Garmin offers new update to high-end smartwatches before stable release

Garmin is continuing its slow march to delivering a new stable update for the Fenix 8, Fenix 8 Pro and co (curr. $1,299 on Amazon). A few days ago, the company released Beta Version 21.22 with a handful of changes from earlier v21.xx updates. Meanwhile, System Software 20.29 marked their last stable software update in the middle of January.

Arguably, November 2025 was the last time when Garmin introduced a truly new stable update to its current high-end smartwatches, though. Nonetheless, Beta Version 21.24 keeps Avaiation, Dive and ECG features disabled. As a result, it seems that Garmin will be keeping Fenix 8 owners waiting for at least one more beta build before transitioning development to its stable software branch.

Not only that, but Beta Version 21.24 is said to only resolve a single crash that could occur on older firmware. Specifically, the new update should fix a crash that occasionally happened when pairing to Messenger after clearing settings. The full changelog between Software Version 20.29 and Beta Version 21.24 stretches to over 100 changes and is as follows:

• Added ability to show seconds when in Always on Display mode.
• Added Accessibility menu.
• Added Album art background for Music Controls.
• Added Battery Manager.
• Added confirmation page when selecting language.
• Added Course Planner.
• Added Cycling safety Voice Alerts.
• Added Display Color Modes.
• Added font scaling to Garmin Messenger.
• Added Garmin Fitness Coach.
• Added help text to many menus.
• Added Lifestyle Logging glance.
• Added missed notifications prompt after finishing an activity.
• Added Mixed Session activity type.
• Added more Alarm sounds options.
• Added new Voice settings menu.
• Added Optimal Sleep Window.
• Added option to see floors climbed in Evening Report.
• Added Post-Dive Activity guidance.
• Added Sleep Alignment to Sleep glance.
• Added Smart Notifications to the Stage Status menu.
• Added Sports Scores.
• Added support to launch the Health Status app with Voice Commands.
• Added the option to turn off navigation guidance until a direction is coming up.
• Added translated "Loading" string when switching languages.
• Added Weight Tracking glance.
• Fixed abnormal heart rate alerts showing invalid heart rate.
• Fixed Active Navigation loop missing data fields after restoring from a backup.
• Fixed Alarms on Enduro 3 only beeping once instead of continuously.
• Fixed an issue where losing GPS could cause navigation to end.
• Fixed Archery crashing when saving and disappearing when resetting the device.
• Fixed Asian date formatting.
• Fixed Backcountry Ski post activity summary not showing Max Speed or Milage.
• Fixed being unable to view runs for Snowboard activities.
• Fixed blank data fields on map split screen for MIP devices.
• Fixed blank page showing when leaving CIQ music during activities.
• Fixed Bouldering activity difficulty selection list not starting focused on the last difficulty selected.
• Fixed crash when scrolling the Nutrition widget.
• Fixed dive timer seconds being cut off on Solar devices.
• Fixed Fenix 8 Pro not being able to aquire GPS in CIQ apps.
• Fixed Focus Mode settings updated toast appearing after using Find My Phone in Sleep Mode.
• Fixed Focus Mode settings updated toast appearing on keyboard.
• Fixed Geographical Points missing from the Places of Interest list.
• Fixed issue where 5% backlight could not be selected through Garmin Connect Mobile.
• Fixed issue where always-on display toggle in Garmin Connect Mobile would not save.
• Fixed issue where Assistance would show a focus mode settings updated toast.
• Fixed issue where battery saver mode would not turn off the always-on display.
• Fixed issue where device would crash when editing pinned activities through Garmin Connect Mobile.
• Fixed issue where edit weight option was present in Cardio activity.
• Fixed issue where Messenger voice messages would not display the text caption.
• Fixed issue where mobility move time would be inconsistent between device and Garmin Connect.
• Fixed issue where palming Evening Report would briefly flash the watch face.
• Fixed issue where there is extra vertical space in the sunrise/sunset widget.
• Fixed issue where tone could not be disabled on a quick timer.
• Fixed jumpy breathwork activity animation on Solar devices
• Fixed lag on long Messenger threads.
• Fixed lag when loading a long course.
• Fixed Messenger notifying old messages when repairing and reactivating .
• Fixed music stopped message not appearing when launching the ECG app while connected to headphones.
• Fixed Navigation Shortcut showing inaccurate prompt during GPS activity.
• Fixed not being able to access the InReach controls menu via buttons during activities.
• Fixed Pace/Speed Preference not applying to activity summaries.
• Fixed Portal watch face readability when accent color is red and Red Shift is on.
• Fixed possible crash in the Weather map.
• Fixed possible crash when interacting with HRV chart.
• Fixed possible crash when pairing to Messenger after clearing settings.
• Fixed possible crash when quickly toggling the flashlight on and off.
• Fixed possible crash when returning to the activity detail page after checking Runs in a Backcountry Ski activity.
• Fixed possible crash when saving Dive activities.
• Fixed possible crash when using Garmin Coach from a Yoga activity.
• Fixed possible issue where a Messenger voice message would send unexpected text along with the message.
• Fixed possible issue where evening report shows an invalid bed time recommendation
• Fixed possible issue where running economy would show different values on the glance vs. app.
• Fixed possible issue where steps labels in Evening Report overlapped.
• Fixed Race event and DSW feedback phrases using miles when in metric.
• Fixed radial watch face complications not dashing out sensitive data when pin lock is active.
• Fixed Rest Timer appearing as blank during workouts on Solar devices.
• Fixed save menu when stopping navigating a Komoot course.
• Fixed Saved Data App duplicating items when changing filters.
• Fixed small GroupTrack icons.
• Fixed step speed loss fields not working on lap banner.
• Fixed Structured Repeat workout edits not saving.
• Fixed the backup confirmation page to have three second wait before confirming.
• Fixed the current location triangle indicator reorienting when the watch moves on the Sunrise/Sunset map.
• Fixed the Flashlight active app overlay not going away.
• Fixed Theater Focus Mode disappearing when restoring to defaults.
• Fixed third party maps being incorrectly labeled in the Map Type menu.
• Fixed tone and vibrations not playing when receiving a Storm Alert notification.
• Fixed unmuting volume not restoring to previous value.
• Fixed using touch to select a location on the map.
• Fixed volume slider vibrations.
• Fixed watch face shortcuts in the Phone Assistant app causing button tones to stop.
• Fixed watch faces not restoring from backups.
• Fixed Weather Radar not properly showing military time.
• Improved display of watch face when Red Shift is enabled.
• Improved font selection on ski difficulty summary page.
• Improved loading speed of activity history glance.
• Improved missed Messenger calls experience.
• Improved spacing on focus mode customization menu.
• Improved wallet app relocking very fast.
• Improvements to the Map App during activities.
• Updated italics fonts to bold.
• Updated Running Track database.
• Updated touch and hold on watch face battery complications to open the Battery Manager