Garmin: New update addresses bugs across several smartwatches

Garmin has released a new beta software update across several of its high-end smartwatch lines. Beta version 23.185 applies to the Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED (on Amazon), Fenix 8 Solar, Enduro 3, Quatix 8, and Fenix E. Notably, the build carries a three-digit suffix after the main revision number, though the official changelog lists it simply as version 23.18.

As a beta build, the software is available exclusively to participants enrolled in the Garmin Beta Program. Consequently, ECG recording and analysis functionality is temporarily disabled—a standard restriction for Garmin’s beta releases rather than an issue unique to this build.

The update introduces no new features, focusing instead on stability and bug fixes. Compared to version 23.15, Garmin has resolved several crash triggers. Previously, affected smartwatches could unexpectedly restart when saving an activity, playing music during a workout, or shortly after starting an automatically detected dive.

Audio behavior has also been refined. An issue where playback switched to the built-in speakers after paired headphones were powered off has been addressed. Additionally, voice announcements have been fixed: Fenix 8 models can now announce the time and date audibly, and LiveTrack spectator messages are now read in full rather than being truncated.