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.

[Heather4775]

I have yet to see a new clock face. Or anything on my watch since the
firmware update From Fitbit….. that said had to be done or my device would
no longer work…..And now it's broken/ Thanks FItbit!  

[GMU7801]

That’s what the story has been for 3 months! Checks in the mail!😀. Does anyone really think there is an update that will fix this???

[Paolov80]

Same Reply from three months….

[kerrieBBOZ]

Hi Davide,

Thank you for that.

But I seem to have prevented myself from getting a bricked device by preventing my phone app from updating for the last month or so.

What advice do you have for people like me who definitely do NOT want the new app NOR the new firmware update UNTIL there is an official company announcement that Fitbit has diagnosed and fixed the communication issue between Charge 5 devices and the Fitbit app, which, due to failing to complete a process, is therefore sending devices into a battery draining death spiral?

In other words, the reason I am following this forum is because straight after a phone app update in mid July I lost the ability of the onboard gps to work alone as well as the ability for the device to communicate with the app and use dynamic gps mode. However I am currently successfully tracking activities by exclusively using phone app gps mode and have given up on onboard gps. At the time it was clearly a gps communication/synching problem between the device and the app during an activity, because whilst the device refused to connect to either gps or the phone app during dynamic mode, the Fitbit iPhone app was clearly able to see my location, plus it was a route I have not had problems before, AND the weather was clear, and the problem did dot resolve in subsequent activities. I am still on firmware 188.58 and after a couple more phone app updates which I did on the off chance the glitch would be fixed, I came to this forum and decided to stop updating the phone app in the hope of avoiding any further loss of function.

My theory as to any variation in symptoms for different users is that the phone app update and firmware update is not synchronised across all devices in all geographical locations and on all phone types, and it would depend on which updates first as to what function does or does not break first.

But I would actually like some advice as to how long I can avoid accidentally installing any updates before the underlying cause is actually identified and addressed successfully?

ie can I keep successfully avoiding the firmware update and maintaining the function and long battery life I still have (minus onboard gps) if I keep avoiding iphone app updates?

Thanks!

[VisaM]

Todays date is 9/9/2023. My charge 5 still indicates version 188.58. There is no pink Update button, as per the instructions. Help? 

Thanks 

[danielny]

Not sure why everybody is saying they are forced to update the firmware. My tracker has been telling me for months there is an update but isn’t “forcing” me to download the update. I’m still running fine on version 171.50

[NJ-Brad]

What OS is your phone?

Sent from Outlook<>

[kerrieBBOZ]

@NJ-Brad  without an @tag not sure if you are replying to me, but I’m on iOS16.6 although I’ll be updating it tonight to the latest iOS update 16.6.1, and I’m now on Fitbit app version 3.86 (but it was one or two app versions prior that broke the onboard gps).

[JayKay123]

I just started having charge 5 battery drain issues although i'm still on .58 -version and do not have any update available.

But my iPhone updated last night itself to 16.6.1.! Could this be just an incidence?

[BezierNougat]

I'm guessint the iPhone update had nothing to do with it - my iPhone went to 16.6.1 a week or so ago, with no affect on my Charge 5.

But who knows? 

[danielny]

iPhone fully updated. 

[kerrieBBOZ]

@JayKay123 my working theory is that the preparatory changes in the phone app preceding the device firmware update are breaking most of the devices before they can even receive the firmware, hence I'm avoiding any more phone app updates. (But others are getting bricking/battery drain issues even after updating to the new firmware so I'm avoiding both until it can be properly fixed.)

[Contikicaz]

I updated today but the screen will not turn on.  The app says it’s syncing but the screen remains black.  What can I do to fix this?

[GoBos]

Hi,

I am still on firmware 188.58, how long shall I wait as it now is the September 11th? Is it any way to force an update to get rid of my battery drain issue? Thanks.

[Rhiwii]

If my screen has permanently frozen-the clock works and I can tap the screen to light it up, but I cannot swipe in any direction and get any sort of response- would this update if it ever comes to my device help fix the problem? I can’t even just wear it as a watch because if it tracks exercise I cannot clear the little screen that tells me how many zone minutes I used and all that info. So if I exercise using my fitness watch it becomes unusable after that. I have tried changing clock face with the app, and that did change the face, but didn’t fix the problem, it reduces to do a hard reset using the cord, I have let it completely die and then charge up in hopes of reset, and am not able to go into setting because I cannot swipe off clock screen 

[cfa.Jeffs]

people chill. the more users reporting issues the more they will delay rollout. which is the right thing to do (+1). The only PR mistake they made and continue to make is not updating the July post (-1). Each month that rolls by with any news is a pr -1. Anyways I got the pixel 5a when I've received my c5 2 months ago. It updated to 188.58 & I'm getting consistent 6-8 days runtime. (I did set gps to fone since I usually have my phone with me when I'm working out). I use the timer a lot and ecg & eda a few times a week. update: upgraded to pixel 7a. had to reset the watch 4x to get bt paired. =end= hope they get fix out to ppl with issues soon.

Moderator edit:  word choice

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Those who don't have battery drain/capacity issue but want the latest
update.

>From the posts it seems that there are some pple who noted battery issue in
188 and want 194. I can't tell if there are anyone with 194 with battery
issue (but not in 188).

Again for those with battery issues, I hope they find & quickly rollout a
patch for it.

[SunsetRunner]

It turns out that the problem is with version 188. Some people received 194 and had the device completely freeze and become inoperative. At this moment there are also people with the 188 that is freezing and no longer accepts charging. There is only one truth, they (google) are lost, they no longer know what is right and what is wrong. The correct thing would be to do a general downgrade for those who still have the possibility of connecting FB5. For me, as a recent user, Google's neglect is a surprise, I thought it was a top, respected company. A problem of this magnitude cannot be left with the wind and ok, everyone has already forgotten. You have to be quick, hit the target. Apple, Microsoft do this almost on the same day, meaning there is a lack of people in this giant gear to solve this.

[MrCredible]

The issue here is that Fitibt made the decision to not allow its users to do a factory reset (which would reinstall the original firmware that your fitbit came with)
So if you have any issues with your device, there is no way to do basic trouble shooting to determine if its your hardware that is the problem or the firmware.

For the people who are having a battery issue, Fitbit will tell you that your hardware is the problem and that the device needs to be replaced and while this is always a possibility, its not necessarily the correct answer here. I have many years experience working in embedded software systems, specifically in power management, battery algorithms, etc.
If many of my end users were facing a common problem, one of the first things I would have them do would be a factory reset and determine if the power issues remained.

For those who have a bricked device, that persists even after the battery is fully depleted and recharged, this again is due to firmware issues and potentially could be resolved with a way to do a factory reset using a physical switch (holding a button down for example)

Fitbit does not allow you to do a factory reset, whether this is due to limitations within the device's physical memory, their software design process, production process, or to keep users dependent on purchasing newer devices, I do not know.

[mattmotyl]

It's unfortunate. I had high hopes when Alphabet acquired Fitbit, but apparently I should have been less optimistic. I've been a zealot for tracking my activity and weight using Fitbit products for the longest time, and now it looks like I need to find some other company that values its customers. 

[SunsetRunner]

I was looking for a very famous and very expensive ring, and suddenly I saw watches, I found it interesting, as I really need to monitor my sleep and the Apple Watch in the late afternoon, early evening is already discharged and is not suitable for my purpose. I bought a used one and paid very cheaply, otherwise I would be very nervous. Someone has to do something, some body has to intervene and resolve this.