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.

[6TJS6]

@UlrikeDG  In my opinion, the reason Google/Fitbit hasn't said a peep about this in so long, is because they don't want to admit to doing anything that may have caused all of these failures. If they did, that would open Pandora's box and they'd have to replace everyone's Fitbit that was affected. I guess in their minds, it's more cost effective to loose a whole lot of long time customers that have bought Fitbit's for years, along with premium subscriptions and accessories. Now they've got people complaining about the new Charge 6. Even for those that haven't been affected by this, I think it would be safe to assume that they will encounter ongoing issues given what we've seen since Google took over.

I still wonder if it was the actual updated firmware that was the problem, or if it was a problem with the devices failing to update to the new firmware when it was being pushed out. I say this because I still have the last firmware, and I had to start charging mine daily. Then it progressed to the blinking Fitbit logo when charging and then eventually the red circle and x of death.  I've seen many others on here say they're also still on the last firmware. We may never know, especially when we get no indication from the company that makes them.

[6TJS6]

@lucsch  I don't see why it wouldn't be ethical, given the situation with Google/Fitbit, but I would say it's highly unrealistic to think they'd go out of business.

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@OhioAnn  I don't think they want to kill Fitbit, although they're doing a good job of it. If they wanted to kill it, I don't think they would have bothered to release the Charge 6. I just don't think they care about the Charge 5 customers with all of these issues, which are showing up in the Charge 6 now as well.

[lucsch]

I didn't mean Google will go out of business, but Fitbit may go away. I
wonder if this is all an attempt to turn everyone to Pixel watches.

[lucsch]

Sorry I think my comment was unclear. What they are doing is unethical, not my suggestion stop buying Fitbit in response. That's totally ethical. 

[Wzard]

My current firmware version is 57.20001.188.58.  I don't think it's up to date, but I can't see the latest one. Any advice? Thanks

[Kudakin]

Don't update although mine was on the old firmware and froze anyway.

[lucsch]

That's the one I just updated to and the one that made my HR sensor stop
working and the battery drain.

[NJ-Brad]

DON'T UPDATE!!!! There have been some reported issues with the update. We are all waiting for more information from FitBit / Google.

Sent from Outlook<>

[IronboundJohn]

My Charge 5 died last week. For a few days it would only charge to 1%.  Then it died completely.  I spent a few hours with the fitbit chat, tried all their suggestions multiple times.  Still dead.

The device was 18 months old, and I use it daily to track jogging and resistance training.  

Previously, I had a Charge 4 die after a year.

Fitbit did make me an offer....50% off on a new device.  And a 2 yr protection plan for only $29.99, a significant discount.  So I decided that $135 was OK for a device that should be good for 2 years ($80 for the device and $30 for the extended warranty and $25 deductible when it breaks, which I know it will).  

Fitbit seems to not care that these devices have a short lifespan.  Probably built in to their business plan.

There is no excuse for the poor quality of these devices.  It is not only wasteful, but also stressful dealing with this repeatedly.  I look forward to finding a tracker that is well made.

[lucsch]

I refuse to buy another Fitbit. I worked hard for 6 months to earn it
through a diabetes app then I paid an upcharge to get the Charge 5.

I bought an inexpensive replacement (Milouz IDW19) which has features my
Charge 5 didn't have for $25 (Amazon lightening deal plus reward points to
cover tax). I will be satisfied if it lasts 6 months.

[Runforestrun1]

You made the correct decision!
Sent from my iPhone

[kerrieBBOZ]

@6TJS6  I believe it is due to the devices losing connectivity/synching capacity with the app, even on the old firmware, which is essential to the device authorisation and firmware installation and I think it starts with actual preparatory updates of the Fitbit app on the phone (incremental updates to the old phone app - even before the current new Fitbit app debacle - and possibly due to asynchronous rollouts of the phone app and the rolling release of the new device firmware. My Charge 5 lost onboard gps and the ability to synch with the app correctly during tracked activities (dynamic mode) straight after a phone app update. And that loss of correct connectivity with the app is probably sending devices into battery draining, failed firmware updating death spirals. So it is related to the new firmware rollout since the preparatory Fitbit app updates were put in place in anticipation, but not necessarily directly related to whether the actual firmware died during installation or soon thereafter.

For me, I’m on borrowed time since I froze my Fitbit app and haven’t been updating the increments since I figured that out in August, and so far everything is working like it used to except onboard GPS, although I can still track locations on the device setting for using the phone gps only.

But that will all come crashing down when iOS requires a new update that doesn’t support the old app, or when Google requires me to transfer my account and I lose some of the Fitbit data metrics, whichever comes first. Meanwhile I’ve been synching with the free version of Strava to keep my historic walks recorded somewhere else, and the only reason I haven’t bought a Garmin already is Garmin don’t have ecg in Australia and currently I’m finding the Charge 5 ECG very useful for tracking an arrhythmia flare up. And although Apple has ECG the short battery life is the deal breaker there. I need to wait until I see the cardiologist in a month (that’s how long it takes to get a non urgent appointment) and find out whether I need to elevate the device ECG as a priority and get the Apple Watch.

[lucsch]

My Android app updated quite awhile ago, but I noticed no problems other
than wondering why they made the changes they made.

No, my problem began after an update to my Charge 5. The HR stopped working
after that, and the battery went from 7 days charge to 1 day. I do wonder
if the charge issue is related to the failed HR sensor. Perhaps it
continually tries to reset it so it runs the battery down. That's only a
guess from my retired career of software engineering.

Speaking of which, if I had created a widespread error like this, I would
be working night and day in fear of loss of my employment and also just
because I would be appalled that my error created such hardships for end
users.

[kerrieBBOZ]

@lucsch But that is what I mean. If the heart rate app on the device is not synching with the phone app since your charge 5 updated and going into a failed synch battery drain, that is the same underlying issue of not synching properly any more. Another example was one user whose device only remained alive when on the charger. They deleted one of the metrics apps from the device itself (it might have been the SpO2 app or the ecg, I can’t remember) and it stopped draining battery and they were fine again. I forget whether this was after updating to the new firmware or whether the new firmware update failed for them and left them on the old firmware, as many users have experienced.

[lucsch]

With my particular Charge 5, the green and red sensor don't flash at all
like they used to. The green one does on a reboot but never again. The HR
value is '-' on the watch. I can turn bluetooth off on my phone and it
makes no difference to the shortened battery life. There's something within
the device that's wonky. I did delete all of the optional apps off of it,
but that made no difference.

[kerrieBBOZ]

@lucsch  Could be a different issue for you, but you still don’t know whether those sensor lights aren’t flashing because of a software issue or a physical issue.

[lucsch]

No that's true but the coincidence of when they stopped working after the
update remains. It could be the update physically took out the sensors.

[Loleo]

I ordered a cheap watch from Amazon… today is the first day I got to wear it, but I liked it and it does more than my Fitbit did, so hopefully it works longer than the last 2 Fitbits! And I can buy 5 of them for the price of my Charge 5, get lifetime warranty, and two free bands! Say good bye FitBit! L

Sent from my iPhone

[bulloo]

I m also using fitbit charge 5 for last 1 year above but 2 months back it suddenly stopped with no display on contacting customer service after few check they asked me to buy a new updated watch as your watch is beyond repairs 

SJ Kaul 

India

[Guy_]

Hi @Wzard  - The only watches now appearing for sale on the official Fitbit site are the Charge 6 and Pixel Watch 2.

From that it is probably safe to say support for prior watches has been discontinued, hence the update being withdrawn due to unresolvable issues or possibly insufficient demand.

For those experiencing problems from installing the temporary release of this update, a factory reset should take you back to the prior working version, unless your watch has become inoperable.