Garmin's latest update for its screenless tracker breaks Bluetooth heart rate broadcasting

Garmin's rival to the Fitbit Air, CIRQA fitness tracker, is facing significant technical hiccups following its latest software rollout.

Released on August 20, firmware version 2.50 was intended to improve the wearable's performance but has instead broken one of its most critical tools: Bluetooth heart rate broadcasting. This popular feature allows the CIRQA to act as a live external sensor, transmitting real-time heart rate data to nearby compatible displays, cycling computers, and smart exercise equipment.

A growing number of frustrated owners have reported that their Bluetooth connections are either constantly looping between connected and disconnected states on Garmin Edge devices or failing completely. The bug essentially severs the device's ability to sync with popular third-party training platforms like Zwift, TrainerRoad, Rouvy, and Strava on iOS devices, leaving athletes without crucial biometric overlays during their workouts.

Interestingly, the underlying issue seems strictly limited to the Bluetooth protocol, as users have noted that ANT+ broadcasting remains perfectly functional and can serve as a temporary workaround for fitness equipment that supports both connection standards.

A Garmin representative has officially acknowledged the widespread glitch on the company's forums, confirming that the bug has been forwarded to their engineering team and that work on a resolution is actively underway. Unfortunately, the company has not yet provided a specific timeline for when a patch will be deployed.

This software misstep adds to a somewhat turbulent summer launch for the CIRQA, which initially faced heavy community backlash in July after Garmin attempted to put a basic fitness tracking feature behind a paywall, a decision they quickly reversed. For now, athletes who rely heavily on Bluetooth heart rate broadcasting for their daily training are strongly advised to avoid updating their CIRQA bands to version 2.50 until a stable fix is released.