Garmin is rolling out a fresh Public Beta software update for several popular Forerunner smartwatches, bringing bug fixes and stability improvements to both older and mid-range models. The new release, Public Beta Version 27.05, is headed to the Forerunner 255, Forerunner 955, Forerunner 165, Forerunner 265, and Forerunner 965.
This update arrives shortly after Public Beta Version 27.03, which was limited to the Forerunner 165. With version 27.05, Garmin is expanding the beta to a wider group of devices, giving more users access to fixes ahead of the next full public release.
Garmin says the beta is being delivered through a phased rollout, meaning not everyone will see it at the same time. If you don’t see the update immediately, it could take a few days to appear on your watch. The company also notes it has already reached about a 50% rollout milestone, so many users should be able to grab it soon.
If you’re enrolled in Garmin’s Beta Program and don’t want to wait for the phased rollout, you can try forcing the update by going into the update menu and selecting “Check for Updates.” That manual check can help you receive the firmware sooner, assuming it’s available for your device group.
So what’s actually new in Public Beta 27.05? Garmin’s release notes point to one major focus: fixing crashes tied to swim activities. If you’ve experienced instability when tracking pool swims or open-water sessions, this update is intended to address those issues. Garmin also mentions additional bug fixes and a range of other improvements, though some of those changes aren’t detailed.
As for when this 27.xx beta software will become a stable update for everyone, Garmin hasn’t provided a timeline yet. For now, this release looks designed to improve reliability—especially for swim tracking—while Garmin continues testing before pushing a finalized version more broadly.
