Charge 5 Black screen after swimming

[Eef28]

Today I went into the pool with my Fitbit Charge 5 for the first time. Just to be safe, I put it on the water lock. Unfortunately, now the screen remains black.

Through Fitbit help, I found options to reset: 1.Connect your device to the charging cable. 2.Press the button on the flat end of the charger 3 times at 1-second intervals. Then wait 10 seconds or until the Fitbit logo appears.

You can also restart your device in another way. Disconnect the device from the charging cable, wait 1 second and plug it back in. Repeat this process 3 times at 8 second intervals and wait 10 seconds for the device to reboot.

I tried all of this, but the smartwatch is not responding. I do feel it vibrate and the light on the back is also flashing, so it looks like the screen is no longer working.

I received this watch from Fitbit in May 2023, as replacement, after my Charge 4 broke (wristband came off)

So now this watch has also broken after only more than a year. Online I read more people have seen their Charge 5 broken after contact with water.

My previous post about this damage was closed, so hopefully this time I will get help from Fitbit! I would like to hear how this will be solved.

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[xRonfy]

How strange, this exact same thing has happened to me today, I found this post looking for answers. Have tried the same things and nothing.

[RiekoC]

Hello @Eef28 & @xRonfy 

A user posted recently that they "rinsed" their Charge 5 with isopropyl alcohol and was able to get their device working again. I asked the user to share more details about how they "rinsed" with isopropyl alcohol and am waiting for them to reply. Here's the thread (<-- click link), in case you want to bookmark/follow it.

Although there's no guarantee that this method will work for you, it might be worth a try once the details are provided.

[tashley235]

I had a similar experience after swimming in the ocean in September. Luckily (?) my Charge was less than a year old and Google did a warranty replacement as all the troubleshooting efforts didn't remedy the issue. 

[Eef28]

I got in touch with Fitbit via Facebook Messenger. They asked me to do some tests and after that confirmed that it was broke. They offered me a discount on a new Fitbit smartwatch.

However, this watch is not even 1,5 years old. In my opinion this should still be warranty (2 years on fabric failure). Fitbit states that this is not the case as this Charge 5 is a replacement for my previous Fitbit Charge 4 that was broke 1,5 years ago.

Fitbit said: “The warranty period of your replacement device still follows the starting date of the originally purchased device which is the Fitbit Charge 4” 

I don’t believe this!!

A new device should get 2 years warranty, even if this new device is a replacement.