Garmin Forerunner F24 Error Code Fix (Real Tech Guide)

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What This Error Means

On Garmin Forerunner watches, F24 is a firmware/boot failure code. The watch software has crashed, so it won’t boot or charge normally.

Official Fix

Garmin’s playbook is simple: power cycle, fully charge, reset, then update. Do it in this order:

  • 1. Force a soft reset.
    – Hold the power/light button for 15–20 seconds until the screen goes completely off.
    – Wait 10 seconds, then tap the power/light button once to try to turn it back on.
  • 2. Give it a real charge.
    – Use the original Garmin charging cable or a known-good replacement.
    – Plug straight into a wall USB charger (5V, 1–2A), not a cheap hub or TV port.
    – Let it sit for at least 30 minutes, even if the screen looks dead.
  • 3. Try a hard (master) reset.
    – This is the official “nuke it” step and will usually wipe settings and activities not synced.
    – The exact button combo depends on your Forerunner model.
    – Go to Garmin’s support site, search for “master reset” plus your exact model (e.g., “Forerunner 245 master reset”).
    – Follow their button sequence exactly (usually holding one or two keys while powering on until a beep or prompt appears).
  • 4. Update firmware via Garmin Express.
    – Install Garmin Express on a computer if you don’t have it already.
    – Connect the watch with the USB cable.
    – Let Express detect the device and install any available software updates.
    – When it finishes, disconnect properly, then reboot the watch.
  • 5. If F24 or dead boot persists, Garmin’s official line:
    – Check the cable and charger (try another Garmin-compatible cable and another charger).
    – If the watch still won’t boot past F24 or stays dead after reset + update attempts, contact Garmin Support for warranty or paid repair/replacement.

If you’re in warranty, stop here and let Garmin own the problem.

The Technician’s Trick

Off the record? F24 on a Forerunner is often just corrupted files or the watch choking on a bad activity. Here’s what techs actually do before sending it off.

  • 1. Force it into USB storage mode.
    – Unplug the watch and make sure it’s off (hold power 15–20 seconds if needed).
    – On many Forerunners, hold the BACK/LAP button, then plug the USB cable into a computer while still holding the button.
    – Keep holding for 10–20 seconds. If it works, the watch won’t try to fully boot; it shows up on the computer as a drive named something like GARMIN.
  • 2. Strip out the junk files.
    – On the computer, open the GARMIN drive.
    – Go into folders like /GARMIN/NEWFILES, /GARMIN/ACTIVITY or /GARMIN/ACTIVITIES (names vary slightly by model).
    – Copy everything to a backup folder on your computer if you care about the data.
    – Then delete the contents of NEWFILES, and if it’s really bloated, clean up old or gigantic activity files from ACTIVITY/ACTIVITIES.
  • 3. Eject and reboot.
    – Safely eject the GARMIN drive from your computer.
    – Unplug the cable.
    – Hold the power button until the watch reboots.
    – If file corruption was the trigger, the watch usually boots clean, no F24.
  • 4. Deep power cycle if it’s still stubborn.
    – Let the watch sit off the charger for a full day to drain whatever tiny power is left.
    – Then reconnect to a solid wall charger for at least an hour and try again.
    – This sometimes clears weird stuck states that normal resets don’t touch.

If none of that brings it back, you’re probably looking at a failed board or battery. At that point, pros either send it to Garmin or swap the watch for the customer.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: Watch is under warranty, screen and case are fine, and a reset/firmware refresh or cable swap brings it back or almost does.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: Out of warranty, 4–6 years old, battery life already weak, and Garmin wants real money for a flat-rate repair.
  • ❌ Replace: Totally dead after all resets, obvious water damage or cracked case, or repair quote is close to the price of a newer Forerunner.

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See also

Dealing with other stubborn error codes around the house? These breakdowns help you decode them fast: