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.

[CoolMyll]

Which version?

[SteveCDN]

TomS34

My "lack of issues" is because I have never drunk the update (firmware) KoolAid.

My firmware,,,20001.142.37 is probably 2 years old !

[TomS34]

Your Fitbit doesn't have issues, you on the other hand have many. Your post was 100 percent unnecessary, ubnoxious and helped no one. If you can't contribute, don't comment at all. The people having issues are looking for help not snide unnecessary trash.

[SteveCDN]

Well I have been called worse by better men than you.

I simple stated that I did not update. There have been plenty who have warned not to update. Most ignore.

Perhaps reading and comprehension are just several of your shortcomings

S.

[TomS34]

Reading comprhension was not my issue. Sending a reply over my phones email was. This was not meant for you. It was meant for someone who said theirs worked perfectly and all the problems were created by the users. Not sure how it got to you. I agree about updates now that I have experienced a bad one. Mine worked flawlessly until that update. But it's all good. After the defening silence from Fitbit I moved on and found out there are far better devices available for equal to or less money. Sorry for the mixup.

[SteveCDN]

TomS34... no worries. Not always clear whom one is addressing on this forum... another Google/FitBit quirk ?? 😗

[marvepro]

mine also updated to .91, but the battery draining issue still is here... any else experiencing this of did it get solved with the update on your charge? 

[bulloo]

Same here

Sadajewat Kaul

[honglong1976]

I have the latest update, Google wallet and no issues at all 🙂

[honglong1976]

I suspect battery draining is due to the battery on its way out rather than any update.

[Gemma11]

It’s still relevant …… that’s why people are posting.

[GIJ]

Update consistently failed to complete. Will try again in a few days. 

[bbunge]

What worked for me is to put the Charge 5 and phone on charge while doing the firmware upgrade. And, leave them alone until the upgrade finishes! Restarting the Charge 5 before the upgrade also helps.

[LoriFrances]

What a joke! I woke up this morning and saw there was an update. Woohoo! The folks at Google realized there was an issue which needed a fix. I installed the update and began my hour long run. 4.5 minutes in and the watch died. Battery was full. What a useless piece of garbage. 

[RKY14]

Wrong answer!!!! My 8 month old charge 5 Barney was great until the update.
Then it would only hold for about 3 hours and after 3 weeks it wouldn't
charge at all. Now it's a black hunk of junk.

[Cer13]

I first posted on 12/1.. My charge 5 screen went black before 0200 on 11/30 and after plugging in to charge, battery level read 1 percent.   I have daily plugged in and charged, to 99 and sometimes it got to 100 percent only to have it drop to 1 percent as soon as i unplug. I've pressed the button (3 times) on the charger several days also. How do i know if this is still an update issue or the battery needs to be replaced. Is battery replacement  done at a jewelers, at home, send it in? I've talked to support on the phone, received a 1/2 off code but will not pay anything for  another fitbit product if my unusable tracker resulted from company action/policy.

[poyarzun]

I stopped reading this shameful and disastrous thread long ago, about page 24 or so. As I was expecting, the warranty on my tracker expired in October and only today I'm getting the option to upgrade the firmware. Are we still subject to bricking the device and receive the most awful customer support in the freaking world? At least, looks like I have to trigger the upgrade, instead of an auto upgrade as before.

[arthurc2000]

You can chat with Fitbit online to see the opinon.  I really wants to know..  Personally, if there is no official answer from Fitbit on the bricking issue.. I will not update.  You are stepping into unknown territory.

[FinnLynx]

I was recently offered the firmware update on my Charge 5. I updated my well functioning device and the installed firmware (now version .91 instead of .61) seems to work well. All functionality on my Charge 5 that I use works just like before without any loss of performance or battery life.

I think the current update is safe to install, but that is obviously based only on my own personal experience on updating my single Fitbit Charge 5.

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@poyarzun wrote:

I stopped reading this shameful and disastrous thread long ago, about page 24 or so. As I was expecting, the warranty on my tracker expired in October and only today I'm getting the option to upgrade the firmware. Are we still subject to bricking the device and receive the most awful customer support in the freaking world? At least, looks like I have to trigger the upgrade, instead of an auto upgrade as before.

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[chilehead]

Earlier today my fitbit said there was an update available.  I decided if I took it and it got bricked, I'd go with another brand and be done with fitbit forever.  It's been disheartening to see all the bricked devices mentioned here with little positive resolutions.

So I installed it, and have used it all day with no problem.  The battery usage appears to be fine, no different drain than any other day (so far at least.)   This is the .91 version the .61 version that seems to have caused all the issues.  The battery is currently at 89% and was probably mid 90% before the update, so 5% for a full day usage (w/o the GPS) seems good.