If you’re experiencing issues with your Garmin Forerunner 235 GPS running watch, or simply want to wipe all your personal data before selling or gifting the device, performing a factory reset is a straightforward solution. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of restoring your Forerunner 235 to its default settings using clear, easy-to-follow instructions.
Key Takeaways
- You can restore your Forerunner 235 to factory default settings by going to Menu > Settings > System > Restore Defaults > Yes.
- Factory resetting erases all user data and settings on the watch, so make sure to sync with Garmin Connect beforehand to back up your data.
- Reasons to reset include troubleshooting software issues, preparing to sell or give away the watch, or starting fresh with default settings.
- The reset process is irreversible, so consider your reason for resetting carefully. Backed up data will still be available on your Garmin Connect account.
- After resetting, you’ll need to go through the initial watch setup again and re-pair with your smartphone if desired.
- If you encounter any problems during or after the reset process, contact Garmin customer support for further device-specific assistance.
Can I Factory Reset my Garmin Forerunner 23?
Yes, you can factory reset your Garmin Forerunner 235. Here’s a concise guide:
- On your watch, go to Menu > Settings > System.
- Scroll down and select Restore Defaults.
- Confirm by selecting Yes.
What is a Factory Reset?
A factory reset, also known as a hard reset or master reset, is a way of restoring an electronic device back to the state it was in when it initially left the factory. It erases all user data, settings preferences, downloaded apps, and customizations, returning the device’s software to its original state. This is essentially like hitting a big “reset button” that undoes everything and gives you a clean slate.
On your Garmin Forerunner 235, a factory reset will wipe all your personal data including activities, steps, sleep tracking, heart rate history, and any customized settings. It will revert the watch back to the default configuration it had on the first day you got it. The process is permanent and irreversible, so it’s important to make sure you actually want to take this step.
Also Read: How to Hard Reset Samsung Galaxy Watch Active
When Should You Factory Reset?
There are a few main scenarios where you might want or need to factory reset your Forerunner 235:
- You’re experiencing significant problems with the watch, such as frequent crashing, freezing, glitching, or errors that can’t be resolved by a simple restart. Often a factory reset can clear out any problematic data or settings that are causing issues.
- The watch isn’t syncing or connecting properly with your phone or Garmin Connect. If a regular resync doesn’t solve it, a factory reset could help.
- You’re selling the watch, giving it away, or returning it for warranty. You’ll want to wipe your personal data for privacy reasons.
- You want a totally clean start to set the watch up again from scratch for yourself.
Before You Reset
Before pulling the trigger on a factory reset, there are a couple important things to take care of:
- Sync your watch: Make sure your Forerunner is synced with your Garmin Connect account so you have a backup of all your latest activity data, settings, and preferences stored in the cloud. You’ll lose this data on the watch after the reset, but you can always restore from Garmin Connect later.
To sync, open the Garmin Connect app on your paired smartphone and tap the “More” icon, then “Garmin devices”, then your Forerunner 235. Make sure you see a message that the sync was successful. You can also plug your watch into your computer with the USB cable and sync with Garmin Express.
- Charge your watch: The reset process could take a few minutes, so you’ll want to make sure your watch has a decent charge so it doesn’t die mid-reset. I recommend plugging it in while you do the reset.
Also Read: How to Hard Reset Samsung Galaxy Watch7 Ultra
Performing the Factory Reset
Now that you’ve backed up your data and charged up your Forerunner, you’re ready to do the actual reset. Here’s the step-by-step process:
- On your Forerunner 235, press and hold the Up button to open the menu.
- Scroll down and select Settings.
- Scroll all the way to the bottom and select About.
- Scroll down and select Reset.
- Select Delete Data and Reset Settings.
- When prompted, select Yes to confirm.
The watch will now restart and perform the factory reset. You’ll see a message on the screen that says “Resetting all settings”. This could take a minute or two. Don’t press any buttons or disrupt the process.
Once complete, your Forerunner 235 will restart and you’ll see the initial setup screen, just like when you first got the watch. Congratulations — you’ve successfully factory reset your device! It’s now a blank slate ready to set up and customize again.
Also Read: How to Hard Reset Your LG L90 D405N Smartphone
Restoring from Backup
If you plan to keep using the watch yourself, you’ll probably want to restore your previous data and settings to pick up where you left off. Here’s how:
- If you haven’t already, set up the watch again by choosing your language, units of measurement, birth year, and agreeing to the terms.
- When prompted, choose to pair your phone. Follow the instructions in the Garmin Connect app to complete the pairing process.
- Once paired, your saved data will automatically sync from Garmin Connect back to your watch. This could take several minutes to fully transfer everything.
- When the sync is complete, all of your previous activities, daily stats, heart rate history, and personal settings should be restored. Double check to make sure everything is there.
And that’s it! Your Forerunner 235 should now be fully reset and restored. If you were experiencing any software glitches or problems before, this reset process will hopefully resolve them and get your watch running smoothly again.
Tips for Avoiding Resets
Of course, needing to regularly factory reset your watch isn’t ideal. While the process is easy enough to do, it’s still a hassle to have to wipe everything and set it up from scratch again. Here are some tips to avoid getting into a situation where you need to reset:
- Keep your watch updated: Garmin periodically releases software updates for the Forerunner 235 that include bug fixes, stability improvements, and even new features. Keeping your watch on the latest firmware version can help prevent any software-related glitches or problems.
You can check for updates by going to Settings > System > Software Update. If you see a new version available, select Install to download and apply it.
- Avoid exposing your watch to extreme conditions: The Forerunner 235 is a durable device, but it’s not indestructible. Avoid subjecting it to very high or low temperatures, pressure, humidity, or hard impacts, which could potentially cause malfunctions.
- Don’t mess with the system files: It’s best to avoid modifying or deleting any of the core system files on your watch, unless instructed to do so by Garmin support. Altering these files incorrectly could cause the watch to become unstable or unusable.
Garmin Forerunner 235 Frozen Screen
If your Garmin Forerunner 235 has a frozen screen and is unresponsive, you can try a force reset to fix it:
- Press and hold the Light/Power button for up to 25 seconds until the screen goes blank.
- Release the Light/Power button.
- Press the Light/Power button again to turn the watch back on.
This force reset process won’t delete any of your saved data or settings. It simply forces the watch to reboot, which can often resolve any temporary software glitches that caused the screen to freeze.
If the force reset doesn’t work and your watch is still frozen, try plugging it into a power source with the charging cable for at least an hour to ensure it has a full charge. Then attempt the force reset again.
Garmin Forerunner 235 won’t Turn On
There are a couple of things you can try if your Garmin Forerunner 235 won’t turn on:
- Charge it: Even if the watch appears dead, try plugging it into a charger for a while. It’s possible the battery is simply depleted.
- Force a restart: Hold the light/power button for 15 seconds to force a restart.
If these steps don’t work, you may need to contact Garmin support for further assistance.
How to Turn Off Garmin Forerunner 235
To turn off your Garmin Forerunner 235, hold the power button (the top button) until a menu appears. Then, select “power off” or “turn off”. Do not hold the button for 15 seconds, as this will restart your device.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I reset my Garmin Forerunner 235 to factory settings?
To reset your Forerunner 235 to factory settings, follow these steps:
- On your watch, press and hold the Up button to open the menu.
- Scroll down and select Settings.
- Scroll all the way to the bottom and select About.
- Scroll down and select Reset.
- Select Delete Data and Reset Settings.
- When prompted, select Yes to confirm.
The watch will restart and all user data will be erased, restoring it to factory settings.
Will resetting my Forerunner 235 delete all my activity data?
Yes, performing a factory reset on your Forerunner 235 will erase all your saved activities, workouts, and personal settings stored on the watch itself. However, if you’ve been regularly syncing your watch with your Garmin Connect account, all this data should be backed up to the cloud. You can restore it to your watch after the reset by re-syncing.
Is there a difference between a factory reset and a hard reset on the Forerunner 235?
No, on the Forerunner 235, the terms “factory reset” and “hard reset” refer to the same process – wiping all user data and restoring the watch to its original out-of-the-box state. The steps to perform a factory/hard reset are the same as outlined above.
How can I delete individual activities from my Forerunner 235 without resetting the whole watch?
If you just want to delete specific activities from your watch’s history without wiping everything, you can do so from the History menu. Here’s how:
- Select Menu > History > Options.
- Select Delete All Activities to delete all saved activities, or select individual activities to delete them one by one.
- Confirm your selection.
Note that this only deletes activities from the watch itself, not from your Garmin Connect account if they were previously synced.
What should I do if my Forerunner 235 is unresponsive and I can’t access the menu to reset it?
If your Forerunner 235 is frozen and won’t respond to button presses, you can try a force reset:
- Press and hold the Light/Power button until the screen goes blank. This could take up to 25 seconds.
- Once the screen is blank, release the button.
- Press the Light/Power button again to turn the watch back on.
