Garmin is rolling out a fresh stable update for its popular Forerunner lineup, bringing meaningful performance tweaks and important bug fixes. Labeled Software Version 25.04, the release targets the Forerunner 165, 255, 265, 955, and 965, with a particular emphasis on improving wrist-based heart rate accuracy during workouts.
This update follows a brief beta phase after the previous stable build (24.12) that arrived at the end of July. While newer wearables like the latest Forerunner models and the Fenix series have seen frequent test builds, Garmin has now pushed a full public release for these five Forerunner devices—skipping straight to 25.04 for a faster, cleaner rollout.
You can install the update directly on your watch:
Menu > System > Software Update > Check For Updates
What’s new in Software Version 25.04
– Improves wrist-based heart rate tracking during activity, reducing instances of unusually high readings.
– Fixes an issue where Strength workouts were not being marked complete in Garmin Run Coach plans.
– Fixes the Primary Race glance occasionally showing a secondary race.
– Fixes the Power Save Timeout setting in multisport profiles. Note: this fix does not apply to the Forerunner 165.
– Various stability and performance improvements.
Why it matters
Accurate heart rate tracking directly affects training load, recovery insights, and pacing decisions, so the refinement to optical HR during workouts is a welcome upgrade for runners and multi-sport athletes. The reliability fixes—especially for Strength workout completion and race glance behavior—help ensure training plans and race prep features function as intended.
Pro tip for a smooth update
Charge your watch and check for the update before your next workout so the new heart rate improvements and bug fixes are ready to go when you are.
If you own one of the supported Forerunner models, head into your watch settings and grab Software Version 25.04 today to benefit from more accurate tracking and a more dependable training experience.
