Garmin rolls out fresh stable update to older Forerunner smartwatch with bug fixes and new features

A few weeks have now passed since Garmin pushed a new beta update to the Forerunner 255. In the intervening period, the company released the Forerunner 165, full details of which we have covered separately. While Garmin originally offered Beta Version 18.20 as an upgrade from the Beta Version 18.15 update that it issued at the end of January, the company silently swapped Beta Version 18.20 for an otherwise identical Beta Version 18.21.

Now, it is distributing Software Version 18.22 for all Forerunner 255 smartwatches. Seemingly, Software Version 18.22 replaces Software Version 17.26 that arrived two months ago, although Garmin does not state as much in its forum post. Instead, it reports that Software Version 18.22 is at 50% rollout, adding that the update can be downloaded through Garmin Express or Garmin Connect Mobile (GCM) when available.

At any rate, Software Version 18.22 brings twenty changes to all Forerunner 255 smartwatches running stable software builds. Based on Garmin's changelog below, the new update mainly focuses on bug fixes, of which there are eleven in Software Version 18.22. However, there are also four new features, including a Sleep Coach glance mode and the option of undoing a recorded lap. Please see Garmin's forum post and the changelog for more details.

• Adds Lap Undo.
• Adds male voice audio prompts.
• Adds the jump rope activity.
• Adds the Sleep Coach glance.
• Automatically detects a transition to the next sport in a multisport activity such as a triathlon.
• Fixed backlight brightness level when using real time settings.
• Fixed backlight gesture not working in do not disturb mode.
• Fixed crash when swiping left to dismiss certain smart home notifications.
• Fixed freeze/crash associated with trying to update weather info on invalid location data.
• Fixed slow notification updates on watch face notification data field.
• Fixed strength profile set weight now remembered in structured workout.
• Fixed text clipping issues in activity summary page.
• Fixed touch screen settings when in sleep mode.
• Fixed truncated text on map navigation data fields.
• Fixed various sport profile settings bugs.
• Fixed various UI and system bugs.
• Improved headset compatibility.
• Improved optical heart rate performance in cold weather.
• Runners can access a world wide database of tracks.
• Updated Mobile Translations.

Purchase the Garmin Forerunner 255 (Slate Grey) on Amazon