Garmin releases new stable update for Fenix 7 smartwatches with dozens of improvements

A few months have passed since Garmin released a new stable software update for Enduro 2, Epix 2, Fenix 7, Marq 2 and Quatix 7 (curr. $399.99 on Amazon). To recap, the company offered up Software Version 16.22, an update that brought almost 40 changes to the smartwatches listed in the preceding sentence, including their Pro variant. Since then, Garmin has been publicly testing various beta builds, starting with Beta Version 17.10.

Recently, the company issued Beta Version 17.20, full release details of which we have covered separately. For context, Garmin offered no indications that Beta Version 17.20 was a Release Candidate build. Nonetheless, the company has converted the build to a stable software update anyway, which it is distributing as System Software 17.20.

By our count, System Software 17.20 makes 28 improvements from v16.22. Of these, half a dozen are new features, such as the addition of the Garmin Messenger app. Additionally, v17.20 adds heart rate dynamic source switching for improved accuracy when running. On top of that, the new update includes 17 bug fixes, including one for an issue that caused incorrect battery estimates to show before embarking on a new Expedition activity. Please see the changelog below for full details.

• Added Find My Phone During a GPS activity.
• Added Garmin Messenger App.
• Added heart rate dynamic source switching to select the best heart rate data source (watch or chest HRM) to improve accuracy during running activities.
• Added Indoor Walk activity.
• Added Recovery Advisor as an option in Morning Report and Glances.
• Added Self Evaluation to more activity types.
• CIQ bug fixes and improvements.
• Fixed errant warnings about trolling motor.
• Fixed incorrect battery estimate prior to Expedition activities.
• Fixed issue causing heart rate charts to not show up on some watch faces.
• Fixed issue causing Outdoor Maps+ to request data endlessly.
• Fixed issue causing the cadence flashlight to enable incorrectly when in an activity Resume Later state.
• Fixed issue where "Lap Discarded" keeps flashing on screen after activity was saved.
• Fixed issue where the X icon was still showing as Twitter.
• Fixed issue where WiFi was required to delete an already downloaded Outdoor Maps+ bundle.
• Fixed issue with auto pause speed picker.
• Fixed issue with Outdoor Maps+ deleting layers unexpectedly.
• Fixed issue with ski run count in the Last Sport glance.
• Fixed issue with the altimeter glance when in large font mode.
• Fixed possible shutdown inside the Body Battery widget.
• Fixed potential issue with downloading large music playlists.
• Fixed potential issue with the weather map overlay.
• Fixed potential shutdown on Navigate page.
• Fixed potential shutdown when loading activity history with Auto Lock enabled.
• Improved access to additional characters on the touch keyboard by adding a press and hold option to some keys.
• Outdoor Maps+ improvements.
• Renamed 'Climb' sport to 'Mountaineering.'
• Updated translations.