Garmin beta update targets sleep mode bug and shutdowns on Fenix 7

What the new beta fixes

Garmin has issued a new beta firmware for several of its older high-end smartwatches. According to Notebookcheck, Beta Version 28.07 follows Beta Version 28.02, which reached the Fenix 7 series in late October as the first major update for those watches in roughly three months.

The new build makes two notable changes compared with 28.02.

It also fixes a separate bug in which the same watches could enter sleep mode even after the feature had been switched off manually in the settings.

How to get the update

The firmware is not pushed out automatically. Notebookcheck reports that Garmin has marked Beta Version 28.07 as a Check for Updates only release, so owners need to request it themselves.

To do this, users open the main menu, go to Settings, then System and Software Update, and tap Check for Updates. The update applies to both non-Pro and Pro models, including the Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar.

Other changes since the last stable release

Beta Version 28.07 carries a longer list of fixes that arrived with the 28.xx branch, building on the older System Software 27.18. These include a repair for a device validation problem that sometimes appeared when downloading TopoActive maps, and improved stability when fetching maps through the map manager app.

Other fixes cover the HRM 200 and HRM 600 chest straps not working during Golf activities, failed navigation calculations, and golf clubs added in the Garmin Golf app not appearing on the watch. Rangefinders showing outdated data, a slow calendar widget and a Garmin Coach widget without data have also been addressed.

One further fix restores the GPS setting for an outdoor activity, which could be turned off after selecting the indoor version of that activity.

ECG stays off and what comes next

Garmin notes that Beta Version 28.07 keeps the ECG feature, which records heart electrical activity, disabled. This matches the state of earlier beta builds in the series.

Because the firmware is still a beta, Garmin may release further 28.xx test versions before moving development to a stable software branch. Owners who prefer a fully tested release may want to wait, while those affected by the sleep mode or shutdown bugs can install the beta manually.