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Fenix 6 Series - 20.86 Public Beta

Julianna_ODQA

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

    Not sure if this is a bug per se, but the behaviour is inconsistant. 

    Context - its about 7AM so my watch is in battery saver mode as expected. If I try to view my Garmin Suggested Workout from here (see pic)...

    ...then it can't display it.

    BUT if I go to a Run or Bike activity I can view the Garmin Suggested Workout fine.

    As the watch calculates this, it feels wrong there is a dependancy on a connection to Garmin Connect to view the workout from the widget. That will always fail in Battery Saver mode as BT is disabled. And the workout has clearly been generated 'offline' anyway as it can be viewed from bike or run.

    Maybe not a bug, but odd IMHO. Why does the widget need BT?

  • 0 in reply to 5135968

    I think is not a bug but a consequence of how the calendar widget is intended to work.. it opens only if a connection to the phone is active in order to be in sync with the phone calendar. But behaviour could be made bit more coherent, it could for instance either open anyway and show what it can without connection (maybe with a "!" For advising it's not synced) or avoid showing the hint that a suggested workout is present and just show a "! Not connected" advice also in glance mode.

    But it's pretty minor stuff, I'd rather prefer they work on other updates from Garmin side Slight smile

  • 0 in reply to 5135968

    Is that the Calendar widget? I cant find any specific widget for Suggested Workout so I'm guessing that its the Calendar widget. I haven't used that before but now when I added it it just says "Waiting for data". Would be nice to see the suggested workout in a widget Slight smile

  • 0 in reply to AndersB

    Yes that's the calendar widget to my knowledge, in order to get synced I think connect needs authorization to access your phone or Google or... Whatever calendar you use on the phone, if any. So yes, acts a bit weird.

    Unsure if the daily suggested workout is pulled also by the Garmin coach widget, you can try showing that and see, can't remember as of now... Don't use it anymore 

  • 0 in reply to AndersB

    @Frankysour @AndersB

    Seems to be the Calender widget displaying this - if that is how Calender is supposed to work then I won't bother reporting it

  • 0 in reply to 5135968

    Ok, anyways, I got it working now. I'm receiving the Suggested Workout in the Calendar widget. I can also open it and start the workout if I want. But I'm not using widget glances. Have you tried without the glances?

  • 0

    The altimeter auto calibration became buggy with the 20.82 but now with the .86 work perfectly again. The pre-made workouts works perfectly with Strength Training and HIIT.  The walk/run statistics is kinda like meh...  on the Tactix Delta. I suppose the wrist based HRM has improved slightly -at least during walking and swimming because I use chest strap with all the others- Overall I really love the 20.8x updates I did not experienced any issue only the auto calibration during the night was messed with the 20.82 - I woke up 14 meters lower than I fell asleep- but it seems like it has been fixed with the 20.86

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member in reply to 5135968
    5135968 said:
    I suspect Sleep folder is emptied after each sync...?

    Yes it is. I wrote about the contents of the sleep folder somewhere in one of the beta threads, but I can't even find it myself. In short: before 20.85 2 files per night, one larger, one small, after 20.85 only the small one.

    ~ 27 Kb time: 00:00 name Sxxxxxxx.FIT (Pre 20.85. Older Fenix'es only have this file)
    ~ 800 b time: when you woke up, name: Cxxxxxxxx.fit (second nightly file, on Fenix 6 and Forerunner 945, watches that have a sleep widget)

    The small one is for the most part simple (sleep score per 20 minutes on average).

    I never see naps on the sleep widget on the watch, naps are likely created by software running on the Connect servers, and a are very likely based on Monitor FIT files.

    To have a look yourself, disable phone and Wifi connections before sleep, copy files from USB in the morning and re-enable wireless connectivity. Maye you can download them from Connect in the Day overview, click cogwheel icon and 'download original'.

  • 0 in reply to Former Member
    Unknown said:
    To have a look yourself, disable phone and Wifi connections before sleep, copy files from USB in the morning and re-enable wireless connectivity. Maye you can download them from Connect in the Day overview, click cogwheel icon and 'download original'.

    The problem for me is the false daytime naps that I have posted a few times - I am only aware of these after a sync. when they show up in Garmin Connect.

    Seems to me Garmin shouldn't be deleting these post sync - it's not as if the devices are short of space and they ask for them which I can't actually provide.

    I have given them permission to access my profile, but it makes me wonder if somehow all that data isn't stored upstream if they still want the files.

  • 0

    Yep, something i clearly fishy with the Training Effect when finishing an activity.

    Took a test walk around the house and received "VO2 Max" as Training Effect.

    See pictures:

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