This is the way it is designed to behave. The Vivoactive is not MFI certified with Apple so it can not use Apple's built in Bluetooth Smart software. Instead Garmin is handling the Bluetooth smart connection in the Garmin Connect iPhone app its self. Android does not have the MFI problem so Garmin can use some of the built in Bluetooth functions.
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One handy tip for you Android users is if you do experience instability is to do a double pair. This is done by opening the Garmin Devices page in the app and pressing and holding on the name of the device. You will see a dialog window open. At the bottom of the window it will say "Update Connection". When you tap on that it will temporarily disconnect the watch from the app and then you should bet a Bluetooth pairing request pop up on the phone. Once you pair it with the phone the watch should then connect back to the app. You will then notice the watch is paired in the phone's Bluetooth settings menu, unlike before.
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One handy tip for you Android users is if you do experience instability is to do a double pair. This is done by opening the Garmin Devices page in the app and pressing and holding on the name of the device. You will see a dialog window open. At the bottom of the window it will say "Update Connection". When you tap on that it will temporarily disconnect the watch from the app and then you should see a Bluetooth pairing request pop up on the phone. Once you pair it with the phone the watch should then connect back to the app. You will then notice the watch is paired in the phone's Bluetooth settings menu, unlike before.
Apple is making money hand over fist from the MFI project so they are not about to change their ways any time soon. Also they have a smart watch of their own that competes with Garmin in this space. Before the Apple watch they were much more accommodating to smart watch manufacturers.
This is the way it is designed to behave. The Vivoactive is not MFI certified with Apple so it can not use Apple's built in Bluetooth Smart software. Instead Garmin is handling the Bluetooth smart connection in the Garmin Connect iPhone app its self. Android does not have the MFI problem so Garmin can use some of the built in Bluetooth functions.
One handy tip for you Android users is if you do experience instability is to do a double pair. This is done by opening the Garmin Devices page in the app and pressing and holding on the name of the device. You will see a dialog window open. At the bottom of the window it will say "Update Connection". When you tap on that it will temporarily disconnect the watch from the app and then you should bet a Bluetooth pairing request pop up on the phone. Once you pair it with the phone the watch should then connect back to the app. You will then notice the watch is paired in the phone's Bluetooth settings menu, unlike before.
Apple is making money hand over fist from the MFI project so they are not about to change their ways any time soon. Also they have a smart watch of their own that competes with Garmin in this space. Before the Apple watch they were much more accommodating to smart watch manufacturers.