Charge 5 Firmware Update 194.61

[LizzyFitbit]

7/13 Update: We’re continuing to roll out this firmware for the Charge 5 Firmware Update 194.61, and expect more customers are able to update their devices. This is a progressive rollout and all customers can expect to have it within a few weeks. We release updates in phases so that we can monitor performance closely and make adjustments if needed. If you don't see the option to update, don't worry - you'll have it soon!

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We’re excited to announce that a firmware update version 194.61 for Charge 5 will be available soon! Some of you might already have this update available. If you installed it, let us know what you think!

We release updates to customers in phases. If you don’t see it, check the Fitbit app in a few days, and you’ll see a message when you can install the update. We appreciate your patience while we get this update to all of our customers.

*Firmware releases are not distributed based on region or location and can reach anyone no matter where you reside. We do not recommend performing a factory reset to force the update to your device as your data will be lost and you may not get the update. Please be patient and wait until you see the update banner inside of the Fitbit app to begin the firmware download.

WHAT’S NEW AND FIXED

• All exercise modes are now available in the Exercise app, and your most recently used modes appear at the top. For more information, see How do I track my workouts with my Fitbit device?
• Find new clock faces in the Fitbit Gallery in the Fitbit app. For more information, see How do I change the clock face on my Fitbit device?
• View your daily readiness score on your tracker (Premium feature only). For more information, see What’s my daily readiness score in the Fitbit app?
• Support for global characters and right-to-left text notifications:
  Arabic
  Hebrew
  Thai
  Hindi
  Vietnamese
• This release includes bug fixes and improvements.

Full release notes can be found here. For more details, please see this Community Blog post.

HOW DO I UPDATE?
See How do I update my Fitbit device? for step by step instructions for updating your Charge 5. If you run into difficulty updating, review these Why can't I update my Fitbit device?

We’re interested in hearing your feedback on this update! Let us know what you like! If you encounter unexpected behavior during or after your update, please post the details below.

[Toast.tfit]

Received a fitbit app update last week - Android 

Charge is on 188.58

Since my battery has gone from lasting a week to about half a day

Heart rate and sleep tracking has stopped working completely 

Nothing has changed or happened except the update 

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Second time in a year and a half my charge 5 has become unusable after an update...pretty bad service record. Nice little device but considering alternatives.

Internal processes and testing must be in a terrible state at the company!

[sink45ny]

My charge5 has two options(that I'm aware of) that run the battery down.
Screen wake automatic - this wakes the display up when I turn my wrist as if to view the display. As opposed to double tapping the display to wake it.

GPS Built in - This option warns you that the battery will be impacted.

I am just throwing these out there in case they could help anyone.

[tazzyjazzy]

I am not using these options but still battery not lasting more than a couple of hours, screen issues, no or intermittent heart rate & sleep tracking.

I now have a useless device after update came across my device

and they had the nerve to ask me how I rate the support for my issue - what support? Telling me to buy a new device with their 35% off discount code? 
nope I don’t think so

[GMU7801]

Make noise, everyone is listening. Internet is all over this issue and hopefully Fitbit/Google will do something about their system failure!

[B_Robert31]

Your update crashed my CHARGE with the firmware. TERRIBLE CLIENT SUPPORT! 

[GMU7801]

Who would take a 35% discount on a new failed/defective product. That is still $100 after the discount. Seems silly/stupid to me. Even if they offered a 70% discount, I wouldn’t take it for a known and unresolved product failure.  Get real Fitbit!

[kerrieBBOZ]

@sink45ny I think the problem goes well beyond normal high battery usage factors. There seems to be some kind of battery death spiral due to the device going into some kind of loop (from differing processes) due to loss of correct connection/synching to the app which have started since recent phone app updates related to the new firmware rollout. And once the battery or screen dies it is difficult to either connect at all or to see any PIN sent to the device that is required to pair with the app.

My problems started with a sudden loss of ability to switch to using gps through the phone app in dynamic mode when the onboard gps can't connect (but it has also stopped connecting using the onboard gps at all, even though I'm walking routes that have been previously tracking on the device fine for the last 18 months).

But I've turned off all further app updates and if I get a choice I will be declining the firmware update, because currently it still mostly works since I switched my device to the setting that only uses gps through the phone.

I am hopeful that the current problems will eventually receive a fix and that the fix will be successful retrospectively to the Charge 5 (ie that won't only apply to the next model Charge 6) and I'm holding off on all updates that I get a say in, until I can confirm that is the case from actual users.

[llerm]

After trying everything, full reset where the charge5 was in theory reset to factory, the battery remained lasting just a few hours, even less than 6h. Now I had a replacement from fitbit but didn't turn it on yet. How do you disable all the updates to avoid the issue on the new one? My mobile is Samsung s21. Thanks

The reported issue by thousand of users is not fixed by turning off all the battery consuming features. It is a technical and unfortunately not reversable issue where the new software version consumes all the battery in a few hours. Fitbit is sending a replacement to all the impacted users, but they have not publiced an official update about the resolution status of the case.

[tazzyjazzy]

They aren’t sending me one

[Springy.BitFit]

Try again @tazzyjazzy as I reported to them yesterday and my device is 9 months old (it's my second replacement) and I am out of warranty as I got mine original in Feb 2022 and they offer me a replacement without question.

The problem is if they don't fix this update it just going to happen again with the next device. I hoped that not updating the app on the phone would stop it auto updating but it didn't... Anyway I guess my 3rd replacement will just brick again when it tries to update....

[tazzyjazzy]

Ok I will call again and see
I’m also only 5 months in on this replacement (#3) and original charge 5 is from March 2022
Like you say won’t want any update to ruin it so will need to figure out how to stop it

[Duffgirl]

I got my replacement in the chat if that’s any help.
And I’ve not had the update yet, yet the battery won’t last. Something seriously odd going on at Fitbit

Sent from my iPhone 13

[Wingerr]

I don't believe there's anyone from Fitbit with technical expertise monitoring this forum, it's strictly user banter here,  clamped down. 

There's never been any post with anything indicating the root cause of the issues.

[Hudalimardan]

Has it been resolved with the new update?

[Wingerr]

If these failures are in fact unintentional, the developers should be the guinea pigs and verify the hardware and firmware work properly to some extent before releasing the beast onto the customers.

Customer beta testing is not a good way to go about it-

[DavideFitbit]

Hi everyone, please know that all your feedback is greatly appreciated and for the moment the team continues to monitor the situation with the release of the latest firmware version. I'm sorry to see that many of you are still having problems with the device. 

It seems most of you have already tried all basic steps shared in the forums or you have already contacted the Customer Support team. If you do have a case created with Support, I do recommend that you continue the communication with them so they can let you know about the options available for you. To get in touch with them via chat or phone for a more immediate assistance, you can click here. 

If you're new to this thread and haven't tried any other steps, make sure to exhaust all basic troubleshooting options available before contacting customer service. If the screen is unresponsive, complete a three pulse restart using the charging cable, try changing to a different clock face option and follow the recommendations here in case it's an issue related to the battery. 

If the battery is draining too fast, you can find the general recommendations to extend battery life here as well. 

[JSK56]

Thank you for acknowledging the fact this update is bricking devices. The question the many 1000's of loyal Fitbit users want to know is will there be a release to fix the issues or guaranteed replacement as the problem was not user created? 

[saltywetman]

I'll let the users who are still under warranty to be the guinea pigs for this update as I'm a couple months out of warranty and have 0 interest in rebuying another charge 5 at a modest update if it gets bricked.

TBH the way the Fitbit team has handled this firmware fiasco over the past month and a half has shattered any trust and confidence your userbase had with your company. Had Fitbit accepted responsibility that the firmware was killing charge 5's and offered FREE replacements for all bricked devices from the firmware update, regardless of under warranty or not, I would update my device with the peace of mind that your company would do the right thing if things go wrong.

Why free replacements even if out of warranty you ask? The vast majority of these devices were perfectly useable and functional prior to the software and firmware updates so this should've been a product recall with free replacement rather than trying to squeeze more $ out of your customers. The Fitbit team failed to adequately test their software prior to the update going live. Not to mention even with all these reports you guys refused to pull the update off your servers to minimize the damage as more and more users ended up bricking their devices over the past month and a half. Sorry to say, you guys dug your own graves and as much as it sucks for the company to take a loss for the high number of devices needs to be replaced, it could have been minimized had you guys just pulled the update while you guys investigated rather than leaving it available for more and more people to brick their devices.

[mchili]

Is the firmware still rolling out? I have not received it yet and have a working charge 5. If and when I do receive the update is it guaranteed that my C5 will be replaced should it be broken as a result ? I’m out of warranty by 1 month. 

[Wouter23]

Hi All, am still waiting for news about a corrected update that won’t kill my Charge 5. Even on 188.58 it’s not useable anymore yet it’s not bricked. My Charge 2 with cracked screen still works fine. Was thinking to get an Inspire 3 instead but read that it has update issues too. I’m still here because I just love a  long battery life vs Apple’s 18 hours. And I have years of data on the Fitbit app that I don’t want to give up. So am hoping for better news.