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Garmin software 25.11 is more than a “coming soon” beta. The update was released to enrolled testers for several older premium watches in January 2026, and Garmin later reported a 100% rollout on the Enduro 2 software channel. It is primarily a maintenance release, adding small usability changes and fixing problems with maps, sensors, workouts, weather tools, Wi-Fi and more.

The original report also linked the beta with ECG availability, but Garmin’s published 25.11 Enduro 2 changelog does not independently list ECG as a new feature. Availability depends on the exact watch, hardware and region.

What Garmin beta software 25.11 includes

Version 25.11 was distributed over the air to users enrolled in Garmin’s public beta program. According to the January 21, 2026 report, it appeared to be the final build in the 25.xx testing cycle, which began in December 2025. Garmin subsequently documented version 25.11 as having reached 100% rollout on the Enduro 2 software channel.

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The update is not a major feature overhaul. Its clearly documented additions are modest:

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Garmin vívoactive® 5, Health & Fitness GPS Smartwatch, 42mm, Ivory
  • Designed with a bright, colorful AMOLED display, get a more complete picture of your health, thanks to battery life of up to 11 days in smartwatch mode (5 days display always-on)
  • Body Battery energy monitoring helps you understand when you’re charged up or need to rest, with even more personalized insights based on sleep, naps, stress levels, workouts and more (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
  • Get a sleep score and personalized sleep coaching for how much sleep you need — and get tips on how to improve plus key metrics such as HRV status to better understand your health (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
  • Find new ways to keep your body moving with more than 30 built-in indoor and GPS sports apps, including walking, running, cycling, HIIT, swimming, golf and more
  • Wheelchair mode tracks pushes — rather than steps — and includes push and handcycle activities with preloaded workouts for strength, cardio, HIIT, Pilates and yoga, challenges specific to wheelchair users and more (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
  • Updated the appearance of the progress bar in the Audiobooks list.
  • Added the ability to turn Golf activity auto-lap on or off.

Most of the release is corrective maintenance. The reported fixes include:

  • Edited Strength workout weights not carrying into subsequent sets.
  • Skin-temperature tracking problems on Wi-Fi-less fēnix 7 models.
  • Weather Radar overlays crashing or closing unexpectedly.
  • An incorrect Sleep Mode setup-menu title.
  • Incorrect ANT+ connection information for the HRM 600.
  • Weather Radar using the wrong time format.
  • The optical heart-rate sensor failing to restart in some activities.
  • Incorrect content in the Dog Track glance menu.
  • Shutdowns while saving Golf activities.
  • Shutdowns while viewing Daily Suggested Workout steps.
  • Invalid PacePro data in the activity-review widget.
  • Morning Report showing the previous day’s schedule.
  • Tide Alerts ignoring the selected unit configuration.
  • Shutdowns when selecting an inReach contact.
  • Problems in map and course-preview interfaces.
  • Missing data fields on some watch faces.
  • Shutdowns during map downloads.
  • Problems reconnecting to password-protected Wi-Fi networks.

The official Enduro 2 release note confirms several of these categories, including skin temperature, Dog Track, course-preview maps, PacePro review data, Weather Radar, time formatting and optical-heart-rate behavior.

Which Garmin watches are covered?

The original 25.11 report covered these watch families:

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  • Garmin fēnix 7
  • Garmin fēnix 7S
  • Garmin fēnix 7X
  • Garmin epix Gen 2
  • Garmin Enduro 2
  • Garmin quatix 7
  • Garmin MARQ Gen 2

Garmin’s public-beta documentation groups the broader compatible family as the fēnix 7, epix 2 Standard and Pro series, quatix 7, Enduro 2 and MARQ 2. That does not mean every model received the same build at the same time.

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Garmin vívoactive® 5, Health & Fitness GPS Smartwatch, 42mm, Black
  • Designed with a bright, colorful AMOLED display, get a more complete picture of your health, thanks to battery life of up to 11 days in smartwatch mode
  • Body Battery energy monitoring helps you understand when you’re charged up or need to rest, with even more personalized insights based on sleep, naps, stress levels, workouts and more (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
  • Get a sleep score and personalized sleep coaching for how much sleep you need — and get tips on how to improve plus key metrics such as HRV status to better understand your health (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
  • Find new ways to keep your body moving with more than 30 built-in indoor and GPS sports apps, including walking, running, cycling, HIIT, swimming, golf and more
  • Wheelchair mode tracks pushes — rather than steps — and includes push and handcycle activities with preloaded workouts for strength, cardio, HIIT, Pilates and yoga, challenges specific to wheelchair users and more (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
Model or family Qualification
fēnix 7, 7S and 7X Included in the reported beta coverage, subject to model and channel availability.
epix Gen 2 Included in the reported related-watch coverage.
Enduro 2 Garmin later reported 25.11 at 100% rollout for this software channel.
quatix 7 and MARQ Gen 2 Included in the reported compatible family.
fēnix 7 Pro Not available for 25.11 in the initial report; a later version was expected.
Tactix 7 Excluded from Garmin’s cited public-beta grouping.
MARQ Aviator Gen 2 Excluded from Garmin’s cited public-beta grouping.

Check the exact model name shown on the watch before assuming that a general “fēnix 7” reference applies to your device. Hardware variant, region and software channel can all affect eligibility.

Was ECG enabled?

This is the most important qualification in the original coverage. The report said ECG was enabled for eligible watches in beta 25.11 and treated that as evidence that a stable release was close.

Garmin’s beta guidance says ECG is generally disabled during beta testing and can be restored in a late-cycle beta when Garmin expects that build to become a live release. However, the official 25.11 Enduro 2 changelog does not list ECG as a new feature. Garmin forum discussions also show that ECG depends on compatible hardware and regulatory approval in the user’s region.

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The safest conclusion is that ECG availability should be checked for the exact model and country. It should not be described as a universal 25.11 feature or as proof that every supported watch gained ECG.

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Garmin vívoactive® 5, Health & Fitness GPS Smartwatch, 42mm, Orchid
  • Designed with a bright, colorful AMOLED display, get a more complete picture of your health, thanks to battery life of up to 11 days in smartwatch mode
  • Body Battery energy monitoring helps you understand when you’re charged up or need to rest, with even more personalized insights based on sleep, naps, stress levels, workouts and more (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
  • Get a sleep score and personalized sleep coaching for how much sleep you need — and get tips on how to improve plus key metrics such as HRV status to better understand your health (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
  • Find new ways to keep your body moving with more than 30 built-in indoor and GPS sports apps, including walking, running, cycling, HIIT, swimming, golf and more
  • Wheelchair mode tracks pushes — rather than steps — and includes push and handcycle activities with preloaded workouts for strength, cardio, HIIT, Pilates and yoga, challenges specific to wheelchair users and more (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)

What about the Dive feature?

The original report said the Dive feature remained disabled in beta 25.11. This is another reason not to interpret the update as a wholesale feature expansion. The release mainly improves reliability on existing devices.

Did the stable release follow?

Yes, at least for the Enduro 2 software channel, Garmin’s official forum later marked version 25.11 as having reached a 100% rollout. That changes the meaning of the January headline: on January 21, 2026, 25.11 was reasonably described as a beta ahead of a wider release; it should not now be presented as merely an imminent update.

The Enduro 2 rollout does not prove that every listed watch received an identical build on the same date. Garmin can distribute software by device family, hardware variant, region or channel, and the final stable changelog may differ from the earlier beta-cycle summary.

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How Garmin’s public beta program works

Garmin’s public beta software is optional and requires enrollment through a Garmin Connect account. Eligible updates can be delivered through:

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  • Engineered with a supertough 45 mm fiber-reinforced polymer case and metal-reinforced bezel
  • Built-in LED flashlight with variable intensities and strobe modes gives you greater visibility in the outdoors and provides convenient illumination when you need it
  • Know your body better with health monitoring features, including wrist-based heart rate, advanced sleep monitoring, Pulse Ox and more (this is not a medical device, and data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked; Pulse Ox not available in all countries)
  • Navigate confidently with a 3-axis compass, barometric altimeter and multi-band GPS with SatIQ technology, which delivers superior positioning while also optimizing battery life
  • Garmin Connect Mobile.
  • Wi-Fi on the watch.
  • Garmin Express on a computer.

Garmin distinguishes this normal public-beta process from alpha or manually installed software. Beta releases are delivered through ordinary Garmin update paths to enrolled users; live software is intended for the wider owner base; alpha or side-loaded software generally carries greater testing risk and may require manual installation.

Enrollment information is available through Garmin’s public-beta guide and the Garmin beta forums.

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Should you install the beta?

Install or remain enrolled if:

  • Your watch is affected by one of the listed Weather Radar, map, Wi-Fi, sensor, workout or crash problems.
  • You want early access to late-cycle fixes and are comfortable reporting bugs.
  • You can tolerate occasional instability during long activities or important training sessions.

Wait for live software if:

  • You depend on the watch for navigation, health tracking or long expeditions where reliability matters more than early fixes.
  • You need ECG to remain available and have not confirmed the beta behavior for your model and region.
  • You do not want to risk battery problems, sensor inconsistencies, crashes or a more complicated return to stable software.
  • Your watch is not clearly listed as eligible.

Before changing firmware, synchronize the watch with Garmin Connect and confirm that important activities have uploaded. Read the rollback instructions before enrolling rather than treating backdating as an effortless uninstall.

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How to return to stable software

Garmin provides beta-forum guidance for returning to live software. The process can require a backdate procedure, and restoring live firmware may mean reconfiguring features or settings. Garmin’s guidance also notes that ECG setup may need to be completed again after backdating.

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  • Easy-to-use running watch monitors heart rate (this is not a medical device) at the wrist and uses GPS to track how far, how fast and where you’ve run.Special Feature:Bluetooth.
  • Battery life: up to 2 weeks in smartwatch mode; up to 20 hours in GPS mode
  • Plan your race day strategy with the PacePro feature (not compatible with on-device courses), which offers GPS-based pace guidance for a selected course or distance
  • Run your best with helpful training tools, including race time predictions and finish time estimates
  • Track all the ways you move with built-in activity profiles for running, cycling, track run, virtual run, pool swim, Pilates, HIIT, breathwork and more

If you encounter problems, first confirm the exact software version, restart the watch if it is responsive, synchronize your data and check Garmin Connect, Wi-Fi and Garmin Express for the appropriate update path. Do not assume that a fix released for Enduro 2 applies identically to a fēnix, epix or MARQ model.

Keep the watch or upgrade?

Keep your current watch if it is supported and the 25.11 fixes address a problem you actually experience. The release shows that Garmin continues to maintain several older premium models.

Consider a newer Garmin if you need newer hardware, a longer expected support runway or features unavailable on your current model. A beta update alone is not a reason to replace a working watch.

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Consider another ecosystem only if your priorities have changed—for example, toward phone integration and apps, a different training platform or a different balance between battery life and smartwatch features. COROS, Suunto, Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch are ecosystem alternatives, not direct evidence that they are better than Garmin.

Quick Recap

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