Phone handset with a Bluetooth symbol on a Garmin: what does it mean?
On a Garmin it shows the connection to your phone: in the status bar it flashes while searching and is solid when connected; in the controls menu it turns the phone connection off.
What Garmin says
- Garmin — Phone connection status. In the status bar during an activity, it shows the phone connection. A flashing icon means the watch is searching; a solid icon means the phone is connected.
Source: Garmin Forerunner 265 Series Owner’s Manual: GPS Status and Status Icons (checked 2026-09-29) - Garmin — Phone control. In the controls menu, selecting it turns off Bluetooth and the connection to your paired phone (select again to reconnect).
Source: Garmin Forerunner 265 Series Owner’s Manual: Controls (checked 2026-09-29)
- What it looks like
- A telephone handset with the small Bluetooth rune beside it.
- Shown by
- Garmin
Icons to compare
Sources
Each meaning above is taken from the watch maker’s own guide, fetched and read on the date shown. The drawing is ours; the real icon on your watch may be drawn a little differently and can change with software updates.
- Garmin — Garmin Forerunner 265 Series Owner’s Manual: GPS Status and Status Icons. Covers: Forerunner 265 series; the same page is in the Forerunner 165, 965 and 970 and fēnix 7 and 9 manuals; manual version 9, June 2025. Checked 2026-09-29.
- Garmin — Garmin Forerunner 265 Series Owner’s Manual: Controls. Covers: Forerunner 265 series; the controls on other Garmin models may differ; manual version 9, June 2025. Checked 2026-09-29.