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.

[mchili]

I agree @saltywetman 

I’m wearing my Apple Watch and have my old Alta hr (which I’ve had since it first came out and still functions perfectly) on my other wrist just to keep my stats going and to check occasionally if anything has been resolved. 

[jeanvabu]

You wanted Feedback- well, I updated it was fully charged. Then it died and wouldn't accept the charger. A week later I tried again and it took the charger but wouldn't change off the clock screen. I reset. I disconnected from the app. I reset again. I reset a 3rd time and no change. I can not use the touch screen on my Charge and it's not tracking movements accurately (for instance, it logged me as having 5k steps when the Charge was dead and not in use). I've reached out to Customer Chat and they did not give any guidance except to send me a discount for a new Fitbit. I've been a customer for 10+ years. With this issue, I'm likely to be looking into a different fitness tracker.

[Sal64]

My charge 5 battery drains rapidly after the update. I see other people with the same issue.  When will this be fixed?

[poyarzun]

I've been following this whole firmware upgrade fiasco for months. I have no words on the unreal zero capacity of a big company to acknowledge a massive issue, not just a few users. Massive issues rendering devices unusable! They are killing their business. I have a FB421 with firmware 188.58 and mysteriously, I've not being part of the upgrade "progressive rollout" yet... because I have my warranty up to October. I'm more than sure as soon as my warranty expire, magically they will push my upgrade and kill my device. Will see.

[Katzer3270]

So I bit the bullet and purchased a new Fitbit charge 5.  Interesting, my Fitbit had to be updated to the 188.58.   Purchased and was delivered Aug 28.  It is working great so far.  My fear is the new update will destroy my Fitbit.  Or, Fitbit will wait til my warranty is over and then try to update it.   

[mchili]

I’m also still at firmware 188.58 on charge 5 FB 421 but past the warranty date and no update. Wonder why the roll out is so random. But I guess we’ll never have an answer to any of our questions or concerns because FB has gone silent. Yet I see lots of posts from Lizzie on other topics. 

[ku1185]

This is outrageous. Bricking everyone's device and their only solution is "buy another one!"

[JimT2]

After trying all the fixes mentioned here with no luck , I left my Charge 5 on the charger and tried to reset it every day with the same results. One very short vibration then about 2 seconds of the logo screen and then back to black. On the fourth day of trying the reset with no luck, I opened the app and got a new firmware available message. It took a while to install and restart but when it did everything was back to normal. So after four days of being bricked, the firmware update brought it back to life. Go figure. I'm just glad to have it working again.

[JSK56]

Which firmware was installed? 

[MorselA]

It won't be fixed because Google won't admit they caused the problem. The
only fix is to replace the watches, once batteries have been trashed
function can not be restored. Unless your watch is under warranty, you
might as well throw it away.

[Goophy]

Update: my charge5 is not in this latest version. Tried to reboot device via the button in the usb line, 3 times press, not work. After just leave the device without charging for one day. The device reboot successfully when charging again.

[JimT2]

57.20001.188.58

[Kongbabao]

Okay I’m here to update so people will have a clearer idea as well. 

my previous Charge 5 was updated to the 188.58 version. Then I faced all the problems you guys faced. Battery doesn’t hold (dying within 2 hours from full charge). 

so I approached Fitbit and told them about this. They mentioned the standard of GPS and stuffs which I rejected and told them this is not an isolated issue and screencap this forum for them to see. Luckily for me, mine is under warranty. So they changed a replacement model for me. 

when it arrived, it was 188.58 firmware as well. But no problems whatsoever with regards to the battery and such. Fingers crossed. 

so I figured it is definitely the old charge, still with me, is bricked because of the way how it was upgraded to the latest firmware. It’s now a useless gadget now in my drawer. 

so no, 188.58 is not the problem. It is the way Fitbit pushed the update to existing charge 5 and bricked the gadget. 

[JSK56]

What? 

[ian.pennington3]

Wish I would get the new firmware update, been waiting for 7 weeks now

[Mmontgomery23]

Same exact scenario for me.  

[rosebury]

Update: I hadn't realised that my Charge 5 was still under warranty, so Fitbit replaced my Charge 5 whihc is great.

However, the firmware is at 171.50 and I'm afraid to update. I hope it doesn't update automatically! How can I tell it not to update? Also, BTW I will not use it swimming because this used to cause it to black screen for a week or so. 

How can I prevent it from updating the firmware???

[Porridge51]

I was in a similar position to you so when I got my replacement C5, I contacted @fitbitsupport via twitter to say I didn’t want the firmware updating. They replied saying update my app to 3.88(was at 3.87) and now even if I check for updates it says my C5 is ‘up to date’ which it isn’t, but t least I feel ‘safe’

[BezierNougat]

Not sure whether you can stop the device from updating firmware, since I don't know how they are driving the updates. 

However, you can stop the app (on your phone) from updating - there is some speculation on these pages that the latest version of the phone app could be instigating the firmware update on the device. If you have an iphone, go to Settings > App Store. Then, under Automatic Downloads, tap the radio button next to App Updates to enable or disable automatic app updates. Not sure how to do it on an Android, but should be easy enough to find out via a search.

I disabled automatic updates on my phone and the firmware on the device hasn't updated. But maybe after all the complaints, they stopped forcing the firmware updates. Anyway, I've done all I can, so now fingers crossed.

[JimT2]

Worked for one day and then bricked again. What a mess!