Garmin releases new Forerunner 255 stable update with support for new Garmin Messenger app and Find My Phone feature

It seemed that updates had dried up for the Forerunner 255 (curr. $249.99 on Amazon) of late. While Garmin has been pushing plenty of updates to the Fenix 7 series in the last few weeks, the same cannot be said for the Forerunner 255. In comparison, the latter has only received one beta update in May, which arrived as Beta Version 19.13 at the start of the month.

Nonetheless, the company has been slowly working on finalising its first stable 19.xx update, which it has now realised. Surprisingly, Garmin has jumped straight to v19.18, missing out all interim build numbers from v19.13 onwards. Given that Software Version 19.18 is the first stable updates since Software Version 18.26, it should come as no surprise to learn that it ships with over a dozen changes and improvements.

On the one hand, Garmin has bundled eight bug fixes, including one that should stop a persistent notification vibration for incoming calls. Additionally, the company lists 'various UI improvements and fixes' within its changelog, albeit without elaborating further. On the other hand, Software Version 19.18 adds heart rate dynamic source switching, a feature that recently reached Fenix smartwatches, too. Likewise, the Forerunner 255 is now compatible with the Garmin Messenger app and the company's Find My Phone feature. Please see below for the Forerunner 255's full changelog:

• Add Find My Phone feature - During an activity, use GPS to navigate to the point where a phone lost connection.
• Add Garmin Messenger App - Adds support for Garmin Messenger with a glance and app.
• Add HR Dynamic Source Switching - Adds heart rate dynamic source switching to select the best heart rate data source (watch or chest HRM) to improve accuracy during running activities.
• Add the Jet Lag Adviser glance.
• Fix "Lock On Road" setting not being honored.
• Fix inconsistent activity profile ordering between Connect and device.
• Fix intermittent crash in music control.
• Fix intermittent jump rope activity upload failure.
• Fix intermittent Zwift heart rate monitor drop out on iOS.
• Fix persistent notification vibration for incoming calls.
• Fix real time settings auto distance unit selection.
• Fix UI haptic feedback.
• Various UI improvements and fixes.