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!

---

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.

[BSmart59]

Battery life is now less than 8 hours. Not happy.

[JSK56]

Why are they still pushing out this trash update. 

[BSmart59]

Well, at least the name makes sense now. Charge 5 times a day.

[JSK56]

Mine doesn't even last 2 hours. It's 7 months old. 

[keibri28]

No worries pretty soon it’ll just be dead and you wont ever have to charge it again.

[Stephen_Macca]

Yep, make sure you get the update - you too can have a broken Charge 5. 

Pitiful company, pathetic customer service. 

[MPiii]

My charge 5 was able to charge to 90% with the recent update but now it's completely bricked.  Will no longer accept a charge and seems to be bricked from the update. 6 days out of warranty..

[JLord1]

I am on the phone with support right now and they are refusing to help and just advised, yes our techs are working on it. My fitbit has worsened to the point that i can't pull it off the charger at all now or the screen goes black and I have to start charging it all over again. The support refused to help and said my fitbit is out of warranty so they can't replace it. I'm confused how this is even ethical from a business standpoint: company rolls out update that completely destroys users devices and says, "come spend more money with us for a new device"... I could understand the warrant piece if the fitbit was broken due to my own error, but this is a company made error that's caused devices to break and they won't even take ownership of it. And they have no timeline on when the devices will be fixed. I'll go spend my money with Apple who I know will provide me with a reliable device and support. What a shame because I truly loved the fitbit community and my fitbit devices. I've been a fitbit customer for YEARS. 

[Jenny803]

They offered me a coupon. 

This is madness. 

The device was FINE until their bad code. 

Marketing idea for Apple or Samsung. Offer us the same savings on your tech. 

This is NONSENSE. 

[chilehead]

Interesting, if their techs are working on it why do they continue to roll out the defective firmware? 

[Jenny803]

My personal favorite part was them telling me they are not liable for damages from their mandatory firmware updates. 

So if I cannot opt out of an update?

WHO is responsible for the damage exactly? 

[greenghoulie]

The bummer is that only a small portion of users show up to the forums to seek help. There is likely a larger percentage of Charge 5 users that simply bought a new one assuming that it was a user error.

[Jenny803]

How do we know the new ones won't brick the same way? There is nothing to say the problem they won't take responsibility for has even been fixed.

So why don't they care?

Did Google just want to poach the tech and not care about Fitbit as a product?

Because wow it smells that way...

[greenghoulie]

I hope you have that in writing.

[Jenny803]

They emailed it to me. 

Sure do. 

[SunsetRunner]

"Did Google just want to poach the tech and not care about Fitbit as a product?

Because wow it smells that way..."

Hopefully not, because personally this whole fiasco of beta testing on unsuspecting owners and poor support reflects on Google Pixel as badly as fitbit.

Not taking ownership of the balls up and expecting people to buy back in because of their failings isn't a good look.

[Jaime.k]

Yeah I think that is what is happening because Fitbit is telling the Tech sites its only a very small percentage of users who are having an issue- when really I think it is a large scale issue- they offered me the crappy 35% discount on a new one good for only 30 days- i have bought a new tracker through a different company to see how good it is compared to the charge 5- way cheaper and seems to have more stuff

[JSK56]

They are at least replacing mine under warranty. They said it shipped on Wednesday and it was to arrive Friday by USPS. It is still showing waiting to be picked up by USPS on their site. Does anyone have an email address for Fitbit? 

[chilehead]

@Jaime.k of course none of us know what the percentage is. Looking here it appears everybody is getting bricked. It's probably a small amount but without any feedback from Fitbit it's hard to give a lot of confidence to them.

Not sure what brand you went with. I won a few different trackers from Amazfit, and they are a lot cheaper and seem pretty reliable. I put one of those in my glovebox while I'm traveling as I expect Fitbit to brick my charge 5 any day now.

[JSK56]

I would have to believe it is most users. Why only a few? It wouldn't make sense unless they sold a defective unit for a period of time.