prevent issues on your device, as outdated software might not be updated automatically. 

4. Turn on Auto Pause

Auto Pause is a setting that will stop recording GPS when you have stopped walking. This can help to reduce the additional distance tracked when you aren’t moving while wearing the device. You can turn this option on in your Garmin Forerunner 45 by going to Settings.

5. Enable Second Recording

Garmin devices usually have the option to choose between two tracking types: Smart Recording and Every Second Recording. This setting allows you to select how often your device will record your activity. Smart Recording is a more simplified version that takes up less battery power and memory, which Every Second Recording is a lot more thorough. You can try switching to the latter to see if it helps your location’s accuracy. 

6. Turn on Secondary Satellite Constellations 

Most wearables can add another satellite constellation to track location alongside GPS, and so do Garmin watches. These will help to maintain the signal when you are having some difficulties. You can check out your watch’s manual to see which secondary satellite constellations are included in your device. Note that switching these on will consume more battery power.

7. Enable GLONASS

GLONASS is a Russian multiple-positioning system that can help to give you a more accurate location. Some devices will have this feature, and you can check by heading to the GPS Settings under System and by tapping on Sensors. You can toggle the system that you want to use in addition to GPS.

8. Use Distance and Speed Recording Accessories 

Most Garmin devices support Distance and Speed Recording accessories which can override the GPS of the watch itself to help calculate speed and distance. These need to be purchased separately from the companies that sell these kinds of sensors, and you can do so for your Garmin Forerunner 45. 

9. Reduce Environmental Factors

If all else fails, ensure the environment isn’t affecting your watch. Large crowds of people, tall buildings, or even a lot of trees can interrupt your signal. GPS will work best when there are no obstructions around it. Avoid using GPS indoors and underwater for a more accurate location. 

10. Keep the Device Physically Clean

Outside dirt or barriers might sometimes prevent your watch from getting a good signal. Take rubbing alcohol on a fabric or cotton swab and gently dab it around the device’s crevices. You can also use a small brush to clean the watch’s surface. 

While the Garmin Forerunner 45 is undoubtedly a great device, having a location that is not accurate is a no-go for many. We hope this guide helped to fix your location issues with Garmin Forerunner 45.