Earlier this week, Garmin initiated a new phase of its Beta Program, rolling out the inaugural v24.xx build to its older generation Forerunner smartwatches. This update was anticipated to rectify a range of existing software glitches. However, the release was short-lived, as Garmin was compelled to withdraw the software almost immediately after reports of persistent system crashes emerged, specifically when users attempted to access Garmin Coach suggestions.
Unforeseen Issues Plague Beta Version 24.04
The recent round of beta development, dubbed Beta Version 24.04, was made available for a selection of currently supported Forerunner smartwatches. It’s important to note that the newer Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970 models have not yet been integrated into Garmin’s Beta Program. Instead, this update targeted the Forerunner 165, Forerunner 255, Forerunner 265, Forerunner 955, and Forerunner 965. This release came nearly a month after these specific smartwatches became eligible for the System Software 23.20 download.
System Instability Linked to Garmin Coach
Unlike previous beta testing phases that often introduced new features, Beta Version 24.04 was primarily focused on implementing bug fixes. Regrettably, beta testers quickly identified a critical flaw: the new software began to cause all compatible Forerunner smartwatches to crash under specific circumstances. The recurring system instability appears to be triggered when users navigate to Garmin Coach suggestions within the Run, Training, and Workout menus.
Garmin Responds to Widespread Crashes
In light of these significant issues, Garmin has taken swift action, immediately suspending the rollout of Beta Version 24.04. As of now, the company has not provided a definitive timeline for when its Beta Program for previous generation Forerunner smartwatches will resume. However, a pinned post has been disseminated across all relevant Beta Version 24.04 forum threads, acknowledging the problem and reassuring users.
The official statement from Garmin reads: “Thanks to the help provided by the Beta Forums Community, we have identified a disruption causing the watch to crash while running 24.04 software. For this reason, we have removed access to this software version. We should have a new version available soon, which will not be subject to this disruption. Thank you for your participation and patience.” This indicates that Garmin is actively working on a resolution and anticipates releasing a more stable version shortly.
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