Garmin Fenix 6 Firmware 20.30 – update 13.01.22

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Garmin has released a new firmware, stable release version 20.30 for the Fenix 6 smartwatch devices. The update was rolled out on 13.01.22. The latest firmware update is being released in a phased manner on the eligible Fenix 6 devices. This update assumes significance on account of the calibration issues that were impacting Fenix 6 device users. Firmware 20.30 for Garmin Fenix 6 seeks to fix the calibration issue. Auto calibration and manual calibration options exist for the Garmin Fenix 6 users to arrive at the correct altitude calculations.

Update – 20.02.22 – Garmin has released a public release of the latest firmware version 20.50. This update rolls out from 14.02.22. This means that we are now approaching the end of the first week since the firmware was made available for the first time. This should be considered as the next main release after the firmware version 20.30. The details of the firmware update process for 20.30 are mentioned in this document. There is no harm in continuing with the Garmin firmware 20.30 for the Fenix 6 devices. Should you wish to update to the Fenix series firmware 20.50, we have listed the instructions in a different document that is located here.

Update – 28.01.22 – Last night, beta version 20.41 was released for the Garmin Fenix 6. You could choose to install firmware version 20.30 or 20.41, as per your needs. The firmware beta 20.41 focused on the following improvements over the firmware release 20.30 for the Garmin Fenix:

  • Updated the software update process to allow the user to defer the installation. This replaces the automatic install during the user’s sleep window.
  • Improved altitude calibration.
  • Fixed intermittent issue where device would freeze when starting a round of golf.
  • Fixed issue that would cause device shutdown when editing HIIT data fields.
  • Fixed issue where the device would create empty golf scorecards.
  • Fixed issue where the activity timer could be enabled on the Map-App. (Pro models)

If you will notice the various fixes provided, Garmin has attempted to resolve issues with altitude calibration, and other miscellaneous bugs associated with the firmware release 20.30.

The process to update the Fenix 6 firmware to 20.41 remains unchanged from the process mentioned below.

In releasing the firmware 20.30 for Fenix 6 devices, Garmin believes that it has improved the altimeter performance on Fenix 6 devices and calibration issues should be a thing of the past. We look at the Garmin Fenix 6 firmware update 20.30 in more detail.

Garmin Fenix 6 firmware update 20.30

How can I install firmware 20.30 on the Garmin Fenix 6 smartwatch?

Garmin releases the firmware updates on the eligible devices in batches or phases. If you prefer to wait for the firmware to hit your Fenix 6 device through a notification for the update, you could decide to take no further action. Let the firmware come to my device !!! There is nothing bad in following this strategy. We are one week into the new update. Garmin is working on the phased release of the firmware. If there are any issues, new or old, we would have a fair idea about the feedback on firmware 20.30 for Fenix 6 devices.

However, if you are affected by inaccurate altitude calibration, then the firmware update 20.30 for the Garmin Fenix 6 is the one you want right now. Or, if you are enthusiastic about the new firmware, please proceed with the firmware update to 20.30 on your Fenix 6 devices.

You can choose to install the firmware update 20.30 for Garmin Fenix 6 manually. Garmin has published the firmware files for each Garmin Fenix 6 device on its servers. You could download and run the update on your Fenix 6 device for the firmware to take effect.

Below are the links for downloading firmware 20.30 for Garmin Fenix 6 from the Garmin servers:

Fenix 6S and Fenix 6S Solar

The firmware weighs 14.3 MB for a Fenix 6S and Fenix 6S Solar smartwatch models. (this firmware file is not compatible with the APAC region. If you are in the APAC region, wait for the firmware update to hit your devices.)

To install the firmware manually, you will need to place the system update file, GPS update file and the Sensor hub update file on your computer’s Garmin folder.

  • unzip the firmware on your computer.
  • Copy the file GUPDATE.GCD from SystemUpdate_2030 to the Garmin folder of your device on the computer.
  • Copy the file 006B310701.GCD from the GPSUpdate_530 folder to GARMIN\REMOTESW folder of the device on your computer.
  • Copy the file GUP3294.GCD from the SensorHubUpdate_1101 folder to GARMIN\REMOTESW folder of the device on your computer.

The Garmin device’s folder on the computer is updated fully with the latest update files of the firmware 20.30 for the Fenix 6S or Fenix 6S Solar.

Force a sync between your computer and the Fenix 6S or Fenix 6S Solar to pull the update from the computer onto the device. This will complete the manual update of Fenix 6S or Fenix 6S Pro devices.

Should you wish to back out of the firmware update 20.30, you can copy the file GUPDATE.GCD from the SystemBackdate_1920 folder and put it in the \GARMIN\ folder on your computer. This should overwrite the GUPDATE.GCD file of firmware 20.30 with an older version firmware file GUPDATE.GCD.

Fenix 6S Pro and Fenix 6S Pro Solar

Fenix 6S Pro and Fenix 6S Pro Solar users can use the following links to download firmware 20.30 for the Fenix smartwatches:

This firmware update weighs 27.67 MB. (this firmware is not suitable for Fenix 6 devices in the APAC region. If you are in the APAC region, please wait for the firmware to be sent to your device.)

To install the firmware manually, you will need to place the system update file, GPS update file, and the Sensor hub update file on your computer’s Garmin folder.

  • Unzip the firmware on your computer.
  • Copy the file GUPDATE.GCD from SystemUpdate_2030 to the Garmin folder of your device on the computer.
  • Copy the file 006B310701.GCD from the GPSUpdate_530 folder to GARMIN\REMOTESW folder of the device on your computer.
  • Copy the file GUP3294.GCD from the SensorHubUpdate_1101 folder to GARMIN\REMOTESW folder of the device on your computer.

The Garmin device’s folder on the computer is updated fully with the latest update files of the firmware 20.30 for the Fenix 6S Pro or Fenix 6S Pro Solar.

Force a sync between your computer and the Fenix 6S Pro or Fenix 6S Pro Solar to pull the update from the computer onto the device. This will complete the manual update of Fenix 6S Pro or Fenix 6S Pro Solar devices.

Should you wish to back out of the firmware update 20.30 on Fenix 6S Pro or Fenix 6S Pro Solar, you can copy the file GUPDATE.GCD from the SystemBackdate_1920 folder and put it in the \GARMIN\ folder on your computer. This should overwrite the GUPDATE.GCD file of firmware 20.30 with an older version firmware file GUPDATE.GCD.

Fenix 6 and Fenix 6 Solar

Fenix 6 and Fenix 6 Solar device owners can manually download the latest firmware version 20.30 from the following links on the Garmin servers:

This firmware update file weighs 14.79 MB. (this firmware is not suitable for Fenix 6 device owners in the APAC region. If you are in the APAC region, please wait for the firmware update to reach your device.)

To install the firmware manually, you will need to place the system update file, GPS update file, and the Sensor hub update file on your computer’s Garmin folder.

  • Unzip the firmware 20.30 on your computer.
  • Copy the file GUPDATE.GCD from SystemUpdate_2030 to the Garmin folder of your device on the computer.
  • Copy the file 006B310701.GCD from the GPSUpdate_530 folder to GARMIN\REMOTESW folder of the device on your computer.
  • Copy the file GUP3295.GCD from the SensorHubUpdate_1101 folder to GARMIN\REMOTESW folder of the device on your computer.

The Garmin device’s folder on the computer is updated fully with the latest update files of the firmware 20.30 for the Fenix 6 or Fenix 6 Solar.

Force a sync between your computer and the Fenix 6 or Fenix 6 Solar to pull the update from the computer onto the device. This will complete the manual update of Fenix 6 or Fenix 6 Solar devices.

Should you wish to back out of the firmware update 20.30 on Fenix 6 or Fenix 6 Solar, you can copy the file GUPDATE.GCD from the SystemBackdate_1920 folder and put it in the \GARMIN\ folder on your computer. This should overwrite the GUPDATE.GCD file of firmware 20.30 with an older version firmware file GUPDATE.GCD.

Fenix 6 Pro and Fenix 6 Pro Solar

The firmware for Fenix 6 Pro and Fenix 6 Pro Solar weighs 27.96 MB. The firmware can be downloaded on your Fenix 6 Pro or Fenix 6 Pro Solar devices as the links below:

The firmware weighs 27.96 MB. (the files posted above are not suitable for Fenix 6 Pro or Fenix 6 Pro Solar in the APAC region. If you are in the APAC regions, please wait for the firmware 20.30 to be sent to your eligible device.)

To install the firmware manually, you will need to place the system update file, GPS update file, and the Sensor hub update file on your computer’s Garmin folder.

  • Unzip the firmware 20.30 on your computer.
  • Copy the file GUPDATE.GCD from SystemUpdate_2030 to the Garmin folder of your device on the computer.
  • Copy the file 006B310701.GCD from the GPSUpdate_530 folder to GARMIN\REMOTESW folder of the device on your computer.
  • Copy the file GUP3295.GCD from the SensorHubUpdate_1101 folder to GARMIN\REMOTESW folder of the device on your computer.

The Garmin device’s folder on the computer is updated fully with the latest update files of the firmware 20.30 for the Fenix 6 Pro or Fenix 6 Pro Solar.

Force a sync between your computer and the Fenix 6 Pro or Fenix 6 Pro Solar to pull the update from the computer onto the device. This will complete the manual update of Fenix 6 Pro or Fenix 6 Pro Solar devices.

Should you wish to back out of the firmware update 20.30 on Fenix 6 or Fenix 6 Solar, you can copy the file GUPDATE.GCD from the SystemBackdate_1920 folder and put it in the \GARMIN\ folder on your computer. This should overwrite the GUPDATE.GCD file of firmware 20.30 with an older version firmware file GUPDATE.GCD.

Fenix 6X Pro and Fenix 6X Pro Solar

Fenix 6X Pro and the Fenix 6X Pro Solar users can download the firmware 20.30 on your computer using the following download link:

Bear in mind that this update weighs 29.47 MB for a Fenix 6X Pro or Fenix 6X Pro Solar device. (the firmware files posted above are not compatible with the Fenix 6X or Fenix 6X Pro devices in the APAC region. If you are in the APAC region, please wait for the firmware to be sent to your device.)

To install the firmware manually, you will need to place the system update file, GPS update file, and the Sensor hub update file on your computer’s Garmin folder.

  • Unzip the firmware 20.30 on your computer.
  • Copy the file GUPDATE.GCD from SystemUpdate_2030 to the Garmin folder of your device on the computer.
  • Copy the file 006B310701.GCD from the GPSUpdate_530 folder to GARMIN\REMOTESW folder of the device on your computer.
  • Copy the file GUP3296.GCD from the SensorHubUpdate_1101 folder to GARMIN\REMOTESW folder of the device on your computer.

The Garmin device’s folder on the computer is updated fully with the latest update files of the firmware 20.30 for the Fenix 6 Pro or Fenix 6 Pro Solar.

Force a sync between your computer and the Fenix 6 Pro or Fenix 6 Pro Solar to pull the update from the computer onto the device. This will complete the manual update of Fenix 6 Pro or Fenix 6 Pro Solar devices.

Should you wish to back out of the firmware update 20.30 on Fenix 6 or Fenix 6 Solar, you can copy the file GUPDATE.GCD from the SystemBackdate_1920 folder and put it in the \GARMIN\ folder on your computer. This should overwrite the GUPDATE.GCD file of firmware 20.30 with an older version firmware file GUPDATE.GCD.

Fenix-6X-Solar-Pro

Manual Update Summary for firmware update 20.30 for Garmin Fenix 6 smartwatches

Firmware update 20.30 contains three update files:

  • GUPDATE.GCD to update the system of the watch.
  • 006B310701.GCD for updating the GPS stack on the watch.
  • GUP3296.GCD or GUP3295.GCD or GUP3294.GCD for updating the sensor hub of the watch.

Placing these files in the corresponding folders on the computer, and forcing a sync between the computer and the Fenix 6 smartwatch will update firmware on the Fenix 6 watch.

Firmware update using Garmin Connect app

As and when the firmware update becomes available for your device, we can use the Garmin Connect app to update the Fenix 6 device. For the Garmin Connect app to work, we need you to:

  • pair the Fenix 6 watch with a smartphone
  • install the Garmin Connect app on the paired smartphone.
  • Create a Garmin Connect app account to register yourself.

When the firmware update is available, the Garmin Connect app will download it and push it from the mobile to the Fenix 6 device. This update process is straightforward as it does not require you to perform any manual installation of the firmware.

Firmware update using the Garmin Express software

Garmin Express software can be installed on your computer. It becomes a pivot point for all software or firmware installation on the Fenix 6 devices. To update the firmware through Garmin Express, we will follow the instructions below:

  • Garmin Express software on the computer will check for periodic updates from the Garmin website.
  • When the update is made available, the Garmin Express software will download it on the computer.
  • Connect the Fenix 6 device with a USB cable to the computer.
  • Garmin Express will push the update to the Fenix 6 device.

This method of updating the firmware on a Fenix 6 watch does not require much manual intervention, except perhaps connecting the Fenix 6 watch to the computer using a USB cable.

You could choose to wait for the software to be made available for the Fenix 6 device. Use Garmin Express or Garmin Connect to get the update and push it to the Fenix 6 watch.

What bugs have been resolved in firmware update 20.30 for Garmin Fenix 6 devices?

Firmware update 20.30 for Garmin Fenix 6, primarily, resolves the altitude calibration issues on the Fenix 6 watches. Automatical altitude calibration should work fine and return the correct altitude level. If you still fail to get the right altitude, you may choose to calibrate the altitude manually.

In most cases though, you should be fine with an automatic altitude calculation on the Fenix 6 watches.

Summary

Firmware update for Fenix 6 devices has been released by Garmin on 13th January 2022. You could either update your Fenix 6 device manually or wait for the update to present itself for your Fenix 6 device. This update focuses on resolving issues with altitude calibration on the Fenix 6 smartwatches.

You may also like to read more content related to Garmin Fenix 6 smartwatches below:

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Helen Kurt - Contributor on TECHEPAGES.COM. Reach me on email.

Helen Kurt is a geeky nerd who loves to cover the wearables space. She has over 5 years of experience in the smartwatch domain. You can reach her on email at [email protected].