Garmin Smartwatch Software Update January 2026: Complete Guide

January 2026 has been an exciting month for Garmin smartwatch owners. Garmin rolled out numerous firmware updates across its entire smartwatch lineup, introducing the highly anticipated Q1 2026 feature set along with critical bug fixes and performance improvements.

Q1 2026 Major Feature Update

The headline of January 2026 is Garmin's massive Q1 feature update, which brings powerful new capabilities to compatible smartwatches:

Battery Manager

The standout feature is the new Battery Manager widget. This intelligent tool provides detailed insights into exactly when and how specific features impact your battery life. You can drill down to see precise timestamps of battery drain events and get recommendations for optimization—such as switching satellite reception modes to SatIQ for better efficiency.

Fitness Coach Expansion

Originally launched with the Venu 4, the Fitness Coach feature has been expanded to more devices. It now includes adaptive training plans for:

• Timed workouts
• Cardio sessions
• Optional strength training integration

Course Planner Enhancements

Trail runners and ultra-marathon enthusiasts will appreciate the improved Course Planner:

• Support for aid stations planning
• Cut-off time management
• Faster loading speeds for longer courses

Post-Dive Guidance

For watches with dive capabilities like the Fenix 8, training guidance now considers recent dive activities when calculating recovery recommendations and suggesting appropriate activity levels.

Additional Q1 Features

• WhatsApp Integration: Enhanced messaging capabilities
• Voice Safety Alerts: New voice prompts for cycling safety with compatible radar devices
• Strength PRs: Additional personal record tracking for strength training

Firmware Updates by Device Family

Fenix 8 Series

Fenix 7 / Epix 2 / MARQ Series

The legacy flagship series received the stable Version 25.11 update on January 22:

Supported Devices:

• Fenix 7 / 7S / 7X (all variants)
• Fenix 7 Pro / 7S Pro / 7X Pro
• Tactix 7 / Tactix 7 Pro
• Epix Gen 2 / Epix Pro
• Enduro 2
• MARQ Gen 2 (all variants)

Key Fixes in 25.11:

• Fixed UI issue on the map app when previewing course navigations
• Resolved device shutdown issue when downloading maps
• Fixed data fields not being drawn correctly on certain watch faces

Forerunner Series

Notable Fixes:

• Fixed device resets during swim activities
• Resolved resets when changing music providers
• Corrected wrong Garmin Coach cycling workouts being loaded
• Fixed missing race time predictions
• Addressed pace announcement discrepancies

Instinct 3 Series

Venu & vivoactive Series

How to Update Your Garmin Watch

Method 1: Garmin Connect Mobile App (Recommended)

1. Open Garmin Connect on your smartphone
2. Ensure your watch is connected via Bluetooth
3. Navigate to your device settings
4. Check for available updates and install

Method 2: Garmin Express (Desktop)

1. Connect your watch to your computer via USB
2. Open Garmin Express
3. Select your device and check for updates
4. Follow the on-screen instructions

Method 3: Wi-Fi (Supported Devices)

1. On your watch, go to Settings > System > Software Update
2. Connect to a Wi-Fi network if prompted
3. Download and install available updates

Beta Program

To access beta firmware:

1. Visit Garmin Beta Program
2. Register your device
3. Opt-in to receive beta updates

Note: Always ensure your watch has at least 50% battery before starting an update. Beta firmware may contain bugs—proceed with caution.

What's Coming Next

Garmin typically continues rolling out Q1 features throughout the first quarter. Expect more stable releases in February and March as beta features are refined and pushed to the stable channel.

Stay tuned for our weekly firmware update roundups to catch every new release as it happens.