Have you noticed your Fossil smartwatch running slowly or acting up lately?
Resetting your Fossil smartwatch can help give it a fresh start and potentially fix any issues you’ve been having with performance or glitches.
The good news is that resetting a Fossil smartwatch works the same way across all models.
In this post, I will show you how to reset Fossil smartwatch so you can get your wearable back up and running smoothly again.
How to Reset Fossil Smartwatch: Step-by-Step Process
There are five different methods for resetting a Fossil smartwatch.
Back-Up Your Data First
Before resetting your Fossil smartwatch, you’ll want to make sure to back up your data.
That way you don’t lose any of your settings, preferences, watch face customizations, or other important info stored on your smartwatch.
The easiest way to back up your Fossil smartwatch is to sync it with the Fossil smartphone app.
Open the Fossil app on your phone and go to your profile page. You should see a sync option that allows you to sync your smartwatch with your account on the app. This will automatically back up your settings and data.
If you want to be extra cautious, you can manually back up your smartwatch data and settings:
- Go to Settings > System > Back up data. Tap Back up now.
Once your Fossil smartwatch data is backed up to the app and your account, you’re ready to move forward with resetting your watch safely without losing your information.
Soft Reset Fossil Smartwatch (Hard Restart)
Sometimes all your Fossil watch needs is a hard restart.
This method restarts your Fossil smartwatch’s operating system without erasing data. It can resolve minor performance problems like:
- Unresponsive touchscreen
- Buttons not working
- Sluggish interface
- Wonky connectivity
- Frozen watch face
- App crashes or glitches
If you just need a simple reboot, a soft reset should do the trick.
Here’s how to hard restart your Fossil smartwatch:
- Press and hold the middle pusher button on the right side of your watch.
- While holding the middle button, press and hold the bottom button on the right side.
- Keep both buttons pressed until your smartwatch screen goes completely blank.
- After a few seconds, the Fossil logo will appear on the display. This means the reset is complete.
- Your smartwatch will restart itself, boot up, and be ready to use normally.
The whole soft reset process takes around 10-20 seconds. Allow a minute or two for your watch to restart and load up afterward.
Hopefully, this quick reboot resolved any minor operating problems! But if your Fossil smartwatch is still acting up, it’s time to try a more advanced reset method.
Related Post — How to Charge Fossil Smartwatch Without Charger?
Factory Reset Fossil Smartwatch via Settings Menu
If you want a clean slate, you’ll want to do a factory reset through the settings menu.
Here are the steps:
- Press the Power/Home button on your Fossil smartwatch to open the App Drawer.
- Tap on the gear icon to dive into the settings menu.
- Scroll until you find the ‘System’ option and tap it.
- Look for ‘Disconnect & Reset,’ ‘Factory Reset,’ or something similar, and tap it.
- Confirm you want to reset, and it will start the reset process.
See Also — How To Set A Fossil Watch With 3 Dials? (Easiest Method!)
Factory Reset Fossil Smartwatch Using Physical Buttons
If your screen’s not responding, don’t worry. You can still reset your watch using its physical buttons.
Here’s how:
- Turn off your Fossil smartwatch.
- Press and hold down the middle button (or the only button, depending on your model).
- Wait for the Fossil logo to appear, then release the button.
- Follow any on-screen instructions to complete the reset.
People Also Like — How to Fix a Smartwatch That Won’t Turn On [11 DIY Fixes]
Factory Reset Fossil Smartwatch with Phone App
If pressing tiny reset buttons isn’t your thing, you can factory reset your Fossil smartwatch directly from the Fossil phone app instead.
Resetting through the app has the same effect as a hard reset. Your watch is restored to factory settings and erased.
Here are the steps:
- Make sure your watch is charged to at least 50% and connected to the phone app via Bluetooth.
- Open the Fossil Smartwatch app on your iPhone or Android device.
- Go to your watch’s settings or details page in the app. Tap “Support” or “Troubleshoot”.
- On iPhone: Tap “Unpair Device” then tap “Erase All Content and Settings” and confirm.
- On Android: Tap “Factory Reset” and confirm.
- Monitor your watch – the screen will go blank when the reset is in progress.
- Once complete, the setup wizard will appear on your watch. Follow on-screen instructions to re-pair with your smartphone.
Resetting from the app is convenient since you don’t need to physically access the watch buttons.
As long as your phone can connect to your watch via Bluetooth, you can factory reset it with a few app taps.
Reset Fossil Smartwatch with Customer Support
If for any reason you have trouble resetting your Fossil smartwatch using the steps in this guide, don’t hesitate to contact Fossil support.
Fossil’s customer support team can walk you through resetting your specific smartwatch model or troubleshoot any issues that come up.
You can reach out to Fossil smartwatch support by:
- Starting a live chat on their support site
- Emailing [email protected]
- Calling 1-800-449-3056
Fossil’s customer support can confirm the right reset steps for your smartwatch model and help get your wearable up and running again after a reset.
You May Also Like — How Long Does It Take to Charge a Smartwatch?
Reasons to Reset Your Fossil Smartwatch
There are four main reasons why you may need to reset your Fossil smartwatch.
For starters, resetting your Fossil smartwatch can refresh the device and solve many common performance issues. It also protects your personal data if you plan on selling or gifting your watch.
Read on to learn the top reasons for resetting your Fossil smartwatch.
1 — Performance Issues
Over time, sluggishness and glitches can creep up on your Fossil smartwatch. A reset clears out junk files and gives the device a fresh start.
It can fix problems like:
- Slow loading apps
- Laggy watch face transitions
- Frequent app crashes or freezes
- Unresponsive buttons/screen
- Rapid battery drain
- Watch overheating
Resetting erases temporary system files, clears app caches, and frees up storage space. This revives your Fossil smartwatch’s performance so it runs as smoothly as new.
2 — Glitchy Software Updates
If your Fossil smartwatch started acting weird after a software update, a reset can help.
Factory resetting reinstalls the operating system and can resolve software bugs.
Some problems you may experience after an update include:
- Connectivity losses with phone
- Inaccurate fitness tracking
- Shorter battery life
- Frozen screens/reboots
- Incompatible watch faces
Resetting gives your Fossil smartwatch a clean software slate. You can retry the update or configure the device from scratch. This fixes lingering glitches from bad updates.
3 — Selling or Gifting
If you’re selling or gifting your Fossil smartwatch to someone, it’s a good idea to wipe your personal data first.
As mentioned earlier, resetting your Fossil smartwatch erases:
- Your Fossil app login info
- Synced contacts and calendars
- Activity data and health metrics
- Music and wallet cards
- Downloaded apps and watch faces
- Custom alarms and settings
This protects your privacy. The next owner gets a fresh smartwatch signed out of your accounts. They can customize and sync it to their phone.
4 — Troubleshooting Connectivity Issues
Last but not least, if you’re having issues pairing your Fossil smartwatch to your smartphone, a reset often resolves stubborn connectivity problems like:
- Unable to complete setup
- Watch not connecting via Bluetooth
- Failing WiFi connections
- Trouble syncing contacts/calendars
- Stuck on “Loading” screens
Resetting erases any faulty network settings and lets you try pairing again from scratch.
Conclusion
Taking a few minutes to reset your Fossil smartwatch can often fix performance problems, clear out bugs, and give you a renewed experience with your wearable.
Just be sure to back up your data first and then follow the simple reset steps outlined here.
In fact, resetting your smartwatch every once in a while is a handy way to revitalize your Fossil wearable and keep it performing smoothly.