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.

[XakS]

Was just curious whether it was better to leave it on empty or charging. Support have given up trying to help though unfortunately. 

[tazzyjazzy]

They are not helping in my case. I’m leaving fitbit behind and exploring my other options.

Got my first fitbit charge 5 in March 2022 - three replacements due to battery fail
Aug 7/22 failed (5 months)
Oct 30/22 failed (less than 3 months)
March 9/23 failed (4 months)
July 30/23 failed again after firmware update

I called twice and chatted once since I did the update on Sunday, July 30 - nothing offered except a 35% discount to buy a new device. No answers as to why the battery keeps failing and no help after their firmware update definitely killed my fitbit this time.

Why would I buy another fitbit?!? With a history like this and after reading on forum about others exact same experiences…..

Not interested in continuing with fitbit.
I have canceled my premium subscription.

I’m off to find myself a different brand - probably going with apple now as it is highly recommended by friends.

[cadgma]

Mine completely went blank. I am checking what other watches are out there. I need the alarms as I use it for notifications for needs for my students like medicine, services etc.. What kind did you go with? 

[mchili]

Although I have not yet received the update it has suddenly stopped giving notifications since yesterday! I have to restart it constantly and finally gave up and strapped on my Apple Watch. It’s sad because I like the smaller Fitbit c5 on my small wrist but it’s just not reliable enough. I’ll see what happens if and when I get the update. 

[Fitbituser212]

Had mine since June 2022 and it stopped working 2 days ago. 

[greenghoulie]

Remember when watches lasted more than two years?

Just think of all the e-waste this blunder has caused.

[DLWG]

I think if I ever get my replacement I will use it until Dec. and then will
cancel and get an Apple Watch. They seem much more reliable and if they
last 5 or 6 years it will be less expensive for the length of life. My
premium subscription is over then and I will cancel that as well.

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I have been looking in line and haven’t seen anything. Replacement is
offered, otherwise it is rather like “crickets” from Fitbit.
I really liked the Fitbit and talked several friends into getting one, but
now I wouldn’t recommend it.
We will see if I ever get my replacement…

I occasionally try to make it work and charge it and reset it, etc., but
the battery dies in about 45 minutes….

[GMU7801]

Need greater transparency on the timing of getting the update released. Are we talking hours? Days? months? Did the updates that have been released fix the battery not holding a charge issue? Who can we elevate this to? Name/position/phone number please. Thank you in advance. 

[COFit7]

I asked about that or if trying the restart could eventually help and support told me there was nothing else that could be done and it was dead. I also found several tech articles explaining the update bricked the system, meaning completely dead.

[GMU7801]

Google owns this mess now. Where are they in this issue. Maybe we should all reach out to Google and require them to stand up, since Fitbit does not! What a S…….w. Need to make these large corporations accountable for their known deficiencies/issues. 

[SunsetRunner]

3...2...1...**poof**

[GMU7801]

Do you notice that Fitbit folks don’t answer!?  They just send out the same fixit stuff that doesn’t fix anything. Then, ignores all the chatter like it doesn’t exist. Great customer service!

[dstaubitz]

Just updated my app an hour ago - my Charge 5 started flashing and vibrating until it showed the circled X. Tried the three pulse reset and now it’s blank and unresponsive. Why? How do I fix this?

[SunsetRunner]

@dstaubitz that's the million dollar question...that won't get answered here. We've all tried every troubleshooting "fix" and reset but it doesn't work. Once in a while it will come on just to give you a false sense of hope and then it bricks. I hope yours starts working, but I wouldn't hold out much hope. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. 

[juffer]

For almost a week now my Charge 5 has been locking up with black screen or freezing on Logo screen every day.  Charger button fix never works.  And sometimes the Fitbit does not even buzz with the charger button.  Charging seems to do nothing, but just leaving it sit for hours or a day gets it to start again spontaneously.  They said they have "requested a replacement", and will update me.  What the heck does that mean?!  

[ian.pennington3]

We're into August now and I still haven't got the new update, any idea when it will come or show up on my Fitbit page as my screen is blank and the battery runs out quickly still

[EtheP]

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@ian.pennington3 wrote:

We're into August now and I still haven't got the new update, any idea when it will come or show up on my Fitbit page as my screen is blank and the battery runs out quickly still

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I haven't received it either.  Possibly Fitbit is slow walking the release due to all the complaints?

[kerrieBBOZ]

@SunsetRunner my first experience of a major issue with my Charge 5 was it suddenly not connecting to the app GPS in dynamic mode, but it came straight after an app update, not a firmware update. It was through researching that new issue that I found this forum revealing the whole firmware train wreck.

But a common thread seems to be major problems starting with devices just prior to firmware updates, even with other earlier device models and earlier firmware updates, so it seems to me that it is a modus operandi of Fitbit and must be happening because of preparatory app changes.

So a change in the app could easily break the way the devices work by preventing them communicating with the app properly.

Im concerned that if they have changed the app functionality more extensively with a major overhaul, and at the same time they seem to not be interested in dealing with problems with old devices or old firmware connecting to new apps, they may not have bothered included any fixes to the current problems and that the new app won’t work with devices which have not updated firmware yet.

So even though I was not intending to break my device by updating the firmware ( if I actually get a choice when it appears in my app) I may be forced to gamble on a firmware update in order to use the new app.

So basically I now feel it might be safer to make sure my phone app doesn’t update either, until we know for sure the new app isn’t breaking devices as well.

currently only my onboard gps and dynamic mode is broken for me, but I’m feeling like I’m on borrowed time.

But they are deluded if they think I’ll be spending good money in another Fitbit device if my Charge 5 dies as a result of their software fail. If I have to buy something new I’ll either be getting a cheaper but very similar Amazefit, or moving up to a Garmin. Sadly apple watch short battery life is a deal breaker for me because I want to track sleep.

[cadgma]

Mine is only 7 months old and bought on Amazon and they will do ZERO to help me .... NO % off, No replacement!! All because of their update!!

[JSK56]

I know the warranty varies be the channel it was sold. What is the warranty when purchased through Amazon? I bought mine at Kohl's and it was a year and I received a replacement one.