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| Garmin’s Fenix 8 smartwatches are receiving beta v22.24 |
If you’re one of the lucky testers rocking a Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED, Fenix 8 Solar, Fenix 8 Pro, Enduro 3, Fenix E, Tactix 8 AMOLED, or Tactix 8 Solar, you’ve probably noticed Garmin has been on a roll lately with beta updates. Just days after dropping version 22.23 with that handy new per-activity LiveTrack automation, the company is back with version 22.24—and it’s all about cleaning up the little (but annoying) gremlins that came along for the ride.
Let’s be real: beta software is a double-edged sword. You get cool new features early, but you also get to play bug-hunter. This time around, Garmin is listening to testers and patching some specific headaches, especially around that fresh LiveTrack functionality. So grab your favorite smartwatch, pull up that software update menu, and let’s dive into what’s fixed, what’s still broken, and when you might see this land on your wrist for good.
What’s New in Beta Version 22.24? It’s Mostly Fixes (and That’s a Good Thing)
The headline for Garmin beta version 22.24 is stability and polish. After introducing automatic LiveTrack activation per activity type in the previous build, testers quickly flagged a few edge cases. The most notable? Multisport activities that start with a pool swim were failing to trigger LiveTrack automatically. Imagine finishing a tough swim, hopping on your bike, and only then realizing your location wasn’t being shared with your partner back home. Not ideal.
Version 22.24 resolves that specific issue. Now, if you have LiveTrack set to auto-enable for your multisport profile—even when the first leg is a pool swim—the feature should fire up without a hitch. For anyone who trains solo in remote areas or just wants peace of mind, this is a genuinely useful fix.
Incoming Call Nightmare? That’s Fixed Too
Here’s another one that could have been a real safety concern: some testers reported that after receiving an abnormal heart rate alert, their Fenix 8 or related watch would block them from accepting an incoming phone call. Yikes. Imagine your wrist screaming about a weird heart rhythm, then your phone rings with an important call, and you can’t answer because the watch UI is stuck.
Garmin engineers have patched that behavior in 22.24. The call acceptance screen should now behave normally even after an HR alert pops up. It’s a small change on paper, but a big deal for anyone relying on their watch for both health monitoring and daily communication.
Other Squashed Bugs: Mute Settings and SOS Countdown
The update also tackles two more irritating glitches:
- Phone call mute setting – Some users found that muting a call from the watch either didn’t work or would revert unexpectedly. That’s been cleaned up.
- SOS countdown page – For those with incident detection or emergency SOS features enabled, the countdown screen before alerting contacts was misbehaving (freezing or not displaying correctly). Version 22.24 resolves that as well.
Nothing here that will blow your socks off with new features, but these are the kinds of fixes that make a beta feel more like a release candidate.
A Quick Recap: What Version 22.23 Brought (The LiveTrack Goodness)
To understand why 22.24 matters, you need to know what landed in 22.23 just a few days earlier. That update introduced a smart enhancement to LiveTrack, Garmin’s real-time location sharing tool. Previously, you had to manually enable LiveTrack before each activity—easy to forget. Now, you can set it to automatically turn on based on activity type.
For example: you might want LiveTrack on for every trail run and outdoor bike ride, but not for a quick treadmill session or indoor swim. The per-activity toggle gives you granular control. It’s a feature that serious outdoor athletes have been requesting for years, and it finally arrived in beta 22.23. Version 22.24 just irons out the wrinkles, especially for multisport folks.
Which Watches Are Included in This Beta?
The current beta program covers a wide swath of Garmin’s premium lineup. If you own any of the following, you can check for version 22.24 right now:
- Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED (47mm and 51mm)
- Garmin Fenix 8 Solar
- Garmin Fenix 8 Pro (including the MicroLED variant, though that’s a separate note)
- Garmin Enduro 3
- Garmin Fenix E
- Garmin Tactix 8 AMOLED
- Garmin Tactix 8 Solar
- Also compatible with Quatix 8 series (often listed alongside Fenix in release notes)
That’s a hefty family. And yes, the long-rumored Fenix 8 Pro with MicroLED is also mentioned in Garmin’s official forum post, though availability remains ultra-limited.
How to Download Beta Version 22.24 (It’s a “Check for Updates” Only Release)
Unlike some beta drops that come over the air automatically, version 22.24 is a “check for updates only” release. That means your watch won’t necessarily pull it down overnight. You need to manually trigger the update.
Here’s how:
- On your compatible Garmin watch, press the Menu button (top left).
- Scroll to System > Software Update > Check For Updates.
- If 22.24 is available, it will prompt you to download and install. Make sure your watch has at least 50% battery and stays on its charger during the process.
A word of caution: this is beta software. Garmin disables certain features in beta builds—specifically ECG and Dive features (like dive logs and underwater metrics). So if you rely on your Fenix 8 for scuba or regular ECG readings, you might want to sit this one out and wait for the stable release.
Speaking of Stable Release… When Will Everyone Get It?
Great question. Garmin doesn’t publish fixed timelines for beta-to-stable rollouts. Typically, a beta cycle can last anywhere from two weeks to a month, depending on how many bugs surface. Since 22.24 is a minor fix over 22.23, and no major new features are being introduced, it’s plausible that this could become the stable public release candidate fairly soon.
If you’re not in the beta program but you’re eyeing that LiveTrack per-activity automation, keep an eye on Garmin’s official forums or your Garmin Connect app notifications. A stable update with all these fixes should land for everyone by late spring or early summer 2026 at the latest—possibly sooner if testing goes smoothly.
Is the Fenix 8 Still Worth Buying? (Quick Hardware Check)
All this beta chatter might have you wondering: should you pick up a Fenix 8 now? The short answer: absolutely, especially if you find a good deal. The Fenix 8 series (both AMOLED and Solar variants) remains one of the most rugged, feature-packed multisport watches on the market. From dual-frequency GPS to topographic maps, dive capabilities (on certain models), and now smarter LiveTrack, it’s a beast.
Speaking of deals, if you’re in the market for the Garmin Fenix 8 47mm AMOLED, you can currently find it at a solid price. Check the latest price on Amazon here—it’s often discounted below the $1,099.99 MSRP. That model strikes a great balance between screen brightness (the AMOLED is gorgeous) and battery life, plus it’s the exact watch that’s been leading this beta testing wave.
For those who prioritize battery over visuals, the Fenix 8 Solar is your friend. And if you need something even tougher with tactical features, the Tactix 8 series is a no-brainer.
What About the Enduro 3 and Fenix E?
The Enduro 3 is Garmin’s ultra-endurance king—think 100-mile races and multi-day expeditions. It shares the same beta updates as the Fenix 8 because internally, they’re very close cousins. So if you’re an Enduro 3 owner, you’re not left out. The Fenix E, meanwhile, is a slightly more accessible (read: less expensive) variant of the Fenix 8 line, but it still gets all the same software love.
Known Issues in Beta 22.24 (Read Before You Jump)
No beta is perfect. Besides the disabled ECG and Dive features, testers have reported a few lingering quirks:
- Some watch faces may still experience minor graphical glitches after switching activities.
- A small number of users note that LiveTrack auto-start for open water swimming (non-pool) can be delayed by 10-15 seconds.
- Battery life in beta builds is often slightly worse than stable—typical for debug code running in the background.
None of these are deal-breakers for most enthusiasts, but they’re worth knowing before you hit that update button.
Final Take: A Smart, Fast-Follow Beta
Garmin’s pace with these Fenix 8 betas is impressive. Dropping 22.23 with a major new LiveTrack feature, then following up within days with 22.24 to fix real-world bugs shows they’re paying attention to tester feedback. The call-acceptance-after-HR-alert fix alone is a solid quality-of-life improvement.
If you’re already in the beta program, go ahead and install 22.24—it’s a no-brainer. If you’re on the fence about joining the beta, weigh the loss of ECG and dive features against getting early access to per-activity LiveTrack. For most runners, cyclists, and hikers, the trade-off is worth it.
And for those just shopping for a new Garmin? The Fenix 8 family is as strong as ever. With constant updates like these, your watch will only get better over time. Just don’t forget to check for updates manually if you want the latest beta goodies.
Have you installed beta 22.24 on your Fenix 8 or Enduro 3 yet? Drop your experience in the comments (or on Garmin’s forums)—the community always wants to know about new quirks or fixes before hitting that update button themselves.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The link to the Fenix 8 AMOLED is an affiliate link, but it doesn’t cost you extra and helps support independent testing and coverage.
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| The release notes for Beta Version 22.24 for the Garmin Fenix 8 and related smartwatches |