The Garmin Forerunner 170 secret setting is a hidden easter egg buried in the watch’s interface, and it is exactly as delightful and pointless as easter eggs should be. Garmin built this fitness tracker as a no-frills running watch for everyday athletes, but somewhere in the code, the engineers slipped in something that proves even serious sports tech can crack a smile.
Key Takeaways
- The Garmin Forerunner 170 contains a hidden easter egg accessible through a secret menu setting.
- Easter eggs in fitness trackers are rare, making this discovery notable among casual users.
- The feature serves no practical function but adds personality to an otherwise utilitarian device.
- Finding hidden settings requires navigating menus most users never explore.
- This discovery highlights how manufacturers sometimes prioritize fun alongside performance.
What is the Garmin Forerunner 170 secret setting?
The Garmin Forerunner 170 secret setting is a hidden feature accessible through the watch’s menu system that triggers a cute, non-functional easter egg. Unlike performance modes or training metrics, this setting exists purely for entertainment. The watch displays something charming when activated, rewarding the curious user who digs deep enough into the interface to find it. It is the kind of detail that separates a device with character from one that feels purely corporate.
Finding this easter egg requires patience and menu exploration. Most owners never stumble upon it because there is no reason to look—the setting serves no practical purpose in training, navigation, or fitness tracking. Garmin did not advertise it, did not document it, and certainly did not promote it as a selling point. That is precisely why discovering it feels rewarding. In an era where every feature is marketed and every menu item is optimized for engagement, a genuinely hidden easter egg feels refreshingly human.
Why does a fitness tracker need an easter egg?
Fitness trackers are serious tools. They measure heart rate variability, track sleep patterns, log running cadence, and deliver training plans. Users depend on them for data accuracy and reliability. So why would Garmin hide a pointless easter egg in the Forerunner 170? Because engineering teams are made of humans, and humans like to have fun.
Easter eggs in consumer electronics are increasingly rare. Most modern devices prioritize utility and streamlined interfaces. Hidden features clutter the user experience, confuse support teams, and complicate QA testing. Yet they persist because they remind users that real people built the device. A cute easter egg signals that the engineering team did not view their work as purely transactional. They added something that serves zero business purpose, which is a small act of rebellion against the tyranny of optimization.
The Garmin Forerunner 170 secret setting proves that even in a competitive fitness tracker market, manufacturers can afford moments of whimsy. It costs nothing to include. It breaks nothing. And for the person who finds it, it transforms the device from a data collection instrument into something with personality.
How does this compare to other fitness trackers?
Most competitors in the fitness tracker space—Apple Watch, Fitbit, Coros, Polar—prioritize visible features and marketing-friendly specs. Easter eggs are uncommon because they do not appear in marketing materials, do not improve test scores, and do not influence purchase decisions. The Garmin Forerunner 170 secret setting stands out precisely because it is not designed to impress anyone. It is designed to delight the person patient enough to find it.
This approach reflects Garmin’s broader philosophy. The company builds tools for athletes who care about data and performance, not flashy interfaces. A hidden easter egg fits that ethos perfectly—it is a feature for people who actually use the device, not for people scrolling through spec sheets. While competitors chase social media appeal and influencer partnerships, Garmin hides cute surprises for the dedicated few who explore every menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly is the Garmin Forerunner 170 secret setting located?
The exact location requires navigating through the watch’s settings menu system. The setting is intentionally obscure, which is the entire point—discovering it yourself is part of the fun. If you enjoy exploring your device’s interface, you will likely stumble upon it. If you want a direct answer, online fitness tracker communities and Garmin fan forums have documented the path for those who prefer a shortcut.
Does the Garmin Forerunner 170 secret setting affect performance or battery life?
No. The easter egg is purely cosmetic and has zero impact on the watch’s functionality, performance metrics, or battery consumption. It is a visual treat that appears when activated and disappears when deactivated. Your training data, GPS accuracy, and heart rate monitoring remain completely unaffected.
Are there other hidden features on the Garmin Forerunner 170?
This is the known easter egg that has been discovered and shared by users. Whether Garmin hid additional secrets remains unknown. The fun of easter eggs is that they are meant to be found organically—if there are more, they are waiting for patient explorers to uncover them.
The Garmin Forerunner 170 secret setting is a small reminder that technology does not have to be entirely serious. In a market obsessed with features, metrics, and performance benchmarks, Garmin found room for something that serves no purpose except to make someone smile. That is worth celebrating.
Where to Buy
Garmin Forerunner 570 | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Forerunner 955
Edited by the All Things Geek team.
Source: T3
