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Fenix 6 Series - 20.86 Public Beta

Julianna_ODQA
over 3 years ago

Hello Fenix 6 customers,

Our next beta version for the Fenix 6 series is now available! 

Please email the Garmin Outdoor Quality Team if you find issues in software after installing this update: [email protected]

If you’ve participated in the Fenix 6 Beta Program previously, you’ll notice a few changes from how we have managed this in the past. And further down the line, we’ll have some additional improvements to the Beta Program (more on that later!) Notably, this forum post is now the primary resource for reading the change log notes – they are not available on another webpage. (There will be more options for viewing change logs after we implement the additional improvements to our beta program.)

The links to download the software update are listed below. Select the link specific to your watch model. Please note that your computer will download a .zip file when you open this link. This zip contains the software update, as well as a folder with the file necessary for backdating software, and instructions for this process if you choose to do so. Remember, backdating software will reset all settings.

Use these links to download the zip for your watch to update to version 20.86:

Change Log for version 20.86 (changes since 20.85):

  • Added prompt to reboot if GPS is unresponsive.
  • Fixed an issue that could prevent device from booting up properly.
  • Added a new tip to notify the user that the Wrist Heart Rate Sensor is disabled. This tip will be displayed whenever accessing a heartrate-related glance while the wrist heartrate sensor is turned off on the device.
  • Updated name of the Endurance Horseback activity to be Horseback.
  • Fixed Run/Walk detection algorithm to properly calculate running & walking times.
  • Fixed an intermittent issue where the device would report inaccurate activity distance data.
  • Fixed intermittent shutdowns that would occur in the Strength activity.

Instructions for updating software:

  1. Download the .zip specific to your computer, using the links above.
  2. Connect the watch to your computer.
  3. Copy the included gupdate.gcd file (from the System_x.xx folder) to the Primary\Garmin folder on your watch.
  4. If there is a Sensor Hub_v*** folder, place the gupXXXX.gcd file into the \GARMIN\REMOTESW folder of the device. Please note, not all Beta releases will include an update.
  5. If there is a ANT_BT_BLE_v*** folder, place the gupXXXX.gcd file into the \GARMIN\REMOTESW folder of the device. Please note, not all Beta releases will include an update.
  6. Disconnect the watch from the computer and it will prompt you to update software.

After updating, your watch will be running the following software versions. These can be confirmed on the Menu – System – About pages. New versions are indicated in red.

System Software: 20.86

GPS: 5.30
Sensor Hub: 18.00 *If you have been participating in the Beta Program, you may already have this sw
ANT/BLE/BT (Pro models): 6.15 *If you have been participating in the Beta Program, you may already have this sw
ANT/BLE (non-Pro models): 3.01
Wi-Fi (Pro models only): 2.60

Please note, the beta updates released on these forums are not compatible for APAC region devices.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to 5135968

    Perhaps am/pm is inverted due to some bug, try inverting your am/pm for your sleep time and see if it does anything

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to darnich

    Sorry I don't believe that sort of thing is appropriate for a beta test.  My 'job' as a tester is to report bugs, not attempt to find workarounds. 

    If there is an inversion bug, it's up to Garmin to find that in root cause analysis.

    BTW its not likely that Garnin even uses AM / PM internally for sleep tracking. AM / PM is for human readability purposes as most people find AM /  PM easier to use than a 24 hour clock.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to 5135968

    Sure it is not your job and I don't suggest it as a workarourd rather as a way to help the developers track the root cause since your watch has that problem. I understand that AM/PM helps human readability but the bug may lie in the translation to the 24 hour clock and it might even lie in the connect app.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 3 years ago in reply to darnich

    So you set the altimeter to sensor mode Auto and Auto calibration, I'll give that a try.  

    BTW It's not even the correct altitude I'm interested in, but I'm looking for a way to keep changes in altitude from being interpreted as weather changes. I live and work on high floors, travel between them, and still like to have a correct barometer reading and continuous barometer trend.

    Mode "Auto" works best, with "Auto Cal." set to "Nightly" + making sure to do manual calibration before bedtime  + setting the phone connection off at night. Sometimes there is still a sudden barometer dip starting at approx 4 AM though. I'll check out the Auto Calibration setting. 

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to STEVE L.

    Hi, following your comment, because it's a good feedback, i test each activities, all works for me, but i updated Pilates and Yoga animation videos this morning.

    I haven't test it in the past, so i can't confirm that new video update could really help us.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to darnich

    It's always good to have this type of suggestion/workaround :-)

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to 5135968

    Can it be a time zone or summer/winter time issue? Maybe worth to double check all time related settings on both the watch and the mobile phone? If you haven't done it already.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to Former Member

    I only had to calibrate once, however, I always let the watch communicate with the phone and have active internet connection, even when during the night

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    I don't know if this is a beta related problem or not but I was was out on a ~6 km really slow run today. Directly after the run the watch reported the Training Effect as "Tempo" which I though was odd. It should have been "Base". Then, when I looked at the data in Connect the Training Effect was changed to "Base". Looked once more in the watch, it was "Base" there also. Strange... it might have been a one time "hiccup". Anyone else who have seen this problem?

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to AndersB

    Check your heart rate zones. After going to 20.82 mine got changed to some weird numbers and I had to manually reset them.