Garmin releases new stable software update to popular smartwatch with promise of Connect IQ bug fixes and improvements

Garmin has delivered a somewhat unusual update to the Forerunner 265 (curr. $449.99 on Amazon), one of many current generation Forerunner smartwatches. To recap, the company released Software Version 18.22 to the Forerunner 265 at the start of March with various improvements from December's Software Version 17.24. However, it pushed a hotfix, Software Version 18.23, shortly afterward because of crashes that Software Version 18.22 caused on some smartwatches.

More recently, the company shipped Beta Version 19.09 to Forerunner 265 owners who had enrolled in its Beta Program. Typically, the move to a new build revision, 19.xx in this case, would signal the end of 18.xx development. However, Garmin has now introduced Software Version 18.26, which it insists should have already been offered to most Forerunner 265 smartwatches.

With that being said, the company highlights that it is possible to download Software Version 18.26 manually by tapping 'Check for Updates' after navigating through Menu, System and then Software Update. According to the company's changelog, the new update only makes two changes from Software Version 18.23. Please see Garmin's forum post for more details.

• Software Version 18.26 changelog
  • Addressed potential Connect IQ application performance degradation on USB disconnect
  • Connect IQ Bug Fixes and Improvements