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| The Fenix 7 series is finally eligible for a new stable update. |
If you’re rocking a Garmin Fenix 7, Epix 2, or any of the brand’s premium outdoor watches, it’s time to check for an update. After several weeks of beta testing, Garmin is finally pushing its highly anticipated System Software 26.09 to the stable channel, and it’s packed with fixes and a few welcome surprises.
For those keeping score at home, this update replaces the previous stable version, v25.11, which has been on watches since late January. Over the past few weeks, Garmin’s beta program has been buzzing with activity, culminating in Beta Version 26.09 nearly two weeks ago. Now, that same firmware is going global, landing not only on the Fenix 7 and Fenix 7 Pro but also on the Enduro 2, Epix 2 (and Epix Pro), and the luxury Marq Gen 2 series.
So, what’s actually inside this 250MB-ish download? Let’s break it down.
One New Feature, A Ton of Fixes
Don’t expect a complete overhaul. System Software 26.09 is all about polish and stability. The headline change is the addition of Rally 110 and Rally 210 support. If you’ve invested in Garmin’s high-end Rally power meter pedals for your bike, this update ensures seamless integration with your watch, giving you even more precise data on your rides.
But the real meat of the update is in the bug fixes. Garmin has been listening to user complaints, and this release squashes at least ten annoying glitches. Here are the highlights that will make the biggest difference in your daily use:
- No More Random Shutdowns: Two of the most irritating bugs—where the watch would suddenly power off while using the Garmin Coach app or when skipping a music track—have been officially resolved.
- Better Battery Management: Some users reported their watch face erroneously switching to battery saver mode. That should now be a thing of the past.
- GPS & Sensor Pairing Fixes: A custom GPS configuration for certain activity profiles would sometimes fail to save. Also, pairing issues with the Stages Power Meter have been addressed.
- Localization & Display Fixes: German-language users will be happy to see that the estimated "Training Effect" text now fits on the screen properly. Plus, the compass calibration tutorial video will actually display when it should, and the Solar Intensity widget text has been properly translated.
How to Get the Update (And Why You Might Have to Wait)
Here’s the catch: Garmin is rolling this out slowly. As of the announcement, only about 20% of eligible devices are seeing the update notification. The company is taking a phased approach to ensure nothing catastrophic slips through.
If you’re impatient (and who isn’t?), you can manually check for the update by heading to Menu > System > Software Update > Check For Updates on your watch. If it’s not there yet, don’t sweat it. Garmin typically increases the rollout percentage over a few days, so your Fenix 7 or Epix 2 should get the notification by the end of the week.
Is It Worth Upgrading Your Watch?
Speaking of the Fenix 7, it remains one of the most capable multisport watches on the market. If you’ve been on the fence about grabbing one, now is a great time. The platform is clearly still being actively supported with meaningful updates, which is more than you can say for a lot of tech products a year after launch.
You can check the latest pricing and availability for the Garmin Fenix 7 here on Amazon.
Full Change Log for System Software 26.09
For the true data nerds, here is the complete list of changes moving from v25.11 to v26.09, directly from Garmin’s forums:
- Added Rally 110/210 Support.
- Fixed an issue where setting a custom GPS configuration for certain activity profiles would not save.
- Fixed an issue where text in the Solar Intensity widget was missing a proper translation.
- Fixed an issue where the compass calibration tutorial video would sometimes not display.
- Fixed an issue where the Daily Suggested Workout would sometimes display invalid data for the target type.
- Fixed an issue where the Stages Power Meter would sometimes not pair.
- Fixed an issue where the text listing the estimated Training Effect did not fit on the screen when the watch is configured to German.
- Fixed an issue where the watch face would sometimes erroneously switch to battery saver mode.
- Fixed an issue where the watch might shutdown in the Garmin Coach app.
- Fixed an issue where the watch would sometimes shutdown when skipping music.
- Fixed text irregularities between the watch and Garmin Connect in the Power Manager app.
- Updated the Upload RAM option to only display when the watch is connected to Garmin Connect.
Sources: Garmin Fenix 7 Forum, Epix 2 Forum, Enduro 2 Forum, Marq Gen 2 Forum
Have you received the update yet? Let us know in the comments if it fixed your music playback issues.