Garmin is rolling out a fresh software update for its Instinct smartwatch lineup, and it’s one that many owners will want to keep an eye on. The new release, software version 13.08, delivers a mix of practical new features and targeted bug fixes across multiple Instinct models. There’s one catch: it’s currently a beta update.
Because it’s part of Garmin’s beta program, the update won’t automatically appear for everyone the way a normal stable release would. Instead, beta participants need to manually request the update. The good news is that Garmin makes this easy to do directly from the watch, so you don’t need to deal with a complicated installation process.
Software version 13.08 is being made available for several devices in the Instinct family, including the Garmin Instinct 3 and Instinct E. It also supports a range of variants such as the Instinct 3 AMOLED and Instinct 3 Solar. Not every change applies to every watch, though, and Garmin has tailored some improvements to specific models.
One model-specific fix affects the Instinct 3 Crossover, which receives a correction for a bug tied to estimated remaining battery life calculations. Meanwhile, the Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct 3 AMOLED, and Instinct 3 Crossover also gain improvements aimed at workout readiness, which can help the watch deliver more reliable guidance on how prepared you are for training.
Beyond those targeted updates, Garmin is also introducing smaller but useful feature upgrades across all Instinct 3 models. For fitness tracking, rowing workouts get a welcome enhancement: you can now save distance when using a rowing machine, which should make indoor training logs feel more complete and accurate.
Sleep and morning tools get attention as well. Garmin’s smart wake-up feature is now configurable, using a 30-minute window to wake you during lighter sleep phases for a smoother, less jarring start to the day. The morning report is also now configurable, letting users fine-tune what shows up when they wake up.
Swimmers should notice improvements too. Garmin notes several resolved issues, including problems related to calorie calculation, which can be especially frustrating when you’re trying to keep training data consistent across different workout types.
The beta also includes multiple bug fixes connected to inReach devices, including fixes involving how notifications are displayed. As with many Garmin beta releases, the overall focus appears to be improving the day-to-day experience through a mix of quality-of-life upgrades and behind-the-scenes reliability fixes.
If you own an Instinct 3 series watch and you’re part of Garmin’s beta program, version 13.08 could be worth installing now to try the new smart wake settings, improved workout readiness behavior, and updated activity tracking. If you prefer maximum stability, waiting for the final public release may be the better move, since beta updates can still contain unresolved issues.
