The issue where the second hand stops or disappears on Garmin watches is typically related to battery-saving features, especially on models with always-on display and analog-style watch faces. This isn’t usually a hardware fault—Garmin intentionally pauses the second hand to conserve power. However, it can be annoying if you want a true analog experience.

 

Watches more likely to have this issue:

 

These tend to be MIP (Memory-in-Pixel) display models with aggressive power-saving modes:

 

1. Garmin Forerunner series (e.g., 245, 745, 955, 965)

• Designed for sports tracking with long battery life.

• Will often disable second-hand movement when in low-power or ambient mode.

 

2. Garmin Fenix series (e.g., Fenix 6, Fenix 7)

• Power-efficient MIP displays.

• Second hand disappears in low power or gesture-disabled modes unless settings are adjusted.

 

3. Garmin Instinct series

• Very low-power displays.

• Second hand is often disabled or not even supported on some watch faces.

 

4. Garmin Epix Gen 2 / Epix Pro (AMOLED models)

• These do support second hands in always-on mode, but:

• You must enable Always On Display.

• Second hand may still disappear after a timeout or when gesture detection is off to prevent burn-in and conserve power.

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Watches less likely to have this issue:

 

Venu 2 / Venu 3 / Venu 3s

• AMOLED displays, with better second-hand support in always-on mode.

• Second hand can stay visible longer if Always-On Display is enabled.

 

AMOLED Forerunner models (e.g., Forerunner 965)

• Same rules apply: second hand visible with Always-On Display, but may timeout.

 

Key Settings That Affect Second Hand Behavior:

• Always-On Display: Must be enabled.

• Gesture detection: Turning off gestures may reduce second-hand activity.

• Battery Saver mode: Disables second hand on most watch faces.

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