The Dexcom G6 CAN be restarted! There was a lot of hype when the G6 came out because Dexcom claimed that it was not able to be used beyond the initial 10 day wear. Thankfully, this is not true.
I want to mention a few things before sharing how I restart my sensors. Please do this at your own discretion. The G6 is FDA approved for 10 day wear only and it is possible that the sensor isn’t as accurate the longer you wear it. I extend my sensors at my own risk, and so should you. Additionally, I’ve extended mine successfully, but of course cannot guarantee that yours will. I found out about how to restart the G6 from a post by @coolreeree .
Second, this method will not deliver blood glucose readings during the restart and warm-up period. You do not need to worry about the sensor expiring before you start the process (other methods require this).
Here’s how I restart my sensors (using the Dexcom app with an iPhone):
- Let your sensor expire.
- Start a new sensor session and chose “no code”. You do not need to remove the transmitter.
- Let the warm-up session start and run for about 15 minutes. I set a timer on my phone.
- After 15 minutes, STOP sensor. It will warn that you cannot start a stopped sensor, but this is not true.
- Start another new sensor and chose “with code”. (Choose this only if you have the code for the sensor you are wearing. Do not enter a code from another sensor or make one up. If you do not have the code, choose “no code”. You will need to calibrate with this option, but the sensor will still restart.)
- The sensor will warm-up for two hours and start giving readings after
That’s it. Literally. It’s super easy.
Have you used another method to restart your G6? I’d love to hear how. There are lots of ways to do it, but I’ve found this to be the easiest.
What if you have to replace the transmitter can you still do the sensor reset?
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What do you use to keep the sensor on for the extended period? Mine barely last me the 10 days without added”tape” to keep it in place. I use overlay patches directly from Dexcom and they help me keep them on for the 10 days. I don’t think they would last much longer than that though. Any suggestions?
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Hi Valeri, I also use the Dexcom clear patches. You could also check out Expression Med or Stay Put Med. Both have patches but I different in adhesive type.
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I always apply skintac first, then the sensor. When the sensor patch starts to peel away I apply a Skin Grip patch! They work so well for me! Usually have to replace the skin grip patch after 5/7 days. I’ve been getting up to 28 days out of my G5 sensor following this (I don’t have sensitive skin) and I work out daily and shower twice a day. Fingers crossed it’s the same with the G6, getting a starter kit this week.
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I have found if I apply Mastisol (which you can get on Amazon) then apply the sensor and the clear overlay patches directly from Dexcom. I can get 3+weeks without issues.
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We’ve had difficulty restarting for the past couple of months. Has Dex upgraded and installed some bug that is catching restarts?
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I’m not aware of anything impacting the ability to restart. Hope it starts working for you again!
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I just attempted to restart mine tonight and mine failed as well. I tried 4 different times. And kept getting start a new sensor. So I’m now down to 1 more to last me till August
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I’m so sorry that it didn’t work for you 😭😭 I’ve only had that happen twice in 9 months. Crossing my fingers that it will work next time.
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Sorry for all the messages so I wanted to update. After deleting dexcom off Bluetooth and uninstalling dexcom app and re-installing it I have successfully restarted my expired sensor. So good to know what to do when I get my next box of sensors.
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I’m happy that this ended up working for you. I’ve only ever had one sensor catch on but luckily I had a replacement with me. Thanks for updating!
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What’s the exact steps you took? Do you wait until your current sensor expires or before hand? Has this worked a few times now?
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restarted yet another G6 sensor today using my Samsung Galaxy S8 and my x2 Tandem pump. The same instructions should work with an iphone.
I still find it perplexing that so many people keep having issues doing this.
In this post I will attempt to simplify the directions in an effort to help more people who are struggling.
1. Phone and pump alarmed for 6 hours left on the sensor.
2. Go to the picture folder I keep on my phone for the current sensor code or wherever you have yours written down.
3. Turn phone side ways/landscape view of the graph to wait for a brand new b.g. reading. If you hold finger on current dot/bg reading it will tell you the time it received the reading.
4. Wait one minute.
5. Press stop sensor on phone ONLY! Do not do anything to the x2 pump. It will just join the new session all on its own.
6. Still on your phone press new sensor, enter code, press start.
7. Watch for blue circle start up graph to appear then quickly shut off blue tooth and leave it OFF. You MUST do this in the time frame between when your transmitter is NOT giving data to your phone and pump. If you mess this up the sensor session on your pump will stop because your phone app told the transmitter you hit stop sensor, the transmitter talks to the phone and pump which it what keeps your phone app and pump or receiver synced. So move through these steps quickly! Then go into settings and be sure it shows your insertion time. If it doesn’t show anything you shut your blue tooth off too quickly. Turn it back on and wait for the blue circle for the countdown to show up again. Then check settings and see if it now shows insertion time. Then shut blue tooth off again. Be sure to keep doing these steps as quickly as you can.
8. Set timer on phone for 2 hrs 10 mins.
9. Enjoy still seeing your blood sugars on your x2 pump or Dexcom receiver if you do not use the x2 pump.
10. Timer goes off on your phone. Take the x2 pump off and out of range before you turn b.t. back on.
11. Turn on blue tooth on your phone.
12. Open Dexcom app. Watch phone say it has lost signal, then go to 5 min remaining and thennnnn…..
13. Your bg readings reappear on your Dexcom app and it should say set up complete.
14. Go get pump that you placed out of range and put it back on. Pump will join new session and aligns with what your phone says for the current sensor session. In cgm history it will say session joined.
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OK so my g6 expires today and I decided to end it before the expiration. I followed the steps you provided to extend it and I got an error message that said you can only use one sensor per session you need to replace the current sensor. Is this normal and what do you do?
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To be honest, I’m not sure how this happens, how Dex catches on. It has only happened to me once in the last half year that I’ve had the G6.
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I have to restart my sensor today. However I’m using the dexcom app as I don’t have a reader. How do you stop the sensor on the app after you start the sensor with no code? Anyone know?
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In the app, click Settings, scroll all the way to the bottom and it says Stop Sensor.
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do you have to remove the sensor at all when you do this?
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or do you need to forget the bluetooth?
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Also no! 😊
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You do not need to remove the sensor!
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awesome. im going to try this on my last sensor i have right now till i get the other ones. an hope it works cause im going on vacation in 2 weeks so i need this to last!!!!
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Crossing my fingers!
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Thank you for posting this how-to. So, I have extended my G6 to make the change at the most convenient times. Now I’m left with one more insert and the app is asking to pair with a new sensor.
Do you know if I can pair with the current sensor again so that I can use the last insert? And then, more importantly, will I be able to pair with the new sensor when this session is finished?
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Do you have to first wait for it to expire or can you do a “Stop Sensor” then restart & follow the steps?
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I have successfully stopped it when it was convenient for me. So no, you don’t need to wait for it to expire.
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I just started using the G6 after years on 4 and 5, and wondered what this sensor code thing was and whether it would affect extended wear, and if so, how to get around it. So I googled and found all the info I needed here.
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Happy to hear that! Hope it works well for you too.
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So easy and works. Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!
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I get about 20 days before it starts to give me problems. Thanks again, this is such a money saver
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Absolutely! This is 100% why I do it too.
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For me and with Samsung s8+ reading was perfect , today is end of second cycle 20 days , and all reading are perfect.
now iam starting to extend for the second time … lets see how long more i can use the same sensor.
I will keep you updated……………..
* I have Samsung 8+ and i am only using the app to extend.
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Amazing i have samsung s8+ and it works excellent to me. …. Thank you
Can you tell me how long maximum you can extend the sensor and will it stays accurate.
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The longest that I’ve been able to get out of mine is 23 days. It really varies.
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What is the typical end look like? Just no signal or does the readings get all funky? I’m about to extend the sensor for the second time tonight so I’m coming up on 20 days and wasn’t sure what to expect.
Thanks for posting! What a money saver this is!!!
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For me it has usually been just inaccurate readings. It will sometimes start showing no readings too.
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For me and with Samsung s8+ reading was perfect , today is end of second cycle 20 days , and all reading are perfect.
now iam starting to extend for the second time … lets see how long more i can use the same sensor.
I will keep you updated……………..
* I have Samsung 8+ and i am only using the app to extend
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Wow, so easy with the IPhone. Thanks for posting!
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But, what if you have to use the receiver from time to time? Will the receiver later pick up the restart from the phone?
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Hi Patty, I actually don’t know the answer to this. I don’t use the receiver. Sorry!
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I use the receiver and my iPhone and the receiver will pick it up later. I have used this method twice now on the same sensor, so I got 30 days out of it instead of 10 and still accurate.
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Good to know! Do you need to separate the receiver from the transmitter when doing this?
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Nope
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Thanks so much for this awesome post!!! Worked like a charm when I had a couple sensors with the same code which would always fail about 25 minutes into the restart!!!
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I’ve actually been wondering about that. I’ve heard that Dexcom only has a set number of codes, so if they repeat, I was curious how it would work
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Worked with code on iPhone. Previous attempts with other sensors with receiver and by disconnecting Bluetooth didn’t… thank uuuuuuu!!
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Glad it worked for you!
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I tried this but when mine expired and I started new sensor and after 15 minutes I went to “stop sensor” but there was nowhere to sto it. Just said warning up. After about 1/2 hour message came up saying “you must use new sensor. Am I missing something or did the update the App?? Thanks
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It does say warming up on the main screen, so you need to go Settings, scroll down to the very bottom to Stop Sensor. I’ll add this to the post to be more descriptive of how to stop the sensor.
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Is there anyway to get around this error? This is my last sensor I have cause my supplier has yet to ship my new order of them. So I really need this one to restart? Any tips? I’m trying the process again this time I took the dexcom off my Bluetooth.
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I wish I had an answer for you. I probably would have done what you did, forget the transmitter in Bluetooth and repair it. Then start the sensor again. Crossing my fingers for you!
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Worked while paired to both a tandem X2 and iPhone. Great post!
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Happy to hear that 😊
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Worked great. I used no code both times.
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Good to hear! Glad it worked for you.
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Do you know if it also works for Android?
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I’m honestly not sure. I don’t have any Android devices, but I would assume that it would follow the same process.
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Now I can tell you that is does 🙂
Before I tried another restart option. You need to stop sensor at least 2 hrs before it expires, forget transmitter in the phones Bluetooth connections list then restart and keep the phone far from the transmitter.
It worked 2 times, and on the 3rd transmitter just could not pair back with the phone, even after I changed the sensor to a brand new one.
So the way you suggested is not only easier but also much safer in terms of securing the connection between transmitter and the phone.
Thank you!
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Trying it now, fingers crossed. I forgot to stop it first and restart it. I stopped it before it expired and restarted w/o code. 50 minutes later it told me to use a new sensor. Trying this way now although I suspect since it caught once already I was trying to reuse one that the sensor is toast. Will keep ya posted. Happy holidays hun! We should do another meet up!
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Hope this one works. Let me know. And yes, I agree! Let’s meet after the holidays 😍
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I just followed your steps and it worked perfectly. Thank you for the clear and simple instructions.
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Yay! I’m glad that it worked for you.
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