Fenix 8/Quatix 8/Enduro 3/Tactix 8/Fenix E/Fenix 8 Pro/MicroLED version 24.12 - 'Check for Updates Only'

Hello Garmin customers,

This update is available for the following watch models: Fenix 8/Quatix 8/Enduro 3/Tactix 8/Fenix E, Fenix 8 Pro/MicroLED.

This update is available via 'Check For Updates' on your watch. Rather than manually loading files to update your watch's software, you can download this update via Wifi/Bluetooth. To download the update, on your watch go to Menu -> System -> Software Update -> Check For Updates.

Note: only devices enrolled in the Public Beta program will receive our Public Beta updates. More info on how to join the program is available here.

Later in the Public Beta cycle, we will offer updates that will be delivered to enrolled Public Beta users the normal way: automatic delivery via GCM/Wi-Fi. Our posts will indicate when these updates are available OTA (Over The Air) via normal means.

If you encounter a bug while using Beta software, please report the issue under the appropriate section within the Beta Bug Reports forum.

If needed, the Beta Wiki includes several articles that may help, including how to access files on your watch; what to do after a freeze or crash; and what information is needed to report a bug

Important note about ECG and Dive features: The Beta software available for the Fenix 8 series will have the ECG feature and Dive features Disabled.

If you would prefer to keep the ECG/Dive features accessible on your watch, we recommend not participating in the Public Beta program. If you do install Beta software but then wish to access the ECG or Dive features again, you can do so by backdating your watch to currently Live software (details on how to backdate software are below.)

For ECG: If you choose to backdate software, after doing so you will need to set up the ECG feature again. If you'd like more information on how to set up ECG, you can find more info on this page, see the section for "ECG App Setup": https://www.garmin.com/en-US/garmin-technology/health-science/ecg/use/

The ECG and Dive features will be made available again on versions of beta software that we anticipate becoming Live updates. In other words, you will see the ECG/Dive features become enabled again in Beta software toward the end of our quarterly beta cycles.

The ECG feature and Dive features will remain available with Live software updates (on compatible watches).

Note:  We are in the process of updating the "what's new" tip, so you will see some generic notes on what was updated, for the official change log see below:

Change log for version 24.12 (changes since 23.39/23.40)

Adds instructions for entering pairing mode for HRM 200/600.
Adjusts Change Sport to show favorite activities first with a More option.
Changes Pulse Ox App to only block vibrations while taking a reading.
Fixes a reboot that could occur when processing Garmin Explore data.
Fixes a speech recognition deadlock.
Fixes alert volume unmuting itself after silent mode is turned on.
Fixes an issue preventing removal of the Radar Camera Controls data screen.
Fixes an issue that could cause Breathwork Live Activity instructions to appear blank.
Fixes an issue that could cause device crashes when using Connect IQ watch faces.
Fixes an issue that could cause the device to restart when starting a GPS activity with Bluetooth headphones connected.
Fixes an issue that could leave Calendar Glance empty or prevent workouts from starting. 
Fixes an issue that could prevent notifications from being received on the device. 
Fixes an issue that prevented spectator message actions from opening.
Fixes audio prompts and voice alerts stopping during activities.
Fixes bad EasyCard icon.
Fixes battery drain issue that could happen while using Alipay.
Fixes boot loop on watch face.
Fixes calendar app showing too many workouts.
Fixes climb pro average grade display.
Fixes excessive DGNSS asserts after GPS acquisition.
Fixes floors climbed not accruing during activities.
Fixes Health Snapshot freezing on first prompt.
Fixes heart rate icon on Furnace watch face showing white at times.
Fixes inconsistent Bluetooth headset volume control and volume synchronization.
Fixes list becoming stuck when entering Pinyin.
Fixes max depth data field not showing decimal granularity.
Fixes missing audio for swim and row stroke rate alerts.
Fixes missing Find My Device alerts on repeated searches.
Fixes missing heart rate values on the FR 165 default watch face.
Fixes popular bicycle courses not loading on map in China.
Fixes slow Calendar Glance loading when Garmin Coach workouts are present.
Fixes some roads showing as thick black lines.
Fixes Spoken Watch Face not working after swimming.
Fixes the Next Track button being cut off on the music controls page.
Fixes the virtual partner screen not displaying automatically when racing yourself from a downloaded activity.
Fixes the watch not immediately moving a stock up/down in its list when rearranging stocks.
Fixes unreliable LTE signal strength indicator.
Fixes watch face tide data field displaying the wrong time suffix compared to the tide glance.
Fixes watch rebooting while answering a phone call on the watch.
Fixes watch vibrating in recovery mode.
Improves POI search result speed.
Keeps showing weather data when hitting outages.
Only shows full page course turn guidance if not watching map page.
Prevents using Garmin Pay while in Stealth Mode via shortcut/hotkey.
Updates swim module.

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

*The Software Version is the number on the very first About page. This number should always match the “Host” version number written on the 5th About page.

If you experience an issue using our Beta software, you have the option to backdate software and return to the version that is currently Live. If you would like to backdate software, you can find the files and instructions for this on our previous Beta software posts.

We will provide these files on the first Announcement post we create when starting a new Public Beta cycle (i.e. we are working with version 23.xx, so check for these files on the earliest 23.xx update post we provided.)

However, please note: if you choose to backdate software, your watch will not be able to download the same Beta update again. You will need to wait for the next Public Beta to be made available, at which point selecting Check For Updates will download the newer software. In other words, if you backdate software, you will stay on that backdated version until another new version is available. Fixed blank data fields on map split screen for MIP devices.