Blaze charging and initial firmware update taking forever

[Arkansmith]

Just got my Blaze.  Couldn't figure out how to get it connected to the charger because of the lack of documentation.  I'm not sure I'm digging the requirement to remove the face from the band every time I need to charge it.

I did manage to add it to the fitbit app on my phone and immediately I'm waiting over 30 minutes for a "10 minute" firmware update.  It's 25% done now, so I have that going for me.

Anyone else verify that their update took so long?  Just wanting to ensure whether or not the problem might be with my phone.

Thanks!

[SilviaFitbit]

Hey Everyone! Thanks for sharing your experience. Currently, it's taking some time to set up your tracker and update the firmware the first time. In case it's stuck or the firmware is taking too much time. I would like you to reboot your app and your tracker, after this try again. 

Hope this helps. 

[MrBobio]

Spoiler

yes, same here.  just got it, unboxed it, and tried charging.  not taking a charge ... is it already charged?  According to what I found on youtube, I should see a battery indicator with current charge level.  Tried 4 different charging sources, 3 wall chargers with usb port and laptop.  I get the chime when connecting to laptop, still no indicator.  Presuming at this point it is ok to try to proceed through setup.  negative!  On my mobile, I got to the screen to add four digits and now it just sets at the 'fresh from the oven' screen (no progress  meter showing either)  It would be nice if there were some documentation included. #frustrated

[Kotli]

I suppose best way forward is for FitBit post instructions prior to all future updates;

How long it takes

What to expect

What to in the event of problems eg; taking a long time to complete update.

Issue advice on best way to update devices, via app or desktop computer. Save everyone having a painful learning curve.

We are purported to be ambassadors for this brand, our negative experiences with something simple as updates will reverberate, when we get asked about these devices.

[llllw]

I gave up and took it back just wouldn't work and shouldn't be that hard. 


Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 on the Telstra Mobile network

[llllw]

Yes we tried everything never even got to the point of having a charge indication.  Took it back thought the first one was faulty,  second was the same so if went back too. Very disappointed would have loved it to work. 


Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 on the Telstra Mobile network

[olestokie]

Just bought a Blaze to replace a charge that fell apart after 6 months.

Have to say VERY dissapointed, only documentation says connect to fitbit/setup. Nothing there to link to information on the Blaze, No instruction manual, how the hell to fit the **ahem** thing to the lead - Come on. Its OK to ship without documentation but provide a dropdown that links to information not just how to load the app !

[SilviaFitbit]

@MrBobio @Kotli @llllw @olestokie It's great to see you around! Thank you so much for the feedback. Fitbit is always working to improve its trackers and website. Whenever you receive your Fitbit tracker you'll get a piece of paper letting you know that you should visit https://www.fitbit.com/setup and download Fitbit Connect or the app in your mobile device. 

Additionally, here's the Product Manual in case you want to learn more about your Blaze. 

You can always post any idea you may have in our Ideas Board because those suggestions are viewed by our engineers and developers and the best of this is that people can vote for them. 

Thank you for your understanding . 

[onholdguy]

Boy,

This sure is nice.

Where was this when I got mine sent to me and all the other people that got
thiers and had no idea about the product?

Moderator edit: Removed personal information 

[llllw]

Hi I did all that twice and it still didn't work.  Took both units I tried back.  I have since seen comments where it took up to 10 hours or more to get working.  Too much trouble.  I have had fitbits foryears , several types but this last effort has turned me off. It  was difficult and we tried several devices and apps across different platforms.  A huge shame as the others used to sync and setup so smoothly.  Now looking for a better option. 


Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 on the Telstra Mobile network

[MrBobio]

Yup. Same boat here and, from what I gather on this forum, that boat is getting crowded.  Far too many other options out there to have to put up with this.  


Sent on the new Sprint Network from my Samsung Galaxy S®4

[olestokie]

Thanks for the reply, please follow this and follow any instructions you
can find to connect the Blaze to a computer, Use NO pervious knowledge !
Would love to hear how you get on finding out how to strip down the unit to
fit it to the charger.

[TNGURL]

My first update for my blaze was taking an hour. I finally started it again and now I'm 7 minutes into the second attempt... the line on the blaze started to appear much quicker this time. Power saver on my Samsung S7 is off, bluetooth and internet connection all good. I'm starting to think it's a software bug with Fitbit. Ten minutes and it's not even half way across the screen of the blaze. Getting frustrated!!! GRRRRR!!

[MrBobio]

I sent mine back yesterday. Hands down, the biggest guffaw Fitbit has done was release this to the general public like they did. IE: no documentation, what to expect, a number to call if issues encountered etc. If the customer base was so hot for it, they should have released it on the condition that it was still not yet ready for general public use. Anyone purchasing at that time would need to sign a release to that effect, then should have been automatically made members of a “Fitbit beta” group where they could share their experiences, both with others like themselves AND Fitbit developers. This would also create a kinship with the testing customers, a subtle way of making them a close member of the Fitbit family.

Once everything was ironed out, working as expected and worthy of a general release THEN release it and this whole business could have been avoided. Let’s see how Fitbit handles this boondoggle. (I kept my charge hr paired while I tested the blaze-after finally getting it setup and paired, which required popping my battery from my mobile, and the 2 devices were not even close in tracking stats…plus the “touch” feature of the blaze face was almost nonexistent-definitely a big problem there.

My wife bought a Garmin fitness tracker. It’s fully waterproof (she wanted that so she could wear it duri9ng her water aerobics class), it actually displays the body of txt messages, not just a notice you have a text, and this Garmin tracker does all her charge hr did plus it seamlessly and intuitively permits her nutrition program data input to the Garmin app on her cell. I think I might be abandoning the Fitbit ship.

BP

[Peon25]

Just a side-note, my Blaze shows my full text messages just fine. You must have set yours up wrong, or have an older phone that is not fully Bluetooth compatible with today's technology.

Not having instructions is counter-acted by any access to "teh interwebs".

I find the step-tracking sufficient, and gained knowledge when I looked up how it keeps track of stairs climbed.

The real crime was the "5 minute" setup which lasts around 2 hours.

[Kotli]

Was prompted to update to the latest version, wary of previous experiance I restarted phone and watch before proceedding. The update took a bum numbing 90 mins to complete, was not remotley impressed. That aside why was the the flagship product not updated before being shipped to customers who pre-ordered the watch like myself? I find it patronising to be told to read enclosed pamphlets or instructions to setup the device, my point was surely there must a more proactive faster way to update the device, not highlighted by Fitbit. Blaze works fine but it is the update process that is killing it. I might need to source a dongle to see if fitbit claim of faster update are true, but in the mean time i shan't hold back when asked about the device from friend and colleagues.

[kenjimeadu]

An hour into my ten minute update, the progress bar had not reached 50%, so I googled for assitance and foun dthis thread. I followed your recommended instructions throughout this post and rebooted the systems. Twice. Finally finished an additional two hours.

Could you maybe pass along the idea of updating the software to reflect something other than an estimated ten minutes? I would have had a different evening alltogtether if I had walked away to let it complete on it's own. Maybe a progress bar with a more realistic timer, or even removing time completely.

[MrBobio]

Well, myself, I am done with fitbit.  Support is less than knowledgeable, they just follow a script instead of recommending steps for your individual circumstance. Obviously not familiar with the product and have no motivation for positive experience.  When the customer has to reach out to other customers who are also frustrated for any sincere help? Not a business model I care to do business with any longer.  


Sent on the new Sprint Network from my Samsung Galaxy S®4

[NightOrchid45]

I get my 2nd Blaze tomorrow (Blue Strap)... The only way I could set my 1st Blaze up was to bluetooth it to my G4, because out of the Box and into the charge cradle... it just says "Fitbit.com/Setup" on the Blaze screen, no charging metre or update progress..

So am I right in thinking that, I install the app (win 10), login to my account, Setup new device, then it should flash the update and start charging.. is that right?, because if this way doesnt work... lets hope theres some power in the battery to hold it long enough for the 1 hr update over the G4.

I used to own a Surge, which was set up in 10 minutes because it came with a Bluetooth Dongle... which considering how many devices they make and sell, probably cost fitbit about 2p a dongle, so.. if so many customers are having issues, why dont FitBit give their customers who apply online a FREE dongle, to setup, sync and flash the Blaze and only use the cradle to charge...

On a side note:

It wouldnt surprise me if the issue wasnt in the Software... 64biit vs 32bit windows... the Blaze setup and charge probably only requires 32bit windows and 64 bit upsets it...

[domsupaboss]

Yeah mine took about 45 mins

[LcMarie]

So... my new Blaze died in the middle of the update so, the update failed. (hurray...) and after figuring out how to get it in the charger, the battery icon wont come up. just says fitbit.com/setup.... this is troublesome since I now have no idea if its charging or not..... 

has anyone else run into this, and did it still end up charging while stuck in setup mode?