Owners of the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro smartwatch are currently experiencing a frustrating bug that causes the device to crash when they are listening to audio via Bluetooth headphones. This specific issue, highlighted by numerous customers on the brand’s official forums, seems to be triggered while users enjoy music, a favorite audiobook, or a podcast directly through the wearable. This is not the first time the Fenix 8 series has faced Bluetooth-related woes, as earlier this year, users reported general connectivity problems.
Details of the Bluetooth Crashing Issue
The reports point to a variety of related problems when users attempt to listen to audio. In some cases, the Fenix 8 Pro watch crashes specifically when the user tries to skip a track. However, several other users have reported the crash occurring spontaneously, even without interacting with the watch.
Crucially, the problem isn’t tied to a single brand of audio gear, as affected customers have used a range of headphones, including popular models like the Shokz Open Move, Suunto Wing, and Soundcore AeroFit Pro. Furthermore, the issue appears consistent across different music services—whether users are streaming from Amazon Music, Deezer, or Spotify. The bug has been reported across a wide range of Fenix 8 Pro firmware versions, from the stable 18.51 release up to the 20.15 beta.
Potential Fix and Garmin’s Official Response
There is a glimmer of hope, as one user recently posted a comment suggesting that the absolute latest beta update, version 20.18, has successfully resolved the crashing problem on their Fenix 8 Pro. While this hasn’t been officially confirmed by Garmin or verified by other community members yet, it indicates a fix may be on the way. The official timeline for a stable release of the 20.xx software for all smartwatch owners remains uncertain.
In the interim, a Garmin representative known as ‘Garmin – SP’ has engaged with the community. They are actively asking all affected Fenix 8 Pro smartwatch users to upvote their comment within the relevant forum thread. The purpose of this is to allow the Garmin support team to directly contact users to gather essential, detailed information. They also recommend that users sync their wearable using Garmin Express on their computer, ensuring that all current data is correctly backed up from the watch before any troubleshooting or updates.
Also Read: Garmin’s Health Status is Live—Here’s How To Get Into It
