Forerunner 255 Series - Recent Threads

RE: Notifications: Forerunner 255 not receiving phone notifications

Roshall — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 10:06:57 GMT

Hello again,

I've checked all the settings you mention and they are all correct but once again I have stopped getting notifications on my watch. I know the phone is OK because notifications are sent to my other garmin device normally.

Thanks

Notifications: Forerunner 255 not receiving phone notifications

8368951 — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 07:49:55 GMT

The last month at least, if not longer, my Forerunner has not been receiving notifications from my phone. No messages, no phone calls, no application notifications.

I've read every tutorial and guide on turning on notifications. I never turned them off, I've had this exact setup (watch+phone) for over a year without issue.

All notification settings are on (including all apps), in the Garmin watch, in the Garmin connect app, and my Samsung notification settings. Battery optimisation is turned off for the Garmin connect app. Battery saver is turned off on both devices. Do not disturb is turned off on both devices. Garmin watch updates are set to automatic, but my mobile updates are manual and I have not updated my version of android. Put plainly, I have changed nothing and all of a sudden the functionality is gone

I've noticed that if I turn the settings on and off in my connect app, I might get a few notifications, before they just turn off for good.

I can't seemed to find anyone else dealing with this at the moment. Any help is appreciated.

RE: Notifications: Forerunner 255 not receiving phone notifications

Garmin - KS — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 19:42:29 GMT

8368951 I apologize for the late response. If you're still having trouble getting smart notifications on your Forerunner 255, please check to ensure that it has the latest software installed. You can do so by either syncing with the Garmin Connect app, or by plugging the watch into a computer and syncing with Garmin Express.

Roshall Although you mentioned checking all of the appropriate settings already, please be sure to:

Enable Garmin Application Permissions: Open your phone's Settings (NOT Garmin Connect) and select Apps. Then select Garmin Connect > Permissions > If any permissions related to notifications (SMS, Contacts, Phone) say OFF, enable the related permissions.
Notification Access and App Notification Settings: Open the Garmin Connect app and select More (bottom-right) > Settings > Notifications > App Notifications/Smart Notifications. Ensure Notification Access is enabled, and toggle to enable/disable notifications from all or individually selected apps.

Please let us know if you have questions or are still unable to receive smart notifications on your connected Forerunner 255. **

RE: Garmin Forerunner 255 – Bluetooth connection issues and incorrect time

Jacquers — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 14:37:40 GMT

Remove the watch from the Connect app and your phone's BT devices. Then do a full factory reset on the watch and try again without restoring any backups. If it still has issues reaching out directly to customer support is your best option.

Garmin Forerunner 255 – Bluetooth connection issues and incorrect time

6758260 — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 18:30:41 GMT

Hi everyone,

I’m having some problems with my Garmin Forerunner 255 and was wondering if anyone has experienced similar issues and found a solution.

First of all, my watch won’t connect to the Garmin Connect app via Bluetooth. The app detects the watch, and my phone also sees it in its Bluetooth settings, but whenever I try to connect, I keep getting a connection error.

So far, I’ve tried removing the watch from the app and pairing it again, updating the watch through Garmin Connect, and manually installing an older firmware version, but nothing has helped.

There’s also another issue: the watch loses approximately 10 minutes every 6 hours. This happens both when the time is set automatically using satellite synchronization and when I set the time manually.

I’ve tried reinstalling an older software version manually, hoping it would fix the problem, but unfortunately, it didn’t make any difference.

Has anyone experienced these issues with a Forerunner 255? Is there anything else I could try to fix them? I’d really appreciate any suggestions or advice.

Thanks in advance for your help!

RE: Notifications: Forerunner 255 not receiving phone notifications

Roshall — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 21:32:51 GMT

I'm having the same issue with my forerunner 255s. It used to receive notifications but several months ago stopped. It will sometimes restart receiving them after rebooting the phone and garmin, usually also needing to unpair and repair the phone but I had been needing to do this daily. Now it will not receive them at all. I have checked all the settings in the support articles and they are fine.

RE: Garmin Forerunner 255 – Bluetooth connection issues and incorrect time

ovekvam — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 08:55:34 GMT

These things are working fine on my FR255. It is probably not a bug in the new software, but something that has gone wrong on your watch.

RE: Fichier 27.10 pour 255 Music

Jacquers — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 16:27:17 GMT

27.10 was only for the 165.

Here are some links to 27.09 (+) Looking for 255 music old firmware version - Forerunner 255 Series - Running/Multisport - Garmin Forums

Fichier 27.10 pour 255 Music

7203420 — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 19:30:44 GMT

Bonjour,

Je recherche la version 27.10 pour une 255 Music car j'ai un soucis d'altimetre depuis le mois de Juin donc je veux essayer avec une version antérieure à Juin...

Quelqu'un aurait le fichier de la version 27.10 pour ma 255 Music ?

Merci d'avance à tous

Update 29.05

6544718 — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 09:48:38 GMT

I noticed some bugs since the new update was installed.

Speed in activity was not always displayed.

Training status stopped working.

Sleep status stopped working.

I am the only one?

RE: Update 29.05

tekguy1 — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 14:11:29 GMT

Heart Rate values are all over the place - I didnt have sweat - I just started the work out - I also changed wrists same issue , wiped the back of the watch no change then I asked my wife to wear it same issue - this was in a cycling recording mode . I have the graphs to prove it and also the watch HR graph showed EASY in BLUE even though it was showing the HR rate of above 170. So the watch knew I was in easy state but the numbers showed otherwise. So the actual sensor was reading correctly but the numbers were incorrect. I'm not freaked out when I get on my indoor rollers because some days I push myself and with this strange HR reading I dont want to.

RE: Update 29.05

6060024 — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 09:03:59 GMT

I'm also experiencing abnormal battery drain on my 255 Music. It seems to last about 3 days from full charge, without any activities! My software version is 29.05 [DFU-e0c0de]

RE: Update 29.05

Garmin - DK — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 16:25:20 GMT

Thank you for the post 6544718 . We don't recommend backdating the software, but would love to help. Can you please post a picture or video of what you see when you go under Settings> About? We are specifically looking for the different software versions listed.

For the folks having different concerns with their 255 series on 29.05, please create a new thread so it can be addressed.

For those having the same concerns, please comment, bookmark, and follow this thread as we may be reaching out for additional info and posting updates here accordingly.

RE: Looking for 255 music old firmware version

Garmin - DK — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 16:09:07 GMT

Thanks for the post 9489451 . Please note that we do not advise backdating. Please continue working with Product Support to reach a resolution on this.

Looking for 255 music old firmware version

9489451 — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 17:08:48 GMT

Hello,

I've just updated my Forerunner 255 Music to firmware version 28.05. Since then, my battery has been draining super fast and the HR sensor has stopped working entirely.

Since Garmin's customer service hasn't been helpful at all (they only offered me a 20% discount), I would like to roll back my firmware.

Does anyone have the 27.09 or 22.22 firmware version for the 255 Music?

Thanks a lot!

Guide to downgrade firmware

Former Member — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:30:22 GMT

Please note: this comes with zero guarantees and could potentially brick your device. Garmin does not recommend or approve this. The downgrade has been able solve my GPS issues on 27.09 (wavy paths, path being off by > 20 - 100m, slow (>1 min) to get location lock, loss of lock all-together in open areas)

Older firmwares

Shared 18.21 17.21 11.12 for 255 non music (not sure if these will work for 255 music model)
drive.google.com/.../1-AnnqFzK_5ZfEhq-OFubFSpKlkXC79vz

Source

FR 255 music:

20.32
21.19
21.20

mega.nz/.../vPIG0CaB

Source

Steps (taken from this post, force.tmp is just an empty file with that filename, I successfully downgraded my 255 Music to 21.20):

0. Have a Backup of the your settings before continuing check the actual fw version + GPS CIQ BMX WHR ANT/BLE Garmin Hub version

1. Download version for your model from the link and unzip the files

2. Connect your watch to the computer, open the explorer and copy both the gupdate.gsp and force.tmp files to the GARMIN folder of your watch.

3. Disconnect the watch from the computer. After some seconds it will detect the files and propose to perform the "update"

4. will take several minutes on "Loading FIT files" + restarts

5. Disable automatic updates on the watch. Important: Also disable this on Garmin Express in the settings (update device: never !)

6. Re-pair the watch with the Garmin connect App
If new firmware supports this: Backup Up & Restore -> Device Backups -> select the backup and click "Restore from Backup"

7. Resync: this will bring back a lot off settings, workouts etc …

8. All done

RE: Guide to downgrade firmware

Jacquers — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 16:07:35 GMT

If you updated using Express the files might be on your computer. Look for gupdate.gsp. The directory path will tell you what version.

I can get the link to the current version, but not any older. Part of the link is a random id that can't be guessed. I don't know why Garmin is so against just providing links for people who want to run older firmware.

RE: Guide to downgrade firmware

4975446 — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 18:53:17 GMT

Any chance you have the files for the forerunner 170 music also or know where I can get hold of them? I miss the original firmware!

Virtual partner confirmation issue

ovekvam — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 08:04:19 GMT

When setting the virtual partner in the running app, it always displays a pace of 4:00 per km.
I can change it, but when I confirm it, it jumps back to 4:00. The user gets the impression that it is not possible to change the value.
However, when running afterwards, the virtual partner is using the changed value you confirmed. It is only the GUI that is broken.

The issue is the same on the watch GUI and in the Connect app on the phone.

RE: Update 29.05

Jacquers — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:55:49 GMT

I have links for older firmware to downgrade, but when I tried posting it the site said it needs moderator approval.

RE: Update 29.05

8359371 — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:53:23 GMT

Hi, thanks for the answer. Factory reset didn't help, now I've tried firmware reinstall, doesn't work either. Anything else I could do?

RE: Update 29.05

Jacquers — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:43:41 GMT

Try restarting the watch. A full reset might help. You can check if it still has the issue and then either manually redo your settings or use the backup and restore to get them back.

RE: Update 29.05

8359371 — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:01:16 GMT

Since updating my Forerunner 255 to firmware 29.05, I've noticed that the display backlight remains faintly illuminated (dimmer than 5% brightness) throughout the entire day, doesn't matter what settings I try. This is especially uncomfortable at night because it disturbs my sleep.

Per-app notification filtering for iPhone users

5860598 — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 11:11:35 GMT

Hi all,

I’m using a Forerunner 255 with an iPhone, and notification forwarding is currently all-or-nothing: either every app on my phone sends alerts to the watch, or none do.

Request: Add per-app notification selection for iOS in Garmin Connect, so users can choose which apps are forwarded to the watch.

Use case: Some notifications are useful to have on the phone but distracting on the watch. At the moment I have to either be flooded with notifications or turn them off entirely and lose the useful ones.

Why it matters: Since iOS 26.5 introduced native notification forwarding, this should be trivial to support and it makes the difference between notifications being useful and being unusable.

If you have the same problem, please reply or like this post so Garmin sees the demand. If there’s an existing thread on this, please link it.

Thanks!

forerunner 255

SERGI — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 12:36:31 GMT

my watch started recording a track at the stadium (pictured) outside the stadium ok, SOS