Garmin Venu 2 Plus software update 13.14 finally fixes annoying auto-pause failure

After the Garmin Venu 2 Plus software was updated to version 12.14 in April this year, the running auto-pause function is not working properly. After waiting for three months, I finally waited for the new version of the software to solve this problem.

Problem Description

Thirty seconds had elapsed since the running had actually stopped, the pace hadn’t returned to zero, and the auto-pause hadn’t started. It takes close to a minute to reset to zero and start. It will take thirty seconds to one minute to start again from a standstill before the automatic pause will be cancelled. Under normal circumstances, the reaction time of the watch is within three to five seconds, and it will not take so long.

Oddly enough, the walk and bike auto-pause works without any issues. Only problem with running.

Overhaul History

When I encountered this problem in April, it was still under warranty, so I didn’t take the time to try to test or solve it myself, and sent it in for repair. Garmin reported that the GPS hardware was bad and replaced it with a new watch host.

The software of the new watch is an old version (11.22), and there is no problem with the first test run. After connecting to the computer and synchronizing, it was automatically updated to version 12.14, and the same problem occurred again when running the next day. At this point I’m starting to guess it’s a software issue.

I went to the official Garmin forum in the United States to search for related articles, and there was indeed a disaster. This problem occurs on Venu 2 series watches after a certain software update. The phenomenon described by users in the United States is exactly the same as what I experienced.

The forum also received a response from Garmin officials, saying that they can reproduce this problem internally and are looking for a solution. Later it replied that a beta software update was available that would fix the issue.

Overseas users can update to the beta version of the software by choosing to join the Beta Software Program through Garmin Connect. But not in Taiwan.

I contacted the local customer service again to inquire about the update schedule and whether there is a way for local users to install the beta version of the software. The reply I got was “The system software of products in different countries is not shared in a single way. At present, there is no related customer refund for the latest version of the Venu 2 Plus software 12.14 in Taiwan.”

I don’t know if it’s because the Venu 2 Plus users in Taiwan are not running, or Garmin’s customer service and technical staff don’t know enough about their products, or my character is not good, and I’m the only one in Taiwan who has this problem.

A new official software (non-beta) version of the US version will be launched in May. According to years of experience in using Garmin products, Taiwan is two months slower. Sure enough, wait until the beginning of July. The newer version of the software should fix this problem. But you have to try a few more times to feel more at ease.

Experience of using Venu 2 Plus for one year

Venu 2 Plus is the highest priced vívoactive/venu product ever. It is also the only Garmin smart wearable with built-in ECG function. At the beginning of the year, it has been approved by the US FDA, and the ECG application has also been opened for use, but only in the United States.

Unlike the Forerunner series aimed at serious trainers, the Venu 2 Plus is more of a training-life balance and Garmin’s answer to the Apple Watch. I guess Garmin is going to move its wearables mainstay from the Forerunner to the Venu after all, it’s just an awkward transition.

Venu will be the future of Garmin smart wearables. From vívoactive HR to Forerunner 945 and then to Venu 2 Plus, I am very impressed.

It took three months for the auto-pause function to be resolved this time, and I’m certainly not too happy. But overall I still like Venu 2 Plus very much, and I will still recommend it to my friends.

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