fēnix 7 Series - Recent Threads

What is the minimum firmware version required for the fenix 7 to use watch faces normally?

9-11-2001 — Sat, 09 May 2026 02:42:05 GMT

My Fenix 7 has worse battery performance on the new firmware version compared to the old one, but after I downgraded it myself, many watch faces can no longer be installed. What is the minimum firmware version for the Fenix 7 to use watch faces normally?

"Race an activity" is a mutant? Partly also a navigation, partly not? And why fixed extra data screens with redundant datafield?

Tisztul_A_Visztula — Fri, 08 May 2026 21:22:24 GMT

Today was the first day that I tested how Race an activity function. worked I am quite pro in course nav and in Pace Pro, I used the dfifferent combo of navigation settings etc.

So today I was surprised. In many ways.

First because two extra data screens appeared and they seemed to be fix. Moreover while it is logical that a Virtual Partner datascreen appeared with two data (Time Ahead/behind and Estimated Finish Time), it seemed to be quite illogical to get a 2nd screen with three data from which the middle one was Estimated Finish Time.

Wow! I could not disable them, I could not modify them, they did not pop up in the Navigation settings. as options. See also below

By the way Navigation settings. I played with all the options and some of them had effect, on shown data and some of them had not. Eg. enabling Elevation profile did nothing, that data screen was not added. On the other hand if I enable the extra datafield on map, it was added as was the normal datascreens numbered from 1, 2 etc..

Up Ahead was not added if I enabled it. And not the Heaing bug, nor the Guide screen.

Finally I realized that Race an activity does not really trigger navigation, because my extra data field on map is next turn, which showed nothing during the activity. I even left the path of the earlier activity I raced as a test and I got no Off course warning at all.

So apart from showing or hiding Map either with or w/o the extra data field, and showing or hiding the normal data screens actually Navigation settings had zero link with Race an activity as a pure training option. .

I see it just the opposite way? Why are these screens shown if actually we do not run any navigation? They are part of Navigation settings and navigation screens should be shown when navigating, should not it?

EDIT: and "certainly" the manuals of F7 and E2 does not mention the 2nd extra data screen, just the VP datascreen.

www8.garmin.com/.../GUID-98E3FDAD-580E-421C-9DD7-28E47D2C292E-8168.html

EDIT 2: If one digs he finds a supprt article implying this 2nd one, but with different data.

https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=3iG9HicaNC1p4Xf9OJc3k7

I still believe that the three data I saw could not have been disabled

Only just realized DEM is working again in 26.09

jan.shim — Thu, 07 May 2026 22:57:59 GMT

I updated the Fenix 7X SS to 26.09 over a week ago, had a few Bike activities since then, routinely perform DEM calibration before an activity. Usually just walked away for a bit to grab my helmet, turn on blinkers etc, did not realize the altitude number showing meant DEM was working OK (because it had been broken for so long). Just before this post, I stepped outside, and did a DEM calibration for a Run activity and it worked. Wonder if that's the same for everyone whose DEM hasn't worked in a long time?

unblocking accidentally blocked app notifications

cazu — Thu, 07 May 2026 17:51:07 GMT

i accidentally blocked my whatsapp notifications on my garmin fēnix 7 pro solar. i tried searching for the answer, and at least five months ago it seems that the unblocking could be done on either GC app or on the watch through notifications & alerts > smart notifications > general use > apps and there should be a list of apps. however, i can't find that list of apps in either my watch or the GC app.

so, how would i go about unblocking the whatsapp notifications as soon as possible?

Small bug - 26.09 - Pool Swimming

CMA-CPH — Wed, 06 May 2026 18:57:13 GMT

It looks like GPS is active during pool swimming on F7 standard running 26.09:

lactate-threshold auto-detect is drunk in v26.09 ?

RinseRepeat — Wed, 06 May 2026 15:43:53 GMT

my Fenix7s greeted me with this at the end of my run today

nice but except one problem

I never ran that fast and my heartrate never exceeded 155bpm, it was recovery

and note that I don't use optical HR but rather HRM-Pro-Plus so the HR is always accurate

and the pace doesn't use GPS but rather Stryd forced for distance/pace

what's extra weird is I cannot find this new LT recorded anywhere in the FIT file in the two previously undocumented locations

my Fenix6s never did this, it was VERY stubborn about new LT with the same devices/configuration, usually had to be running as hard as I could into the wind for it to trigger

what's also weird is when I was setting up the Fenix7s a couple weeks ago and it imported previous activities

it "invented" a new LT pace/HR out of the blue too based on those activities, it was 168bpm x 7:10 so this is vaguely plausible/logical

but I still don't see where it came from, I never went near any of this today:

Enable F7 for BMW Digital Key (or other Car Manufacturers)

zettvier — Wed, 06 May 2026 13:54:21 GMT

I've submitted a request for this function today at Garmins "Share ideas" page.

There is as well a record in the F8 forum area.

Perhaps someone from Garmin picks it up.

ECG

8033312 — Wed, 06 May 2026 09:37:48 GMT

I am using is fenix7xpro solar, the software version is 26.09, and when I use the ECG function, if the measurement fails, the watch will stay on the page where the measurement is completed, and I cannot perform other operations.I would like to know how to solve this problem

Live segments screen data

runny — Tue, 05 May 2026 13:54:37 GMT

Hi all, starting from an existing route of 14.72km, pace 6:35/km, I create inside the path a segment of 4.07km, that has been evaluated time 27:29 and pace 6:46/km.

Question: why 6:46 and not 6:35/km?

BTW, here the screen when completing the segment by walking quickly:

I assume -13:06 is the gap between 27:29 and my actual time 40:25, correct? But if I calculate 40:25-27:29 I get 12:56

Then just after the above screen, here what I see:

-13:06 becomes +13:07, PB in another screen position, is there a sense in this screen? What is it?

Last screen just after:

That screen is OK, I was completing the segment with a delay of 12:58 (but close to 12:56 as before calculated) in 40:27, that's ok. So I do not understand what -13:06 or + 13:07 mean.

Furthermore, what's the small part red inside?

Thanks to everyone who will dedicate their time to this thread!

Sleep tracking is crap since the fw update 26.09

5206261 — Tue, 05 May 2026 07:01:43 GMT

Before the new fw, the sleep tracking auto detects my sleep even if i don’t turn on sleep on the settings but now, it does not even track sleep anymore without turning on sleep. Tried everything except doing a restore factory settings. I got the tactix 7 amoled.

disappointing that garmin have messed this one up.

Fast Battery Drain after Hike Activity

old-geezer — Mon, 04 May 2026 15:25:02 GMT

I have noticed that after a Hike activity the battery drains very fast requiring a shutdown/restart. I use the Walk activity more often (with GPS) and do not see battery drain in the days after the activity. The GPS settings are the same for both activities and I have not changed the other settings from default.

Current software version is 26.09. This same battery drain occurred with the previous version as well.

I'm assuming the GPS is somehow causing the battery drain. Is there a way I can confirm this?

look at how bad Firstbeat metrics still are at Respiration Rate in Fenix7

RinseRepeat — Mon, 04 May 2026 14:27:52 GMT

I always figured my Fenix6 and buggy/old Firstbeat was the limiting factor with proper respiration rate detection

When I'd ask Garmin I'd always get the useless reply that it was probably my HRM-Pro even though there was complete heartrate detection and recording

I knew that was wrong

Remember Respiration is also used for Performance Condition and other metrics by Firstbeat

So now with the Fenix7 I can finally record the alphaHRV datafield completely which uses it's own modern algorithms for Respiration Rate and proper heartrate recording using R-R detection

same HRM-Pro-Plus, no contact problems

The grey spots in this graph are Garmin Firstbeat metrics, the orange is also respiration via alphaHRV (different scale unfortunately but it's similar numbers when they both line up)

The red heart rate is Garmin's own detection, not alphaHRV heartrate so that's what the Fenix is seeing

I had optical turned off BTW, this is 100% via the HRM-Pro

It is so stupid in 2026 they still do not have this fixed, I had it with Fenix5+HRM-Tri then Fenix6+HRM-Pro and now still with Fenix7 HRM-Pro-Plus

Garmin needs to give a damn, their competitors are going to roll right over them with watches half the price that work better

BTW the Performance Condition also did not turn on until like 30+ minutes into this hour run, which is again because of poor Respiration detection by Firstbeat

It's HUGE BUG for a decade, FIX IT GARMIN !

https://images2.imgbox.com/7b/b7/iacQo0a3_o.png

Calibrated Elevation changes erratically.

2331063 — Mon, 04 May 2026 09:03:08 GMT

I have noticed my Fenix 7 Pro SS changes altitude frequently even while sat on a desk. I soaked my watch in water and rinsed off to remove possible build up of any gunk in the sensor ports. But the problem continues. Calibration with GPS under an open sky away from trees and buildings, with All Systems + Multiband takes forever. Eventually, when a signal is received, the altitude fluctuates wildly. Setting a known elevation manually doesn't help either. The issue I have is that elevation changes so often across a wide range, the figure is no longer believable. I did communicate to Garmin Australia who have not got back to me on this yet. Has anyone faced this issue? Could this be a hardware fault?

My F7x alerted a low HR but the watch was rested on a table for about half an hour....

runny — Mon, 04 May 2026 06:40:55 GMT

Hi all! any idea what's happened ?

I slept with the F7x as every night, then I woke up and put it on a table. After about 30' it beeped with a message "LOW HR" recorded.

Never happened before.... any clue?

Thanks!

is it possible to force the Fenix7 to obey the override fixed weather location like the Fenix6 ?

RinseRepeat — Sun, 03 May 2026 14:43:58 GMT

So the native weather on Garmin/Fenix has always been horrible but the problem with all the various 3rd party weather apps is they are not followed for current temperature when it's calculating climate adjusted vo2max

On the Fenix6 I fixed this by setting a location 100 miles south so it would stop using the airport temperature 25 miles north of here

Then the temperatures matched the current local urban temperatures unlike the airport which was always 5 degrees cooler and just completely wrong

The problem is Garmin thought they were being clever on the Fenix7 and just ignored the custom fixed location for the weather default

Instead they allowed unlimited secondary weather locations

But the primary location is always the location of the watch, not the custom location which is never obeyed

Is there any way to fix this behavior?

Is there a settings FIT file on the watch somewhere for the weather lat/lon that can be edited/replaced?

How about spoofing the phone location for just the Garmin Connect app?

Alternately I've been thinking it might be possible to intercept the Garmin weather API network call in my router but wow that would be stupid complicated

another less important question is on the Fenix6 it would cache the weather temperature even if it lost connection with the phone, it would warn the temp was out of date but still show it, the Fenix7 doesn't seem to cache at all? Why did development go BACKWARDS with less features?

My Fenix 7x 51mm solar freezes if used in water

4940566 — Sun, 03 May 2026 12:26:59 GMT

I've used my Fenix 7x for tracking a few things including windsurfing and it's been fine, just what I need. However twice recently I've used it while swimming and both times the watch face has just frozen completely, no buttons clear it. The torch function still works but I can't do anything to use the watch usefully for an hour or so until it sorts itself out. It is 13 months old, am I likely to be able to make a warranty claim for this?

My Fenix 7 pro solar suddenly goes blank when I hit a mile split in an outdoor run.

Whjensen — Fri, 01 May 2026 21:35:45 GMT

My Fenix 7 has worked great. Suddenly, when I'm running outside, the screen goes blank when I hit a mile split. I can't see how fast the mile was. The screen goes back to normal once the watch returns to the normal activities fields. Help!

Fenix 7s Pro

6185552 — Fri, 01 May 2026 05:07:32 GMT

Nap detection not activating at times followed by report. Sleeping still on even after waking up.

Fenix 7: Sensors (Rallye & Di2) no longer auto-connect after Firmware 26.09

Shepman — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:48:34 GMT

Hi everyone,

I’m experiencing a frustrating issue with my Fenix 7 Pro since updating to Firmware 26.09.

My sensors (Garmin Rally pedals and Shimano Di2) no longer connect automatically when I start a cycling activity. Before the update, everything worked flawlessly.

The symptoms:

When entering the "Bike" activity, the sensors stay disconnected. I have to manually go into Settings > Sensors & Accessories, select each sensor, and hit "Connect". Once I do this, they work perfectly fine. It seems the "Auto-Search" trigger at the start of an activity is broken in this version.

What I’ve already tried:

Restarted the watch.

Removed and re-paired all sensors (using ANT+).

Performed a hard reset (long press on Light button).

Is anyone else on v26.09 seeing this? It’s quite a hassle to manually connect every sensor before every ride. Is there a known fix or a "Sensor Hub" update planned to address this?

Thanks for your help!

My name on the Morning Report

runny — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:29:46 GMT

Hi all, just curious... is possible to add my name on the morning report? On FR255 it was, but on fenix not sure

Thanks

Firmware 26.09 Fenix Reset Spotify Music Skip Forward

GIL0 — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:24:23 GMT

Updated to latest FW for the fix to my Fenix 7X resetting nearly every time I skipped forward a song on Spotify.

This morning on a 1 hour re-hab walk I must have skipped forward songs 20 odd times with no watch reset, but just after an hour in to my walk, I pressed skip on my headphones again and my watch reset itself.

Seems the "fix" needs some more attention.

Fenix 7 solar - sudden "light button" press, now turned off

3887839 — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:26:33 GMT

Hey,

I've had a problem with my Fenix 7 solar few day ago and haven't solved it so far. One day after latest update out of a sudden watch vibrates and a message was displayed saying:"Release power button to cancel emergency". I've cancelled it and it was ok for about ten minutes. And then again and again, going so far and so often, that watch turned off. I've somehow managed to turned it on briefly just to get to fenix 7 startup screen and then it turned off again. And after that I haven't been able to turn it on. It is dead.

I get it that problem must be that the Light/power button is "self-pressed" or stuck, but when I press it, it moves and clicks. It doesn't feel stuck. And another part - that happened in the middle od the day/afternoon, and light button wasn't pressed for the whole day. So it's kind of strange.

Is there a way to revive my fenix or should I send it to repair shop? It's older that 2 years, so no warranty.

Thanks!

Golf scorecard not showing data during play

ryanspa — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 02:19:58 GMT

I’ve just switched Fenix 6X to 7X pro Solar. During golf my 7X tracks shots ok but at greens it doesn’t display populated scorecard with par values.

usually, within roughly 20 metres of green, a screen depicting the green would appear with par score and when I hit start I would see populated par score for the hole.

I found a new feature ‘greens’ in 7X menu and it shows me on the green (nice feature) but the scorecard doesn’t appear automatically. 7X tracks to next hole ok.

I’ve deleted and installed golf app and checked settings and I’m on version 26.09

Multiple issues linked to sleep mode since 16.09

Régis C. — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 17:08:03 GMT

Since i updated to 16.09 i've faced two issues:

the sleep watchface stays on even when i disable sleep mode (say, i stay up after my usual sleep time, i disable sleep mode, but my watch keeps showing the sleep watchface, or it gets back to normal watchface but gets again back to sleep watchface after a few minutes).

also, when i wake up after sleep mode, my phone is now disconnected i have to go to the watch settings and switch "phone connection" back to ON because it's now set to OFF...

Torch no longer working after firmware release 26.09

aurelieloic — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:59:27 GMT

Torch has been working fine until installing the 26.09 software update. I can access the torch feature on my watch, but the light is not working.