Garmin is rolling out a fresh beta software update for two of its newer mid-range running watches, the Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970. The release, called Beta Version 17.16, is packed with improvements—more than two dozen changes overall—plus a handful of extra upgrades specifically for the Forerunner 970. It’s the next step after the earlier Software Version 16.37 update that arrived toward the end of March.
There’s one important catch: this is a pre-rollout beta update, which means it won’t automatically appear on your watch unless you actively request it. To install Beta Version 17.16, you’ll need to manually check for updates on the watch by going to Main Menu, then Settings, System, Software Update, and selecting Check for Updates. Your device also needs to be enrolled in Garmin’s Beta Program before the download will show up.
So what’s new? Garmin says Beta Version 17.16 delivers 28 changes for the Forerunner 570, with 21 of those focused on bug fixes. The Forerunner 970 gets five additional improvements on top of the shared changes.
One of the biggest quality-of-life additions is a new silent mode. You can quickly access it either through the control loop or by using a button shortcut, making it much easier to mute distractions during meetings, sleep, or workouts. Garmin is also expanding voice functionality: after this update, Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970 owners can open the Battery Manager app using a voice command, which is a handy upgrade for anyone trying to manage battery life on the go.
The update also brings several usability tweaks and a long list of stability fixes. You can now access the keyboard layout menu by swiping up from the bottom of the page, and Garmin has adjusted the phone shortcut so it opens the phone app instead of taking you to the phone settings menu. Goal animations will also stay on screen longer, and the fish forecast app’s outer ring has been updated to better match your chosen time format settings. Translation updates are included as well.
On the bug-fix side, Beta Version 17.16 targets a wide range of annoyances people run into during everyday use and training. Garmin addresses issues that could cause the watch to reset in certain situations, including while using WhatsApp on an iPhone or when deleting a workout. There are fixes for battery drain that could happen after using the phone assistant or accepting a call on the watch, plus corrections for call behavior where ending a call on the watch might not properly end the call on the connected phone.
Athletes will also appreciate improvements aimed at workout reliability. Garmin fixed a problem where pool swim workouts could move through active steps without user interaction, adjusted issues involving auto lap alerts appearing during a golf activity, and resolved rest timer countdown tones sounding out of rhythm during strength workouts. Strength training syncing gets attention too, with a fix for syncing strength personal records with Garmin Connect.
The update also improves how the watches handle data and file management. Garmin fixed situations where uploading an activity file could fail, where devices with many saved activity files might seem unresponsive, and where the watch might fail to mount as a mass storage device after connecting to an inReach device.
Other fixes in the beta include missing special characters on some keyboards, sports scores showing up blank when adding a team with no upcoming games, and a gear tracking progress bar that didn’t include the activity you just completed. There’s also a fix for the nap alarm not stopping when exiting the page by palming, along with watch face sunrise and sunset data fields not updating as expected. Garmin also notes a batch of additional minor bug fixes for overall polish.
For navigation and mapping fans, the update adds a navigation option to return to your last Man Overboard point, introduces QR codes within Outdoor Maps+ layer descriptions to help you learn more about the available layers, and fixes issues that could interrupt navigation—such as navigation ending when GPS signal is lost or when you deviate from the course. There’s also a fix for Outdoor Maps+ downloads not resuming properly after being interrupted.
Because this is a beta release, you may still run into occasional quirks, but the changelog makes it clear Garmin is focusing heavily on stability, battery behavior, training accuracy, and everyday usability. If you rely on your Forerunner 570 or Forerunner 970 for workouts and want early access to the latest improvements, Beta Version 17.16 offers a substantial list of updates worth considering.
