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Why does my second hand stop or disappear?

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Issues relating to the second hand stopping or disappearing on Garmin watches is typically related to battery-saving features, especially on models with always-on display and analog-style watch faces. This is not a hardware or software fault—Garmin intentionally pauses the second hand to conserve power. However, it can be annoying if you want a true analog experience. See Garmins page here, Is It Normal for My Seconds to Disappear?

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How often does the screen update in low power mode?

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In low-power or ambient mode many watch faces update once per minute (for things like time, date) to maximise battery life.  See Garmins page here, When Does Information on my Watch Face Update?

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Why can I not have a smooth moving second hand?

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Additionally on watches/supporting modes that allow “always-active seconds” updating, the display can update only once per second (1Hz) via the onPartialUpdate() API.  Hence a smooth second hand is not possible, as the screen can only be updated every second, the same interval as a second hand update.  A smooth hand would require updates to occur in less than a second which is not possible.

 

Which watches are likely to have issues and why?

 

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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