Garmin Instinct Smartwatches Receive Critical Update to Fix Workout Crashes

Garmin has begun rolling out the new version of System Software 13.29 for some smartwatches in the Garmin Instinct series. The update is already available for the Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct 3 AMOLED, Instinct E, and Instinct Crossover models.

What is known

The new stable version was released about a week after the previous 13.27 and 13.28 updates, which addressed issues with the Goal Alert and Gear Tracking features. The main goal of version 13.29 is to fix a bug related to workouts that could cause some watches to crash or restart unexpectedly.

In particular, the bug occurred when using the Interval Workouts mode—interval training popular among users who run and engage in other cardio workouts. Due to this bug, the device could freeze or restart during activity in some cases.

It is not yet known whether version 13.29 will be the final update in the 13.xx branch. The first stable release of this series of software appeared in mid-February 2026 and brought several new features for Instinct watches. Among them were the new Treadmill Walk activity mode, support for tools for truck drivers, and additional customization options for the Morning Report feature.

According to Garmin representatives on the company's official forum, the System Software 13.29 update is now available for all users of compatible models. It can be installed via the Garmin Connect app or using the Garmin Express program on a computer.

Source: Garmin