GARMIN 2S GPS Smart Watch User Guide

Troubleshooting Guide

2S GPS Smart Watch

My Sleep Statistics Are Not Displaying in Garmin Connect
The Garmin Connect app displays a sleep card on the My Day view which contains basic information regarding the previous night’s sleep:

Why Is My Sleep Card and/or Data Missing From Last Night?
The following are requirements for sleep data to display in Garmin Connect:

1. A successful sync with a watch marked as your Preferred Activity Tracker in Garmin Connect must occur after waking up to display sleep statistics. Select the icon at the top of the My Day view within the Connect app to sync your data.
2. The same watch must be worn while sleeping to display the previous night’s sleep data. Watches that feature an Optical Heart Rate Sensor (OHR) need to have the feature turned on in order to record sleep statistics. If the OHR feature is disabled or if the device is not worn while sleeping, sleep statistics will not display in Garmin Connect until sleep times are confirmed.
3. A valid birth date must be saved in the User Settings in Garmin Connect (see: Changing Device and User Settings in Garmin Connect).
4. Battery Saver must be disabled during sleep for watches compatible with the feature. This feature is enabled/disabled under Main Menu > Power Manager > Battery Saver > During Sleep (see: Advanced Sleep Monitoring Watch Compatibility for compatibility and additional information for advanced sleep metrics).
5. Your sleep window needs to be set correctly, for instructions see: Setting Sleep and Wake Window Times in Garmin Connect.

What Can I Do If My Sleep Card and/or Data is Missing From Last Night?
If any of the requirements are not met, the previous night’s sleep card will be missing from the My Day view and sleep details will display in the Garmin Connect app in the following manner:
Garmin Connect App View

In this instance, perform the following steps to confirm your sleep time:

1. Select Add Sleep Data.
2. Adjust Bed Time or Wake Time by selecting a Time.
3. Select Save.

Sleep for that night will be recorded as a manual entry. You can also see this in the Garmin Connect web Sleep Widget on the dashboard.
Garmin Connect Web Sleep Widget View

Follow the steps in the widget to adjust and confirm sleep times and then select Save.
Sleep details will now display for the previous night’s sleep in Garmin Connect.
NOTE: Statistics such as sleep levels and movement will not be recorded when a device is not worn while sleeping. Sleep monitoring may also stop if the device detects movement that indicates you’ve entered an “awake” state for an extended period of time during the night.

I Met the Criteria Above and I Am Still Not Seeing My Sleep Card
The last reason for the sleep card to not display is if the card was dismissed from the My Day view. Learn how to edit what cards display by viewing the following FAQ: Editing the My Day View in the Garmin Connect App.
I See My Card but It Is Only Showing Movement and Not Advanced Sleep Monitoring
Watches that feature an optical heart rate sensor must also have the optical heart rate sensor turned on to receive advanced sleep monitoring. This includes data such as REM sleep and also Pulse Ox and
Respiration. In addition, you will need to wear your watch for at least 2 full hours before going to bed.
For more info on advanced sleep monitoring, see: What is Advanced Sleep Monitoring in Garmin Connect?.
Why Are Periods of My Sleep Showing As “Unmeasurable”?
If you have a device that features an optical heart rate sensor, you may notice periods of “Unmeasurable” sleep in your data. This can happen if your device loses track of your heart rate when pushed against the skin, compressing the area underneath the watch. More information on this can be found here: Why Does Garmin Connect Show Missing Heart Rate Readings During Sleep?.

The Heart Rate Sensor on My Garmin Watch Is Not Accurate

Optical heart rate sensors use lights that can measure small changes in blood volume in the capillary layer just below the epidermis (outermost of the three layers that make up the skin) 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.
Suggestions to improve heart rate readings as well as factors that can affect it are listed below.
IMPORTANT: Garmin Optical Heart Rate Sensor Accuracy Disclaimer

Proper Fit of the Watch

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 be worn snug, but not too tight. It is properly tight when you can move the watch and the skin underneath moves with it.
  • If worn too loose the watch can slide around, creating a gap between the optical heart rate sensor and your skin.
  •  If the watch is worn too tight it can actually restrict blood flow.

• The watch should be worn above your wrist bone.

• Wearing the watch on the outside of the wrist is recommended.

Silicone bands are recommended for best results with the optical heart rate sensor. Leather, metal, and nylon bands are not as pliable and are more difficult to get the correct fit on your wrist.
The following video guides you through the proper fit of your Garmin watch:

Keep the Optical Heart Rate Sensor Clean

Optical heart rate monitors are susceptible to any debris or buildup blocking or impeding the lights of the sensor. While it is recommended to rinse your device off after every workout, it may be necessary to clean the watch more thoroughly, especially if you use sunscreen, lotions, or insect repellents. To clean, use lukewarm water and a soft cloth to wipe down the optical heart rate sensor on the back of the watch. Be sure to rinse the watch after cleaning to remove any residue, then dry the watch before putting it back on.
For more information on keeping your watch clean, see our wear and care tips.

False Heart Rate Detection

Changes in blood volume are not always caused by changes in heart rate. Your vascular system is like a balloon, so the 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 likely due to the influence of leg muscle contractions impacting the blood flow in the upper body:

Why Does This Happen?
Cold weather is a common issue where there is not much blood in the tissue on the back of the wrist. This can occur early in a workout before your blood really starts pumping.
How Can I Prevent This From Occurring?
Warm up for around 10 minutes on cold mornings before starting your activity. In addition to this, make sure you are properly wearing the watch. Refer back to the proper fit section of this FAQ above .
If heart rate accuracy is critical, we suggest using a Garmin heart rate monitor strap for the most accurate performance. Refer to your owner’s manual to determine if your watch is compatible with an HRM strap.

Wrist Flexing Types of Activities Can Affect Heart Rate Performance

Activities that cause flexing of the wrist may create an effect similar to wearing the watch too tightly and restrict blood flow. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Burpees
• Gripping handlebars on a bicycle tightly
• Push-ups
• Racket sports
• Rowing
• Weight lifting

When this occurs the watch may have a difficult time detecting an accurate heart rate. You can attempt to move the watch slightly farther up the wrist, or wear a Garmin heart rate monitor strap for these activity types. Refer to your owner’s manual to determine if your watch is compatible with an HRM strap.
Additionally, heart rate is calculated differently for each activity type. Make sure you use the activity type that matches the activity being done. For example, using the Elliptical app while running outdoors could result in incorrect heart rate being recorded.

Accuracy of Wrist Heart Rate When Swimming

When swimming, obtaining accurate heart rate readings while using the wrist heart rate sensor on a compatible product can be challenging. The large arm motions can affect the level of bloodvolume in the wrist area, chilly water can reduce the amount of blood in the tissue on the back othe wrist, and the water can “pull” on the watch creating a gap between the optical heart rate sensor and the skin. The same tips which apply to swimming can also apply to other activity profiles; warm up and ensure the watch is being worn correctly prior to starting the activity. Specifically:

• The optical heart rate sensor must remain in contact with your skin at all times.

• The watch must be worn snug, but not too tight.
  • If worn too loose the watch can slide around, creating a gap between the optical heart rate sensor and your skin.
  • If the watch is worn too tight it can actually restrict blood flow.

• The watch is properly snug when you can move the watch and the skin underneath movewith it.

Skin Tone May Affect Battery Life
Skin tone can have an effect on battery life as the melanin in the skin absorbs some of the light. Garmin watches are designed to work on all skin tones, but as the level of melanin increases in the body, the sensor may have to work harder by increasing the optical light brightness to find a pulse. This can result in slightly more battery power being consumed.

Tattoos Can Affect Heart Rate Accuracy

Tattoos can impact heart rate sensor accuracy and performance. In some cases, the optical sensor may not even turn on. The ink, pattern, and saturation of some tattoos can block light from reaching the sensor, potentially making it difficult to get a reliable heart rate reading. For best performance, wear your watch in an area free of tattoos.
Restart Your Watch
Consider restarting your watch on a regular basis, possibly weekly. For more information on how to turn your watch off and on, see your owner’s manual.

Update Your Watch Software

Garmin watches will typically update automatically through the Garmin Connect app during the regular sync. However, there are some situations where the update will be either delayed, or prevented from being sent to the watch through this automatic sync. To ensure that your watch is fully up to date, you will want to sync the watch to Garmin Express on a Windows or a Mac computer.
Related

• My Garmin Watch Is No Longer Displaying Heart Rate Information

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