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.

[Mothmaam]

I don't have the update yet, but can anyone else not sync their Charge 5 right now? Apparently mine hasn't synced with the app since last Sunday.

[johnv1954]

You cant fix it nor can Fitbit Customer Support  (which is downright awful).   They will make a half hearted attempt and then tell you then cant do anything other than offer a 35% discount on the purchase of another tracker.   Think about it. What a great strategy.  Screw  up your tracker by a failed firmware update and then give you a small discount to buy another.       Well, they can kiss my **ahem**

[Mothmaam]

Luckily I got it to work! 

[JimR.3000]

I received update 194.61 in July and knew right away something was wrong.  After the update, the fitness tracker's battery would only last about 45 minutes before reaching critical <5% battery.  For about a week or so I could maintain it by promptly placing the tracker on the charger when it reached critical battery. It would reach 100% battery within 30 to 40 minutes.  But, once removed from the charger, battery immediately dropped to about 72%.

But that all ended last weekend when I left the fitness tracker on the battery charger overnight.  When I got up the next day, the display was unresponsive, screen totally blank, device will not sync with phone, and will not recover with 3 button reset.

[kerrieBBOZ]

Thanks for the update @JimR.3000 

i am keeping half an eye on this thread while hoping to see someone, …..anyone, say that the new firmware is working fine for them, no loss of battery life, no loss of functionality, no synching issues, no gps issues.

meanwhile I’ve turned off automatic app updates on my iPhone and I am manually updating all apps EXCEPT for Fitbit, and I’m intending to ignore or dismiss the firmware update, if I get a choice, when it eventually gets around to appearing to me, since they are apparently still rolling it out, judging by the steady stream of newcomers to this, and other new Charge 5 threads.

I’ve given up on the onboard gps (which suddenly stopped working, as well as stopping synching to the iPhone gps in dynamic mode, after a phone app update) because it is currently still consistently tracking activities on the device setting for using phone gps only.

[kerrieBBOZ]

@JimR.3000  But I’m assuming I’m on borrowed time as it is getting increasingly less likely that they will fix this for charge5 owners, given their steadfast lack of any admission that their customers deserve a full refund or free replacement due to the problem originating in the Fitbit app and firmware software, rather than in faulty devices, and the imminent release of the charge 6, as well as the imperative to clear old charge 5 stock even if at only 65% of the asking price thanks to the generous 35% voucher they are bestowing on their hapless customers, even though the replacement devices will be just as vulnerable to the app updates.

[kerrieBBOZ]

@Medicanya  the pattern seems to be in both the firmware, and the preparatory recent app updates. I think they have been rolling them out at different schedules so some people get the phone app update earlier, which brings issues, while others get the issues when their device fails to update to the new firmware and then still shows the old firmware, and others get the issues after the firmware update.

And my observation from reading various threads is that it has something to do with breaking how the device communicates with the app and then since the device needs to synch to function, the device sends itself into battery draining death spirals during different processes for different people. Some users had some success deleting apps like the ecg app so maybe for them, it was that app failing to communicate, while for others it is something else. Maybe not everyone uses every app so it isn’t just one thing that does it for everyone.

[Angk7311]

My Fitbit seems dead (completely unresponsive) and I believe it is because of the update. I was at the gym and went to check the time and my screen was black. Looked at the app a couple minutes later and there was a red ribbon that said update available. Now after “resetting” it with the charger it’s had the logo for four hours.

[Bradcore]

I don't know what changed, but suddenly yesterday, my Charge 5 won't go two hours on a full charge. I also don't have the option to update to the newest version. I am not happy. 

[Happygirl41]

Agree with all your comments. My Charge 5 has been bricked for 2 weeks and I’m still getting notifications on my phone that I’m “closing my circle”, “increased my steps from previous week”. I dont know that I can trust anything about Fitbit anymore. 

[saltywetman]

I see the google store sells fitbit devices. Has anyone tried to get any help through google support since fitbit support appears to be downright useless in their solution (getting people to pay for discounted replacements. Since google is their parent company maybe if enough reports of this firmware issue gets reported to google they will push the fitbit division to do what's right. 

[JLBExercIse]

Same here. Charge 5 was working well until 1 1/2 hours ago it stopped syncing after it asked me to update the software. I followed about 5 different FitBit pages to update FitBit app, turn Bluetooth on and off, turn device on and off, pressing the button on the charge cable 3 times for the FitBit symbol to reappear, restart device, forget device and add new device, forget Bluetooth …now it can’t find my device. My FitBit is now not discoverable with blue tooth. I’ve looked at and followed all the below webpages but still not seen with Bluetooth. And yes all other Bluetooth have been turned off. What is happening? I even tried to set up FitBit on Google account but it couldn’t see device. Spent 4 hours on and off with this today. Not long had this as my Charge 4 was faulty within warranty.

https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1866.htm

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Charge-5/Charge-5-has-stopped-syncing-with-phone/m-p/5251519#M27075

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Charge-5/Charge-5-won-t-sync-with-my-iPad/td-p/5398482

https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1186.htm

https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1872.htm

[MaryIHart]

I was wondering if anyone had tried switching their account to Google, and if that would .ake any difference. Guess not!

Sorry you are having problems...

[TaMmEh83]

Yes I did, they tried to tell me that they were only ‘partnered’ with Fitbit not ‘part of’ which I continually corrected them that they own Fitbit and are happy to splash it everywhere that they do but aren’t happy to own their problems. Would not help and just kept pushing me back to Fitbit support.

[adamweiss]

I’ve posted a couple of times that mine is working fine on the latest firmware, and has been for several weeks.

My only “issue” is that I don’t have the new watch faces yet, but I was told that they will be available once the firmware rollout is complete.

My battery life is fine and all of the features I usually use are working normally. 

[DaVinciUA]

So, maybe there is a hardware difference between earlier and later versions of the Charge 5?

Why else is it possible that some users have no problems with new Firmware and other do?

[JSK56]

Have we heard from any users with no issues after the update? 

[DaVinciUA]

Yes, there are a few users in this thread that claim that they had no issues after the update

[Porridge51]

I wonder if a person who updates without a problem would look at this forum?

Sent from my iPhone

[SunsetRunner]

I’m still waiting. I have 188.58, my Fitbit over the past few days has quickly drained in battery and struggled to track heart rate and steps. Hope the update comes out soon and fixes my issues!