Garmin has released a substantial software update for its flagship smartwatch lineup, bringing Version 21.25 to the Fenix 8, Fenix 8 Pro, and Enduro 3 (with the Tactics 8 receiving version 21.27). The update, which has been in public beta for several months, adds a wide range of new features beyond simple bug fixes—something that Fenix owners have come to expect from Garmin's commitment to long-term software support.
A Feature-Rich Update
What makes this update notable is that Garmin didn't just patch bugs—they added meaningful new functionality across multiple categories. The update touches everything from basic watch face settings to advanced sports tracking features, demonstrating Garmin's continued investment in its current-generation hardware even as rumors of the Fenix 9 circulate.
The software is rolling out now, and users should see the update land automatically when syncing their watches with Garmin Connect.
Training Plans Get an Upgrade
One of the headline additions is a new set of training plans that "focus on timed workouts, cardio workouts, and optional strength workouts." This expands on Garmin's existing coaching capabilities, which already included running, cycling, and triathlon plans through Garmin Coach.
The new fitness plans are designed to be more structured than traditional free-form training, giving users guided workouts with specific intervals and targets. This positions the Fenix 8 even more strongly against competitors like Apple Watch Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, which have been pushing into structured training territory.
New Glances Expand Wrist-Based Quick Views
Garmin added several new glances—the quick-view widgets accessible by scrolling through your watch face. These additions focus on daily health tracking and convenience:
Weight Tracking Glance: Shows your last-logged bodyweight alongside a trend comparison. Users can see how their weight from the last seven days compares to the previous month. The widget also displays weigh-in data from the past week and four-week trends.
Battery Performance Glance: Provides detailed insights into battery health and usage patterns. This is particularly valuable for Enduro 3 users, who already enjoy extended battery life but now get deeper visibility into power consumption by individual apps and features.
Lifestyle Logging: The Lifestyle Logging feature, which rolled out to Garmin Connect last year, now has a dedicated glance for on-wrist logging. Users can log habits directly from their watch without opening the smartphone app—a small but meaningful quality-of-life improvement.
Sports Score Widget: A particularly noteworthy addition for American users, this widget lets users track their favorite sports teams directly from the watch. Users can select leagues, choose teams, and see upcoming game schedules and season stats without reaching for their phone. The implementation is surprisingly robust, showing not just standings but also upcoming matchups.
Sleep Insights: The sleep glance now includes "insights to the sleep glance for your ideal bed time and wake time." This builds on Garmin's existing Sleep Coach functionality, adding personalized recommendations based on sleep consistency and recovery data.
User Interface Improvements
Beyond the new glances, Garmin made several UI/UX enhancements:
Always-On Display Seconds: Users can now display seconds on their watch face in always-on mode. However, Garmin warns this will impact battery life, and the feature's compatibility varies by watch face design—digital faces show seconds, while analog faces may not.
Red Shift Evolves: The popular red shift mode (which reduces blue light exposure in the evening) has been expanded into "color shift" with an additional option to enable the mode two hours before scheduled sleep time, not just during sleep mode itself.
Font Scaling Improvements: The Garmin Messenger widget now respects system font size settings, making it more accessible for users who prefer larger text.
Accessibility Menu: A new dedicated accessibility menu has been added, consolidating color filters and other accessibility options in one place.
Speaker and Audio Get Attention
The Fenix 8 series brought built-in speakers and microphones to the Fenix line for the first time, and this update expands what you can do with them:
Voice Command Expansion: Users can now launch the Health Status app with voice commands. The voice settings menu has also been reorganized into separate voice command and voice feedback sections.
New Voice Alerts: A new voice alerts menu lets users choose audio output (watch or paired device) and customize alerts for guidance, laps, pace/speed, heart rate, power, timers, workouts, and activities.
Cycling Safety Alerts: When paired with a Garmin Varia radar, users now get audible alerts for vehicles approaching from behind—a significant safety feature for road cyclists.
Alarm Sound Overhaul: Perhaps surprisingly, Garmin added dozens of new alarm tones. Previously, users were limited to just one tone option. The new update includes various chimes, tones, and even musical options. The Fenix 8's speaker can now produce more varied sounds beyond simple beeps, and a new "quiet start" option gradually increases volume to avoid jarring wake-ups.
Music Controls: Album art background support was added to music controls, though some users report inconsistent results depending on the music service.
Sports Profile Enhancements
For athletes, several notable additions:
Mixed Session Activity: A new activity type lets users build custom multi-sport workouts by combining any profile they choose. This is ideal for cross-training sessions where you might switch between running, cycling, strength training, and other activities within a single session.
Activity Stage Status: A new swipe-accessible menu during activities provides quick access to settings without stopping your workout.
Post-Dive Guidance: For diving enthusiasts, the update adds post-dive activity guidance, advising when it's safe to engage in high-altitude activities or other physical exertion after a qualifying dive.
Course Planner: While not fully live at the time of this update, Garmin is rolling out course planner features that will let users plan races with cutoff times, rest plans, checkpoints, and aid stations through Garmin Connect.
Bug Fixes
The update also addresses several issues:
- Blank screen when using the music player during an activity
- Device crash after loading a cycling course
- Backcountry Ski workout profile issues
- Partial failures when connecting the watch to Wi-Fi
What This Means for Fenix 8 Owners
This update demonstrates Garmin's ongoing commitment to its current-generation devices. While competitors sometimes reserve the best features for new hardware releases, Garmin continues to add meaningful functionality to devices that have been on the market for over a year.
The Fenix 8 launched to strong reviews, earning a full five stars in our assessment, and this update further solidifies its position as the best Garmin smartwatch for outdoor enthusiasts and athletes who need rugged, long-lasting wearable technology.
Fenix 8 owners should update their watches as soon as possible to take advantage of these new features.