Garmin has officially begun the rollout of Firmware Version 16.28, a stable software update designed to enhance the user experience across the Venu 4 smartwatch. This latest iteration prioritizes both functional expansion and system stability, addressing several long-standing bugs while introducing a suite of new “glances” to help users monitor their health and lifestyle data more efficiently.
New Lifestyle and Health Monitoring Features
The update introduces several highly requested “glances” to the Venu interface. Users can now track their weight trends directly on their wrist and monitor battery performance with a dedicated tool that provides deeper insights into power consumption. For sports enthusiasts, a new glance allows for real-time tracking of favorite sports teams. Additionally, the update adds a specialized training guidance feature that now accounts for recent diving activities when calculating recovery and readiness.
Enhancements to Connectivity and Notifications
Garmin has refined how the Venu handles distractions during exercise. A new feature within the stage menu allows users to toggle smart notifications, effectively delaying incoming alerts until after a workout is completed. To further personalize the experience, the update also expands the library of alarm sounds and includes comprehensive translation updates for a more seamless global user experience.
Critical Stability and Performance Fixes
A significant portion of Version 16.28 is dedicated to resolving technical hurdles. Most notably, the patch addresses a critical reboot bug that previously caused devices to crash during standard use or at the start of an activity. It also fixes specific errors in the Garmin Coach cycling workouts, corrects blank-screen issues involving the music player, and ensures that Wi-Fi uploads are more reliable.
How to Install Version 16.28
While the update is rolling out automatically, you can bypass the queue by manually triggering the download on your device. To do this, navigate to the following path on your Venu: Menu > System > Software Update > Check For Updates
Change Log Summary:
- Adds a glance that tracks your weight.
- Updates your training guidance with consideration to recent dives.
- Adds a glance that tracks battery life details and performance.
- Adds a glance for tracking your favorite sports teams.
- Adds additional alarm sounds.
- Adds smart notifications to the stage menu to allow notifications to be delayed until after the activity.
- Fixes a critical bug that could cause the device to reboot during general use or when starting an activity.
- Fixes an issue where the wrong Garmin Coach cycling workout could be loaded when selecting to do the workout.
- Fixes an issue that could cause the device to reset when loading a course for indoor cycling.
- Fixes an issue that could cause a blank screen to appear after accessing the music player during an activity.
- Fixes an issue that could cause partial failures when using Wi-Fi for uploads.
- Fixes the backcountry ski post-activity summary not showing max. speed or mileage
- Fixes other minor bugs.
- Updates translations.
Also Read: The Best Garmin Watches of 2026: A Beginner’s Guide to the Ultimate Ecosystem
