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.

[DoxieGran]

So I did a bit of clock switching when you posted this. I went from Energy to Continuum, and after it installed I kept getting the add a card come up non stop. Went back to my Energy, and no more constant card notification. Then I went to Runliner, and doing these 3 changes took my battery down from 70 t0 35. Charging it back up. Since then end of June I have to charge twice a day to keep this baby going. You may be on to something.

[FitnessJunkie22]

@DoxieGran -- thanks for sharing -- another data point!

I went back to Runliner and have been wearing my Fitbit with sleep mode turned off for about 20 mins now.  Battery still shows 99%. With the other clocks, it would be. . . much lower by now.  Making some tea, heading out for a run shortly.  Planning to turn on the heart rate monitor and see how it fares.  With the other clock faces, I would have gotten 20 to 30 mins into a workout before it would just plotz. I'm curious to see how long I can go, and whether changing the clock face fixes things for me.  Stand back, I'm about to do science!

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ok, i'm back. this might exceed the character count, so it might be multiple posts.

changing the clock face back to runliner seems to have mitigated the battery issue, at least for me.  i ran for about 90 mins, with sleep mode off and the hr monitor/run app turned on for a little over half that time, and my battery went from 99% to 82% during that time.  given that my battery was tanking after about 20 mins with the other clock faces installed, that's notable.

things were were going great for the first 35 minute or so - i was so happy to have my old fitbit back!  but then around the 35 mark the run app randomly started silently quitting.

around the 40 minute mark the fitbit started nagging me with the whole payment/add card nonsense.  repeatedly. as in, i couldn't even operate my fitbit because the nag message kept interrupting while i was trying to restart my run app. i carry my phone in my hand while i run, so i thought maybe it was a proximity thing.  i ran with my phone in my opposite hand and it kept happening.

so then i opened the app on my phone to see if i could fix the problem by deleting the payment app - i couldn't find a way to do so, but what was interesting was that my phone started randomly shutting off/rebooting shutting off while i had the fitbit app open on my phone.  i couldn't get the app to turn back on consistently until i exited the app on my phone.

after i closed the app on my phone, i had one or two more random reboots in the next couple mins.  the issue with the payment messages persisted across reboots, and it seems like trying to use the run app exacerbated all these problems.  after leaving the running hr app off for a few minutes, the payment nags and random reboots stopped, and the basic watch functioned normally.

all this is to say, i think you have a memory management/memory safety issue, and as such you probably ought to ship a fix very very soon.

for the more patient among this group, i'm curious as to whether you're able to reproduce any of the issues i've reported here, or what else you're seeing.

[Megmeltz]

I love it that people are doing live testing of their Charge 5s. This is when the internet is really worthwhile - strangers getting together long distance to solve problems. 🙂

[DoxieGran]

Changing watch faces does make the charge 5 do strange things, but it has not really affected my 9 hr battery life. So once again we must look to the software developers to figure out what is happening. So in conclusion we are at a very stale mate. I loved my Charge 5 and have been hoping since Late June for some kind of fix. Everyone I have spoken to says they aren't going to fix it, they don't care. Move on get a new tracker. I will soon have to, but It will not be a Fitbit, or Google product. I am so disappointed, so let down. I don't understand why you would roll out a software that could not be rolled back if here were problems.

[mchili]

I subscribe to this thread. I have moved on to Apple Watch but want to see if any “progress” has been made regarding the supposed “update”. 

[FitbitRunner864]

Ok-I had a Ch5 that was 14 months old and it bricked September 1 after an auto update. Called support and got a new one shipped last week (free). Paired and set it up and went for a run at 89% power. 10 minutes into the run it started buzzing to start run tracking. I ignored it and ran another 30 minutes. It kept trying to get me to start run tracking every 5 minutes (annoying). When I stopped running it kept on trying to get me to start run mode tracking continuously. I was at 70% power and draining so I went into the app and removed all my tracking shortcuts (run, bike, swim, etc.). It then stop draining the battery and I only lost 3% battery over the 9 hours. For what it’s worth……..

Go to your account on the app.
Go to your device
Go to Gallery
Tap on the Apps tab on the top of the screen
Tap on Run, Bike etc. You can’t delete Exercise. I can’t remember tapping either the Exercise or individual app for bike , run, swim and slide left and the delete button shows up.
Tap delete and the shortcut goes away.

[Uge3]

How did you remove it?

[FitbitRunner864]

Go to your account on the app.
Go to your device
Go to Gallery
Tap on the Apps tab on the top of the screen
Tap on Run, Bike etc. You can’t delete Exercise. I can’t remember tapping either the Exercise or individual app for bike , run, swim and slide left and the delete button shows up.
Tap delete and the shortcut goes away.

[matdob]

I am really curious if this is actually a 'working workaround'. Anyway, good job!

[ian.pennington3]

Unfortunately they have just put the shutters up and are neglecting so many
of us on there silence day after day, I like so many are running out of
patience, been over a year since my charge 5 has been defunct over 2
firmware updates, no apologies, explanations or anything, it is very
disappointing but I'm still hanging on for a miracle

[amaje76]

It was announced in June that new update is being roll out.... we have send part of September and I still have not received that update.  Is there any way I can force the update to my Charge 5?  I am sure someone must know how to do it... please share. 

[mchili]

you can't force it to update. It arrives to your device when fitbit/google decides to!! 

[mattmotyl]

You don't want the update. It literally bricks your device. Turn off
auto-updates if you can.

[ian.pennington3]

I haven't got my new update either I don't think and the problem is that
these people just don't let you know what's happening especially with all
these questions they are getting, pretty igornant I reckon, just no
communication

[Itsadud7]

This update is a disaster. Repeatedly stuck on the spotty diamond screen. Won't reset. Sometimes comes back to life on its own then returns to the spotty diamond. Loses battery power ultra quick. on the verge of consigning this wonder of modern technology to the back of the drawer.

[Kate8080]

Watch has been restarted several times. No longer holds a charge and won't finish the newest update.

The watch is only just over 12 months old and had been working OK. So no warranty and at the price it was its shocking really. Just glad I didn't go the whole nine miles with logging data. 

If it just worked as a watch I'd be fairly happy. 

Absolutely certain this is all down to fitbit not really giving a **ahem**. 

Never buying one again. 

[Steve667]

So are you surprised ??

Almost 9,000 posts over 31+ pages of mostly negative comments and many warnings NOT to update.

Please point me to a positive one !!

Firmware 57:20001:142:37 and sticking with it.

[SunsetRunner]

Do they think the FitBit 6 will be a success? There are hundreds of websites showing this immobility to fix a problem. It's not possible that someone will fall for this.

[Kate8080]

I'm getting a complimentary phase 5 today after I contacted fitbit. Its sounds like battery issues are still a problem. Do I update this new one, my old one although still working a bit, wont change screens and drains in just a few hours. 

Just thinking that getting a new one won't fix anything. 

[Porridge51]

I also got a replacement one and have kept it at the level it was when delivered. I wouldn’t attempt to update a charge 5 unless and until they make a statement about why the recent(?) update rendered them inoperable.

Sent from my iPhone