Garmin is officially pushing a new stable software update, version 12.21, to a wide range of its rugged and advanced smartwatches. This release targets the Instinct 3 AMOLED, Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct E, and the Crossover AMOLED models. This comprehensive update focuses on enhancing stability, introducing new health tracking features, and making various UI improvements across the board. Users should check their device settings to ensure they receive these latest enhancements.
Core Health and System Enhancements for All Instinct Models
The base Instinct 3 and Instinct E series receive several impactful system upgrades. Most notably, Garmin has added support for Health Status, a new feature that provides users with crucial data on changes in their health metrics and overall well-being, accessible directly within the Garmin Connect app. For greater flexibility, users can now edit custom and proximity alerts via Garmin Connect Mobile (GCM). The update also improves the back-end infrastructure by enabling sensor software updates over BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), making maintenance smoother.
On the application front, the Area Calc app UI has been improved, and several critical bugs have been addressed. These fixes include resolving issues with interval alerts for the quick timer, preventing the messenger glance from being added twice, and correcting instances where units were missing or incorrect in message details.
Exclusive Features and Bug Fixes for Solar and Instinct E Editions
The Instinct Solar and Instinct E models benefit from a specific set of feature additions and crucial stability fixes. Users now have more data at a glance with the addition of the Steps data field and new watch face data field options for both Pulse Ox and Recovery Time.
A significant fix targets potential battery drain issues that could occur when utilizing Connect IQ (CIQ) watch faces. Furthermore, the update resolves an issue where the software update prompt wouldn’t immediately appear after selecting “Check for Updates.” Bug fixes also cover the Weather app’s accessibility from the app list, incorrect DogTrack distances when using Metric units, and ensuring watch face charts and the calendar widget display current and accurate data.
Advanced Metrics and Display Updates for Solar and AMOLED Variants
For the high-end Solar and AMOLED versions, Garmin is boosting performance tracking capabilities. These models now support HRM Pace & Distance transmission over BLE, allowing users to leverage heart rate monitor data for more precise running metrics.
The AMOLED-only watches see specific display enhancements, including the addition of a UTC data field option to more watch faces and a barometer data field option on the default watch face. Graphical glitches related to Morning Report and Workout animations have been fixed for the 45mm versions, ensuring a smoother visual experience. The Solar-only model specifically sees a fix for a crash when viewing daily suggested workouts and a correction to the load ratio graph indicator.
Crossover Model: New Design and Critical Stability Improvements
The Crossover series, with its unique blend of analog and digital features, receives a focused set of updates. Users can enjoy a new additional watch face design. A host of various UI fixes and improvements have been implemented to refine the overall user experience. Crucially, the update fixes an issue where the watch hands could become stuck after completing an activity. Stability fixes also address various sensor menu issues, correct the golf club sensor information page, resolve a missed call animation bug, and fix the barometer chart scale. The Kill Switch countdown function on the Tactical edition has also been corrected.
How to Install Version 12.21
This stable update has reached a 100% rollout status, meaning it is fully released and will become automatically available to users as the process completes.
To manually initiate the installation, navigate to Settings > System > Software Update on your Garmin device.
Also Read: Garmin’s Massive November Update Arrives: Fenix 8, Venu 4 & More Get Major Upgrades
