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| Garmin’s Venu 4 (pictured), Venu X1 and vivoactive 6 smartwatches are receiving a new update. |
Garmin has kicked off the new year with a fresh software rollout for three of its popular smartwatches. Owners of the Garmin Venu X1, Venu 4, and vivoactive 6 have started receiving software version 15.52, marking the first stable firmware release of 2026 for these models. This update follows the previous version 15.33 by roughly a month, which was notable for delivering a significant Bluetooth music fix.
Announced through official posts on the Garmin forums by a company representative, the rollout is now live. But if you’re hoping for a splashy new feature or a major interface overhaul, you might want to temper your expectations. This appears to be more of a foundational update, focusing on behind-the-scenes improvements.
What’s New in Garmin Update 15.52?
According to the official release notes, the changelog is succinct. The primary item listed is “changes to support manufacturing.” While this phrasing is intentionally vague, it typically indicates under-the-hood adjustments related to production processes or component firmware. For the end-user, these changes are unlikely to bring any noticeable new functions or alterations to the daily experience on your wrist.
The second line of the notes simply mentions “other minor improvements and bug fixes,” without providing specific details. This suggests general performance optimizations and the squashing of minor, unspecified glitches that may not have been widely reported.
Known Issues Unresolved
Unfortunately, the update doesn’t seem to address some ongoing, more prominent user complaints. Based on continued discussions in the community forums, two known issues persist:
- Vivoactive 6 Display Problems: Some users continue to report that the display on the vivoactive 6 is not working as expected, with issues ranging from unresponsiveness to unusual screen behavior. Version 15.52 does not include a fix for this.
- Venu 4 & Schwinn IC4 Connectivity: A specific connectivity problem between the Venu 4 and the popular Schwinn IC4 indoor spin bike also appears to remain unresolved post-update.
For the latest user reports and discussions on these topics, you can follow the official forum threads for each model: Venu X1 Software Version 15.52, Venu 4 Software Version 15.52, and Vivoactive 6 Software Version 15.52.
Rollout Status and How to Install
As is standard with Garmin’s phased rollout strategy, software version 15.52 is currently available to approximately 20% of users across the three affected models. This gradual release allows Garmin to monitor stability before a wider push.
If your watch is in the initial batch, the update should download and install automatically when your watch is connected to Wi-Fi and charged. If you’re eager to check manually, the process is simple:
- On your watch, press the button to access the Menu.
- Navigate to Settings > System > Software Update.
- Your watch will check for and prompt you to install any available updates.
The Bottom Line
The Garmin Venu X1, Venu 4, and vivoactive 6 update to version 15.52 is a modest, maintenance-focused release. Its core purpose seems to be laying groundwork for manufacturing efficiency rather than delivering user-facing features. While it includes general bug fixes, several known hardware-specific issues remain outstanding.
For most users, installing the update is recommended to ensure your watch has the latest stability patches. However, don’t expect a transformed device once the installation is complete. The search continues for more substantive feature updates, which will hopefully arrive later in the year.
Looking to buy a Garmin Venu 4? You can check the latest price and availability at Amazon here.
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| The change log for software version 15.52 for the Garmin Venu 4, Venu X1 and vivoactive 6 smartwatches. |