Garmin users report battery drain linked to “OK Garmin” voice activation

Garmin users have reported shorter battery estimates after installing a recent software update, with the watch’s “OK Garmin” voice activation emerging as a possible cause. Reports cited by TechRadar came from forums and social media, and the feature may not be responsible for every case of battery drain.

With Garmin’s September update, users of the Venu 4, Forerunner 970 and other smartwatches can start voice activation by saying “OK Garmin” instead of pressing a button. The feature listens for the wake word, which can add to battery use. Garmin’s Forerunner 970 owner’s manual warns that enabling “OK Garmin” reduces battery life but does not quantify the effect.

Users have described different changes in estimated battery life. One Garmin forum poster reported a drop from 15 days to nine days, a reduction of 40%. Other users reported estimates falling from 12 days to six and from 23 days to 12. Some said disabling “OK Garmin” restored their previous estimate.

Voice activation is enabled automatically when users update to the latest software, according to the report. To turn it off, go to Watch Settings > System > Voice and disable “OK Garmin.” The reports do not establish that the feature is the cause in every instance; other factors may also drain a watch’s battery.