Garmin releases major new update for multiple smartwatches bringing dozens of new features and battery life improvements

Garmin has now released a new stable update for the Instinct E, Instinct 3 and Instinct Crossover. Also available on the recent Instinct Crossover AMOLED (curr. $649.99 on Amazon), System Software 12.21 replaces v10.36 and v11.11 following a short-lived Beta Program campaign.

Nonetheless, System Software 12.21 contains numerous changes, with 11 for all Instinct E and Instinct 3 models. Moreover, Garmin has included another 10 for Instinct E and Solar variants, as well as 8 exclusive to the Crossover series. Factoring in changes for AMOLED and or Solar models only, System Software 12.21 bundles 35 changes, of which 10 are new features. For example, Garmin has added support for Health Status, which it recently detailed in its November 2025 Feature Update.

On top of that, System Software 12.21 introduces around two dozen bug fixes while also improving the Area Calc app UI. Reportedly, Garmin has already offered the new update to around 20% of Instinct E, Instinct 3 and Instinct Crossover smartwatches. Although that will change in the coming days, one should be able to request System Software 12.21 manually by selecting 'Check for Updates' on the smartwatch itself. Garmin's full changelog is as follows:

All I3/IE:

• Added support for Health Status. Provides health data changes and overall wellbeing for display on the Garmin Connect app.
• Added support for editing custom and proximity alerts in GCM.
• Added support for updating sensor software over BLE.
• Improved Area Calc app UI.
• Fixed issues with interval alerts for quick timer.
• Fixed issue where messenger glance could be added twice.
• Fixed incorrect or missing units in Messenger message details.
• Fixed potential issue where course elevation plot would be flat.
• Fixed issue where OHR could not be enabled by a power mode if the system setting was off.
• Fixed issue where some activity names would not be translated.
• Fixed issue in DogTrack where dog pointer direction would not match handheld.

Solar/E only:

• Added Steps data field.
• Added Pulse Ox watch face data field option.
• Added Recovery Time watch face data field option.
• Fixed possible battery drain when using CIQ watch faces.
• Fixed issue where software update would not immediately appear after "Check for Updates".
• Fixed issues with Weather app when accessed from the app list.
• Fixed DogTrack distance when using Metric units.
• Fixed issue where watch face charts could show old data.
• Fixed calendar watch face data field showing events from future dates.
• Fixed potential graphical glitch on Morning Report watch face.

Solar/AMOLED only:

• Added support for HRM Pace & Distance over BLE.

AMOLED only:

• Added UTC data field option to more watch faces.
• Added barometer data field option to default watch face.
• Fixed Morning Report and Workout animations (45mm only).

Solar only:

• Fixed crash when viewing daily suggested workouts.
• Fixed load ratio graph indicator.

Crossover only:

• Added additional watch face design.
• Various UI fixes and improvements.
• Fixed issue where hands could become stuck after completing an activity.
• Fixed various sensor menu issues.
• Fixed golf club sensor info page.
• Fixed missed call animation.
• Fixed barometer chart scale.
• Fixed Kill Switch countdown (Tactical only)