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Samsung Galaxy 8 watch not fixing the GPS

  • August 25, 2025
  • 4 replies
  • 481 views
L
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Hi - my recently bought Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 has issues finding the GPS when I open it pre-run.

I've tried resetting the watch completely, giving all permissions to the Strava app, rebooting, clearing the cache, force stop etc, but go through periods of 'error preparing exercise, please try again' on the GPS fix screen when trying to start a run.

Sometimes it does work, then other times not despite locations not varying. Not sure if this is a hardware issue but checking to see if others have the same issue...

Best answer by Laxel

Fixed it - I’ve had to setup and use Samsung Health as the basis for running with GPS, and using the app on the watch to track, and then that seems to sync with Strava as soon as done.

 

Phew. Money not wasted!

4 replies

L
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  • Laxel
  • Author
  • Hub Rookie
  • Answer
  • September 1, 2025

Fixed it - I’ve had to setup and use Samsung Health as the basis for running with GPS, and using the app on the watch to track, and then that seems to sync with Strava as soon as done.

 

Phew. Money not wasted!

M
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  • Murray_93
  • Hub Starter
  • February 3, 2026

Hi Laxel.

I’m having the same issue with my watch 6 Classic.

Are you saying in your post that you are just using samsung health and that is then syncing to strava and you’re not using the stava app to record your run?

 

L
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  • Laxel
  • Author
  • Hub Rookie
  • February 3, 2026

Hi Laxel.

I’m having the same issue with my watch 6 Classic.

Are you saying in your post that you are just using samsung health and that is then syncing to strava and you’re not using the stava app to record your run?

 

Yeah that's correct, although after those many issues before it's been fine the last few months. The odd occasion where the GPS doesnt fix for SH, I can use Strava and vice versa.

M
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  • Murray_93
  • Hub Starter
  • February 3, 2026

Hi Laxel.

Okay thanks, that’s what I have been doing so far. Ideally I’d like to just use strava, but I will try a few things I found and see how that goes to get it working.

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