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In the event you’ve been round this website lengthy sufficient, that considered one of my life-goals is to scale back the amount of sure forms of messages that find yourself in my inbox. Not merely the notices that I’m apparently inheritor to Nigerian Royalty, but in addition these messages from readers such as you implying you’re in some kind of state of confusion and frustration. Neither situation is nice.
And at the moment, the most typical more-than-daily messages I’m receiving each right here on the location and YouTube is “Why is my Fenix 7 lacking all of the options you talked about?”. Notably the power to configure information fields out of your cellphone, stamina, and different extra superior features. These options are outright lacking for those who have simply turned on their look ahead to the primary time.
And the reason being easy: Your new watch is definitely kinda previous. And with it, it’s obtained previous firmware on it. Actually previous firmware. Like…firmware from final yr on it (critically).
Take for instance this Fenix 7 base unit I purchased per week or so in the past. The firmware that arrived on it was model 6.55. Roughly talking, that places it within the November timeframe. Which, is satirically the identical timeframe that Garmin was already producing Fenix 7 models on the meeting line.
Some persons are additionally getting models with a fair older firmware of 5.35. So what’s the issue right here?
The precise present manufacturing firmware for the Fenix 7/Epix sequence is 7.24 (as of at the moment).
When the Fenix 7/Epix launched/introduced again on January 18th, the manufacturing model was 7.20. The distinction between 6.55 and seven.24 can’t be overstated. There’s a huge ocean of adjustments there. Like watching considered one of these photo-a-day for 20 years on YouTube movies. And that even units apart the principle watch firmware doesn’t embrace up to date variations of the wi-fi (e.g. ANT/BLE) and optical HR sensor firmware variations, nor any GPS chipset bits both.
Now, usually what occurs is that after you pair it as much as your cellphone by way of Bluetooth, Garmin will obtain the newest firmware model behind the scenes utilizing Bluetooth. However the issue is this can slowly trickle over. As soon as it’s copied to your watch, it’ll discover a time while you’re not doing a lot (sitting round quietly at a desk or such), after which supply to put in the firmware. It’ll now not try to set up at 2AM – extra on why right here. Level being, this complete ready round interval can take upwards of a day for most individuals.
The Faster Approach:
Now, whereas your watch will slowly obtain that replace behind the scenes, absolutely the quickest strategy to get it completed is to make use of WiFi to drive a sync, after which manually select to put in it. Besides, that doesn’t work. Not but in any case. See, even when you arrange your cellphone and configure WiFi, it gained’t seemingly sync to Garmin’s servers by way of WiFi till you’re on a later model of software program. I attempted, it simply provides a connection error (see that within the video).
As a substitute, in order for you instant-gratification, you’re gonna have to put in Garmin Specific in your desktop laptop (Home windows or Mac), which is the quickest strategy to replace issues. However hey, on the brilliant aspect it’s additionally the quickest strategy to replace the maps (for the reason that watch’s personal WiFi is way slower). As soon as put in, simply join your watch to the pc and it’ll present up.
Then, go forward and add it to your Garmin Join account (since by now, you’ve most likely already created that with the cellphone). As soon as that’s completed, it’ll ask to arrange any WiFi networks, after which lastly, it’ll go off and get all of the updates:
From there, unplug it, and also you’ll be instantly provided the power to put in the newest replace:
Roughly 5 minutes later, and also you’re completed!
Regular WiFi Replace:
Now, exterior of the primary replace to 7.24, you may usually force-update your watch utilizing WiFi and this two-step-tango course of. Right here’s how:
1) Maintain the center left button to get to Settings > Connectivity
2) Select Wi-Fi
3) Then choose Wi-Fi Sync
4) In the event you haven’t already added a Wi-Fi community, it’ll immediate you to take action
5) Let it sync
Now, the WiFi sync course of could take a couple of minutes to complete. You possibly can exit out of it when you’d like, or simply wait. As soon as completed, it’ll say it’s full. Then, return to the Software program Replace menu:
1) Maintain the center left button to get to Settings > System
2) Choose ‘Software program Replace’
3) Select “Set up Now”, and also you’ll see the software program replace prepared to put in
If not, there’s no newer model. You possibly can normally discover the present model obtainable listed on the prime of the Garmin Boards. As of this writing (March seventh), it’s 7.24.
However why?
So the following query is why does this firmware model hole occur? Properly, within the age of product bulletins being timed to on the spot retail availability, that requires firms stockpile merchandise forward of time. Which in flip means firms manufacture mentioned models forward of time. Usually for large firms like Garmin, we’re speaking months forward of time for marquee launches. Others like Apple and GoPro are the identical – beginning manufacturing simply 1-3 months earlier than the product is introduced.
In fact, software program improvement continues to march ahead on the watch firmware. Bugs are squished, and options are refined, generally even options taken out (as was the case for one more watch just lately). Nevertheless, additionally notable is that in an app-connected world, the app itself marches ahead as nicely. So on this case, the brand new cellphone configuration function in your information fields/pages did work lengthy earlier than product launch, however it was depending on having a selected Garmin Join Cellular model from that very same time interval – like having two matching puzzle items. Thus, the newest Garmin Join Cellular isn’t appropriate with the November watch firmware for that particular function (however is appropriate for numerous different options).
The issue right here is that not like GoPro and Apple, which drive you to replace the firmware upon setting it up, Garmin doesn’t. And whereas it’s good that they don’t drive you, additionally they don’t even trace or counsel you replace the firmware. Which is what will get everybody all confused. No person is conscious that they’re lacking 4+ months of software program updates and options. That is the place Garmin might do higher with the app-side first (while you’re pairing up your watch to your cellphone normally). Right here they may be aware to the consumer the firmware must be up to date (as GoPro, Apple, Samsung, and others do).
After which secondarily, Garmin ought to make it *simple* to replace the watch firmware model on the watch itself, on-demand. Proper now, the replace happens on Garmin-time. Which is like island time, however with out the coconuts and fruity-umbrella drinks. Certain, on a Fenix/Epix watch you are able to do the WiFi verify in a single menu, after which go to a unique settings menu to put in it, however most individuals wouldn’t know to try this two-step tango.
Ideally, there can be an alternative choice throughout the current Software program Updates menu: Verify for Updates. As a result of as outlined above, doing a WiFi sync successfully does the identical factor, however then nonetheless requires a guide set up after the actual fact. Oh, and since we’re asking for issues, if I could, this is able to be on each Garmin machine going ahead. A fast and easy instant-gratification verify from the menu that the whole lot is updated. Simple-peasy.
With that – thanks for studying!
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Oh, and when you’ve simply picked up a Fenix 7 or Epix models, then first get your models up to date, and as soon as that’s completed, you may take a look at both of my two newbie guides. These are each long-form guides that stroll you thru utilizing the watches step-by-step, together with particulars of how the brand new options work.
Or in fact, both of my in-depth written evaluations, the Fenix 7 one right here, and the Epix one right here.
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