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]

Just chatted with Fitbit support on X and apparently there are 5 new clock faces. They told me to log out then log back in to the app. Nope! Still no new clock faces. Incidentally my Luxe also got the latest firmware update and had 1 new clock face. They said there should have been 5 new ones on Luxe as well! Unbelievable! 

[ian.pennington3]

Your defiantly in the minority

[honglong1976]

Do you have a screenshot of the new watch faces? I don't notice anything on mine either.

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 don't believe it. The update finally arrived.

- Updated without any issues

- Google Wallet issue fixed - Before using more than 1 card would cause no card picture to appear. Now they appear correctly.

- Exercise updated (pick on the Fitbit rather than the app)

- Where are the new watch faces?

Decent so far though 🙂

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Nearly there FitBit.

- Google Wallet - updated

- Latest firmware - updated

- Watch faces - pending (https://community.fitbit.com/t5/The-Pulse-Fitbit-Community-Blog/New-on-Fitbit-June-2023-Health-amp-F...)

[mchili]

Now support is “creating a case” for me regarding the lack of new clock faces! Why is this “a case?” It is supposed to be part of the new firmware. 5 new clock faces. My Luxe also updated with only 1 new face. They told me they would get back to me when they have more information. Not holding my breath.

UPDATE: this is the reply from support re watch faces:

Thanks for waiting, I have a response from the support team. Thanks for letting us know about this issue. We’re aware of it and are working to identify a resolution as quickly as possible.

We're sorry for any trouble. We appreciate your patience and look forward to getting you back on track.

[antoniofruci]

I guess you are using iOS right?

Google Wallet is the only feature I'd like to have, but for some reason isn't available on Android yet.

[Loleo]

Dear LizzyFitbit: Back when my Charge 5 was breaking etc..I posted a question or comment on this thread. Ever since, I have been getting daily emails of all the negative comments on this thread..(which FitBit should do something about). But the problem I am having now is that I don’t want to have over 400 emails in my thread. How do I stop getting all of everyone’s complaints? I am done with FitBit and do not want to be reminded that a company that I believed in and pushed all my friends to join, has failed us, every day! Please help?

[CoolMyll]

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@honglong1976 wrote:

Nearly there FitBit.

- Google Wallet - updated

- Latest firmware - updated

- Watch faces - pending (https://community.fitbit.com/t5/The-Pulse-Fitbit-Community-Blog/New-on-Fitbit-June-2023-Health-amp-F...)

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By wallet you mean Fitbity Pay? Charge 5 does not support google wallet

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I see multiple source that show Google Wallet support even in the previous version. Is there any way to enable it? Is this also in a rollout?

[narf57]

Just got the firmware update, firmware version is now listed as 194.91. Took about 10 minutes, so far so good. Interesting that it's a different firmware number than what is listed on this forum. 

[mchili]

@narf57  Did you get the new watch faces? Mine also updated to the same as yours but no new faces. Curious if you did?

[narf57]

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@mchili wrote:

@narf57  Did you get the new watch faces? Mine also updated to the same as yours but no new faces. Curious if you did?

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I don't know if any of the faces are new. There are 25 of them on the list. They are:

Continuum, Intersection, Zones, Vouge, Energy, Target, Ripple, Runliner, Symphony, Slashed, Retro, Progressive, Neoflip, Hawaiian Punch, Triangulate, Split, California Dream, Hexa, Retroflip, Tracks, Cutout, Rise Up, Statposter, Bloom, and Ice Cream. I expect they are the same as before. 

[kerrieBBOZ]

Hi everyone,

I see there have been a few people here who have apparently recently updated their firmware without bricking their devices or killing battery life. Are any of you still on the old phone app and do you know if updating to the new version of the firmware will fail if I don’t have the new phone app, which I definitely don’t want?

I have still frozen my iPhone app to a version from August in the hope that I won’t have the new firmware foisted on me and I’m still enjoying all the old functions of the old app (except onboard GPS which died when the Great Charge 5 Firmware Fail Saga started).

But unfortunately last night I started getting notifications in the app that the new firmware is available for me. I dismiss that notification twice every time I open the app now, and am afraid that I will accidentally allow it at some point and I don’t want to have to be without a tracker or be breaking in a different brand over Christmas.

[UlrikeDG]

It certainly seems like they're trying to sneak this update out, hoping that users won't notice that .91 =/= .61. They haven't made an official announcement that .91 is available. And, if you look on the official "What's changed in the latest Fitbit device update?" page, it has reverted to showing 188.58 as the "current" firmware version.

It's great that Fitbit has finally fixed the actual firmware, but their transparency is more opaque than a brick wall. Never admit there was a problem. Never, ever admit that the problem was caused by Fitbit. Don't give updates on the current situation. Don't give an ETA on solutions. Blame consumers. Suggest users try troubleshooting steps that are known not to help. Do not take responsibility. Deflect. Don't respond to questions. Put off responding to service tickets until warranty coverage expires. Charge customers more money. Deny, deny, deny.

I'm sure the five "new" clockfaces will show up eventually. Probably when they finish slow-rolling .91 to all the users who managed to avoid brickage with .61. I'm equally sure the new clockfaces will be ugly and stat-light because what users have requested are less cartoonish, stat-heavy faces.

[bulloo]

Techanicaly speaking if ur fitbit is out of warranty there is no way to
revive it even the customer care also has nothing to offer.

Sadajewat Kaul

[honglong1976]

No, by Google Wallet, I mean Google Wallet. Charge 5 does support Google Wallet. I have used it on mine for the past 3 months.

It does seem to be depending on location though. I am in the UK.

[honglong1976]

No way to enable it. One day I used FitBit pay, then I received a message asking if I wanted to upgrade to Google Wallet (I did and have used it for a past few months).

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The watch faces on Google's Fitbit blog page have not arrived yet. It's a slow roll out, google wallet, firmware, hopefully watch faces next 🙂

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Worked fine for me. I suspect all those with battery issues, dead after updating, most likely had inherent problems with their Fitbit or tried to upgrade with a dodgy battery, or even removed the power as it's updating (and having a dodgy battery).

I have never had issues updating any Fitbit device.

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My firmware end .91 🙂

[antoniofruci]

It could be for some cases, nevertheless it's quite weird that 194.61 has been announced more than two months ago and I never received it since.

Then, yesterday, my device gets the 194.91 Firmware Version and it's not announced anywhere.

[Porridge51]

did you succesfully update to .61?
Sent from my iPhone

[RKY14]

Wrong. Mine was 8 months old with no issues. Update killed it!!!!

[SteveCDN]

So we are on the 58th page of this forum. There was a previous forum with the same issues that Google took down.after about as many pages. I would expect the same soon.

I have Charge 5 with firmware 20001.142.37. No change from the replacement that was sent after my attempt to update failed, like most of you.

My watch is out of warranty. Presently I have good battery life with no other issues..

I have stated on many occasions that I will not update the firmware. I do update the IOS app with each release with no issue(s). I do notice that the sync is getting better.

Sync problems are usually due to competing Bluetooth issues.Turn off all apps that continually update to get a better sync and monitor you BT for connectivity.

S.

[TomS34]

Your lack of issues do not mean there were none. Be happy, you got very lucky. The sheer volume of users experiencing issues after the last update make you comments nonsensical. One or two maybe, thousands with 100 percent support blackout makes this a Fitbit issue. In addition, the new update is fixing them slowly but surely which also invalidates your ridiculous comment.

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