Danny Weber
12:42 03-09-2025
A. Krivonosov
Garmin Forerunner beta 25.02 upgrades heart-rate accuracy, fixes Primary Race and Run Coach bugs, and adjusts multisport power-saving. Install in Settings.
Garmin has released beta update 25.02 for its Forerunner smartwatch lineup—models 165, 255, 265, 955, and 965. It’s the first build in the 25.xx testing cycle, succeeding the stable 24.12 firmware from August that focused on bug fixes. This time, the spotlight is on heart-rate performance: Garmin says its algorithm is now more precise and has removed the rare instances where the watches would display an abnormally high heart rate.
Beyond that, the update corrects an issue with the Primary Race feature, which could occasionally misreport auxiliary events. Users of Garmin Run Coach also get a long-awaited tweak—strength workouts can now be marked as completed properly. On the 255, 265, 955, and 965, the company has fixed problems tied to setting the power-saving timeout in multisport modes.
Garmin notes that several smaller bugs were addressed as well, without providing specifics. The public beta is currently rolling out to 20% of users, but those eager to try it can install it manually via the settings menu: System → Software Update → Check for Updates.
It’s encouraging to see older watch models still receiving meaningful updates, especially around essentials like the heart-rate sensor. Moves like this tend to strengthen confidence in the brand, particularly among runners and other athletes for whom accurate pulse data is critical.