Garmin has rolled out fresh beta updates for its Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970 smartwatches. The new builds follow last month’s major stable release and focus on bug fixes and minor improvements though not all issues appear to be resolved.
Forerunner 570 and 970 updates bring small tweaks
The Forerunner 570 is now running beta version 15.31, while the 970 receives version 15.30. Garmin hasn’t explained why the version numbers differ, but both updates share the same vague changelog: “various bug fixes and improvements.”
These updates come roughly one month after stable firmware 15.16 added several new features. That release introduced Health Status tracking, app-specific notification control, and a handy palm-to-screen gesture to exit notifications.
Some bugs remain unresolved after update
Despite the latest patch, not all known problems have been fixed. A recurring issue with text message alerts on the Forerunner 970 is still affecting users. According to posts on Garmin’s forums, incoming texts often fail to appear on-screen or trigger any haptic or sound notification.
Interestingly, notifications from other apps and incoming calls work normally. Garmin hasn’t officially acknowledged this specific bug yet, so there’s no word on when a fix might arrive.
How to get the Garmin beta software
If you’re part of Garmin’s beta program, you can manually update your Forerunner smartwatch using the built-in software tool. Here’s how:
- Go to Main Menu
- Tap Settings > System > Software Update
- Select Check for Updates
You’ll need to be enrolled in the public beta program to see the new version.
Garmin continues steady software rollout
While this latest beta doesn’t add new features, it shows Garmin is maintaining regular support for its mid-range smartwatches. Still, the lingering notification bug on the Forerunner 970 will likely frustrate users expecting full functionality.
Garmin may not have solved everything just yet, but at least updates are still coming.
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