Garmin signals major new stable update release coming for high-end smartwatches

Earlier this week, Garmin introduced Beta Version 21.24 for smartwatches like the Enduro 3, Fenix E, Fenix 8, Fenix 8 Pro and the Tactix 8 (curr. $1,399.99 on Amazon). In short, the new beta brought little to the table over v21.xx updates that had come before it.

As we discussed at the time, Garmin claimed to have only fixed a single outstanding issue. Beta Version 21.24 also kept Aviation, Dive and ECG features disabled. Therefore, it was evident that Garmin would be offering at least one further beta update before transitioning v21.xx development to its stable software distribution channel. Now, it seems that this development switch is almost upon us.

As usual, Garmin has not communicated this directly. Nonetheless, the company is offering Beta Version 21.25 to Beta Program participants with Aviation, Dive and ECG features enabled. The new beta contains no other changes either and is said to have already reached 100% of eligible smartwatches. In other words, we would expect Garmin to begin offering System Software 21.25 within the next few days, possibly as soon as this weekend. The full list of changes that Garmin has offered to beta testers from System Software 20.29 is as follows:

1. Added ability to show seconds when in Always on Display mode.
2. Added Accessibility menu.
3. Added Album art background for Music Controls.
4. Added Battery Manager.
5. Added confirmation page when selecting language.
6. Added Course Planner.
7. Added Cycling safety Voice Alerts.
8. Added Display Color Modes.
9. Added font scaling to Garmin Messenger.
10. Added Garmin Fitness Coach.
11. Added help text to many menus.
12. Added Lifestyle Logging glance.
13. Added missed notifications prompt after finishing an activity.
14. Added Mixed Session activity type.
15. Added more Alarm sounds options.
16. Added new Voice settings menu.
17. Added Optimal Sleep Window.
18. Added option to see floors climbed in Evening Report.
19. Added Post-Dive Activity guidance.
20. Added Sleep Alignment to Sleep glance.
21. Added Smart Notifications to the Stage Status menu.
22. Added Sports Scores.
23. Added support to launch the Health Status app with Voice Commands.
24. Added the option to turn off navigation guidance until a direction is coming up.
25. Added translated "Loading" string when switching languages.
26. Added Weight Tracking glance.
27. Fixed abnormal heart rate alerts showing invalid heart rate.
28. Fixed Active Navigation loop missing data fields after restoring from a backup.
29. Fixed Alarms on Enduro 3 only beeping once instead of continuously.
30. Fixed an issue where losing GPS could cause navigation to end.
31. Fixed Archery crashing when saving and disappearing when resetting the device.
32. Fixed Asian date formatting.
33. Fixed Backcountry Ski post activity summary not showing Max Speed or Milage.
34. Fixed being unable to view runs for Snowboard activities.
35. Fixed blank data fields on map split screen for MIP devices.
36. Fixed blank page showing when leaving CIQ music during activities.
37. Fixed Bouldering activity difficulty selection list not starting focused on the last difficulty selected.
38. Fixed crash when scrolling the Nutrition widget.
39. Fixed dive timer seconds being cut off on Solar devices.
40. Fixed Fenix 8 Pro not being able to aquire GPS in CIQ apps.
41. Fixed Focus Mode settings updated toast appearing after using Find My Phone in Sleep Mode.
42. Fixed Focus Mode settings updated toast appearing on keyboard.
43. Fixed Geographical Points missing from the Places of Interest list.
44. Fixed issue where 5% backlight could not be selected through Garmin Connect Mobile.
45. Fixed issue where always-on display toggle in Garmin Connect Mobile would not save.
46. Fixed issue where Assistance would show a focus mode settings updated toast.
47. Fixed issue where battery saver mode would not turn off the always-on display.
48. Fixed issue where device would crash when editing pinned activities through Garmin Connect Mobile.
49. Fixed issue where edit weight option was present in Cardio activity.
50. Fixed issue where Messenger voice messages would not display the text caption.
51. Fixed issue where mobility move time would be inconsistent between device and Garmin Connect.
52. Fixed issue where palming Evening Report would briefly flash the watch face.
53. Fixed issue where there is extra vertical space in the sunrise/sunset widget.
54. Fixed issue where tone could not be disabled on a quick timer.
55. Fixed jumpy breathwork activity animation on Solar devices
56. Fixed lag on long Messenger threads.
57. Fixed lag when loading a long course.
58. Fixed Messenger notifying old messages when repairing and reactivating .
59. Fixed music stopped message not appearing when launching the ECG app while connected to headphones.
60. Fixed Navigation Shortcut showing inaccurate prompt during GPS activity.
61. Fixed not being able to access the InReach controls menu via buttons during activities.
62. Fixed Pace/Speed Preference not applying to activity summaries.
63. Fixed Portal watch face readability when accent color is red and Red Shift is on.
64. Fixed possible crash in the Weather map.
65. Fixed possible crash when interacting with HRV chart.
66. Fixed possible crash when pairing to Messenger after clearing settings.
67. Fixed possible crash when quickly toggling the flashlight on and off.
68. Fixed possible crash when returning to the activity detail page after checking Runs in a Backcountry Ski activity.
69. Fixed possible crash when saving Dive activities.
70. Fixed possible crash when using Garmin Coach from a Yoga activity.
71. Fixed possible issue where a Messenger voice message would send unexpected text along with the message.
72. Fixed possible issue where evening report shows an invalid bed time recommendation
73. Fixed possible issue where running economy would show different values on the glance vs. app.
74. Fixed possible issue where steps labels in Evening Report overlapped.
75. Fixed Race event and DSW feedback phrases using miles when in metric.
76. Fixed radial watch face complications not dashing out sensitive data when pin lock is active.
77. Fixed Rest Timer appearing as blank during workouts on Solar devices.
78. Fixed save menu when stopping navigating a Komoot course.
79. Fixed Saved Data App duplicating items when changing filters.
80. Fixed small GroupTrack icons.
81. Fixed step speed loss fields not working on lap banner.
82. Fixed Structured Repeat workout edits not saving.
83. Fixed the backup confirmation page to have three second wait before confirming.
84. Fixed the current location triangle indicator reorienting when the watch moves on the Sunrise/Sunset map.
85. Fixed the Flashlight active app overlay not going away.
86. Fixed Theater Focus Mode disappearing when restoring to defaults.
87. Fixed third party maps being incorrectly labeled in the Map Type menu.
88. Fixed tone and vibrations not playing when receiving a Storm Alert notification.
89. Fixed unmuting volume not restoring to previous value.
90. Fixed using touch to select a location on the map.
91. Fixed volume slider vibrations.
92. Fixed watch face shortcuts in the Phone Assistant app causing button tones to stop.
93. Fixed watch faces not restoring from backups.
94. Fixed Weather Radar not properly showing military time.
95. Improved display of watch face when Red Shift is enabled.
96. Improved font selection on ski difficulty summary page.
97. Improved loading speed of activity history glance.
98. Improved missed Messenger calls experience.
99. Improved spacing on focus mode customization menu.
100. Improved wallet app relocking very fast.
101. Improvements to the Map App during activities.
102. Updated italics fonts to bold.
103. Updated Running Track database.
104. Updated touch and hold on watch face battery complications to open the Battery Manager