Updates & Downloads

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Forerunner 245M software version 8.09 Beta

as of October 21, 2021

Download (9.84 MB)

View installation instructions

Notes:

• For any issues that you encounter please fill out the form included in the download and attach it to an email to [email protected]. Please note that you may not get a response to the email unless we need more information on the issue you report.
• Although this software is believed to be reliable, it has not yet been released for production and should be used at your own risk.

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Change History

Changes made from version 8.02 to 8.09:

• Improvements to the resting heart rate algorithm.
• Minor SpO2 updates to improve messaging.
• Populate stress with a chest strap if available in Breathwork and Yoga.
• Fix an issue that could cause interference with Firstbeat driven metrics like Body Battery, VO2 Max, and Intensity Minutes.
• Fix an issue that could cause a crash when accessing the daily suggested workout from the calendar.
• Fix some issues found in the previous beta, including a PacePro download issue.
• Other minor bug fixes and improvements.

Changes made from version 7.80 to 8.02:

• Updates to Daily Suggested Workouts. Includes some updated descriptions and a more gradual base run buildup.
• Add a setting to enable/disable workout audio prompts. In the menu see Audio Prompts > Workout Alerts.
• Allow the lap key to advance workouts to the next step regardless of the lap key setting.
• Other minor bug fixes and improvements.

Changes made from version 7.20 to 7.75:

• Improve GPS ephemeris downloads.
• Other minor improvements and bug fixes.

Changes made from version 6.20 to 6.85:

• Added Daily Suggested Workouts (limited) for Run activities. Go to Training > Workouts > Today's Suggestion for options.
• Added the ability to rate the perceived effort and feel of a Run, Bike, or Swim activity. The prompts appear during activity save. Go to [Activity] Settings > Self Evaluation for options.
• Added VO2 Max for Trail Run activities.
• Improved results for daily Body Battery calculations.
• Updated Intensity Minutes determinations to align with guidance from CDC.
• Improved feedback on stress level readings.
• Improvements to swimming activities.
• Fixed some metronome interference with wrist-based cadence.
• Other minor improvements and bug fixes.

Changes made from version 5.50 to 6.04:

• Improve the software update process for external accessories. Installation prompts will now appear after an activity to avoid interrupting activity start.
• Improvements to heart rate broadcast.
• Add more smartphone app logos for smart notifications.
• Block music controls and disconnect headphones in airplane mode.
• Fix dropout issues on Jaybird Vista headphones.
• Fix a rare issue that could cause heart rate data to appear flat in Garmin Connect.
• Fix an issue that could prevent LiveTrack from starting when Auto Start is enabled.
• Fix an issue with workout alerts when the background color is set to black.
• Fix an issue sometimes causing distance remaining to not display the hundredths digit.
• Other minor improvements and bug fixes.

Changes made from version 5.30 to 5.32:

• Fixed an issue that caused CIQ watch faces to display 0 calories.
• Added improvements to prevent dropped phone connection.
• Other minor improvements and bug fixes.

Changes made from version 5.09 to 5.15:

• Fix some ANT sensor connection issues.
• Fix some bugs in Pool Swimming activities.
• Various other improvements and bug fixes.

Changes made from version 5.00 to 5.09:

• Added support for the Track Run activity, which allows you to record outdoor track data, including lap splits and distance in meters, on a standard shape 400m track.
• Added support for Improved Recovery Time, which takes your stress, sleep, relaxation, and physical activity into consideration.
• Improved optical heart rate performance.
• Added a Save Location option to the Navigation menu.
• Updated the look of the Alarm screen.
• Updated the main workout data screen to indicate High, Low, or In Range for the current target.
• Various other improvements and bug fixes.

Changes made from version 4.40 to 4.87:

• Added support for displaying courses to viewers of the user's LiveTrack sessions. Various other LiveTrack improvements
• Added in-place editing of data fields
• Added additional options to Live Event Sharing. Trigger added for Every Mile.
• Numerous improvements to music experience, usability, and WiFi
• Improved Incoming Call handling
• Fixed problem with device spinning/freezing on activity save due to unintentional file build-up. Note: device will need to sync to Garmin Connect after software update to resolve this issue.
• Updated numerous widgets to improve usability and look
• Fixed inability of device to record longest swim PR
• Moved Recovery HR to option on save/discard screen
• Updated post-activity summary pages
• Improvements/fixes for on-device weather. Fix instances of missing data.
• Fixed HRV stress page layout
• Fixed a few issues with Virtual Running and workouts
• Various other improvements and bug fixes

Changes made from version 4.40 to 4.41:

• Updates to improve phone connection reliability

Changes made from version 4.20 to 4.29:

• Improvements to GPS
• Improvements to music playback/sync/providers
• Fixed training modes (workouts, intervals, set a target, etc.) in Virtual Running to allow connection to phone app
• Improved filtering of activities for Race an Activity
• Several improvements to Breathwork
• Several Wi-Fi related improvements
• Various other fixes and improvements

Changes made from version 4.00 to 4.06:

• Add new Virtual Run activity profile. This enables broadcast of speed and heart rate information to virtual running applications such as Zwift.
• Add Widget Glances, a new way to view widget information. The option to enable is found in the Widgets menu.
• Add Low Heart Rate to the Abnormal Heart Rate Alert feature.
• Various improvements for battery performance.
• Fix an issue that was causing loss of treadmill calibration data. For best results, perform an outdoor run before your first treadmill activity.
• Miscellaneous bug fixes and improvements.

Changes made from version 3.70 to 3.77:

• Add Garmin Swim 2 Features: advanced swim workouts, auto rest
• Added all-day respiration, respiration widget, and breathwork activity
• Improved treadmill calibration
• Added Pilates
• Improvements to audio playback, audio apps
• Various fixes and improvements

Changes made from version 3.46 to 3.52:

• Fix for Wi-Fi 0200 error when syncing Spotify
• Improvements to sensor connection
• Improvements to phone connectivity
• Fix backlight gesture bug introduced in 3.46 beta
• Various other bug fixes and improvements

Changes made from version 3.10 to 3.46:

• Bluetooth software update to address battery life issues that could occur on some devices
• Add PacePro feature
• Improve ANT+ and BLE sensor management
• Improvements to headphone pairing and media player
• Improvements/fixes for Connect IQ
• Various other fixes and improvements

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Installation Instructions

1. Connect your Forerunner 245 Music to your computer using the USB cable.
2. Download and unzip Forerunner245M_809Beta.zip. Place the GUPDATE.GCD file in the \Garmin folder of your device's internal storage drive. From the RemoteSW folder, copy the GUP3079.GCD file to the device's \Garmin\RemoteSW folder.
3. Disconnect your device from the computer, approve the update on the watch, and wait for the update to finish.
4. If you would like to revert to the last public release software, place the GUPDATE-780.GCD file in the \Garmin folder and rename GUPDATE-780.GCD to GUPDATE.GCD. Copy the GUP3079-700.GCD file from RemoteSW\Downgrades, place it in the device's \Garmin\RemoteSW folder and rename it to GUP3079.GCD. Disconnect the device to install. NOTE: If you revert to an older version of software, all of your settings will be reset to defaults.

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