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.

[kkaboom]

Bricked here 😭😭😭😭

[SunsetRunner]

If it's getting hot be very careful of a runaway battery because of a short circuit. Don't put the unit in a drawer and forget about it.

[MandalaWorld]

I had similar issues.  It changed my account to premium, which costs more.  I’ve been trying to get it fixed for well over a month.   I fiannnly seem to have gotten some help after spending a lot of time chatting with them about it.    Don’t give up—-keep at it until someone makes it right again.  

[kiacker]

My Charge5 has been bricked since the last updates, just like everyone else's. After trying everything possible to get it working again I took it off my wrist then threw it on the shelf to let the it die. That was over 2 weeks ago. Went with another tracker instead which offers the same stuff as my Charge5 did for a fourth of the cost. Very happy with the switch!!

Today I took the dead Charge5 off the shelf and hooked it up to charger it to see if it worked. NOPE! - still shows the Fitbit logo screen of death. Opened up the app and guess what?? My dead, sitting on a shelf tracker is still logging steps!! Recorded anywhere from 132 to 1932 steps per day! LOL!

I have had FitBit trackers since 2013 and would never dream of getting anything else, but after this fiasco and the lack of support for users I will NEVER again buy another one of their products. 

[Loleo]

Same here!

Sent from my iPad

[Runforestrun1]

Same here. Customer support is a joke.

Sent from my iPad

[Aussiej1]

Sadly would be a waste of a match

- we all want to know what you have.

Am sure some of us would see it before the 'powers that be take it down

[bulloo]

As experienced by other co users the opinion about performance of charge 5
is almost similar and shameless who are at helm of affairs have never dared
to put a word of consolation which could have shown their concern about
our plight.

Moderator edit: removed personal info.

[MamboMike]

Thanks for the reply, mine doesn't even get a logo screen , so as you I'm looking at non Fitbit options, once bitten ...

[ian.pennington3]

Tell us all please

[MamboMike]

Fitbit must be aware of the problem by the number of charge 5 's dropping off the grid ?

[MorselA]

Funny thing, I obtained a charge 5 that had not been activated. Once I put
it on my account and it went through the normal first time updates 194.61
was not even pushed out. Starting to think it wasn't the update but the
process of pushing the update that messed watches up.

[RKY14]

I agree.

[Loleo]

This is their forum!

Sent from my iPhone

[SunsetRunner]

Dang...I missed the CA post. Hopefully I didn't delete the email. 

[Jbphdelaney]

They don’t care. I’m thoroughly convinced they intentionally sent out an update to cause these problems in the hopes we would all upgrade to the new Fitbit. I’m out! Idk what I’m upgrading to yet, but I’m done giving money to Fitbit! 


Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

[SunsetRunner]

@Jbphdelaney - It works fine for me. I just want to track basic statistics. It doesn't have a couple of features like ECG, but I rarely looked at that anyway. It also has some features the Charge 5 didn't. And it was way way way cheaper so I won't be nearly as upset if it only lasts 14 months like my Charge 4 did. Same with the Charge 5, except that was Fitbit's fault. 

[kkaboom]

I ended up getting a 40 dollar knock off, waiting for it to arrive. Can't be worse than the 200dollar paperweight my Charge 5 became 😔

[Jbphdelaney]

I found the ECG never worked that well anyway. When I actually needed it to work (like when I wasn’t feeling well), it would give me error messages saying it couldn’t get a good read, and to go to my doctor if it kept happening. Kind of defeats the purpose . . . 

I’m thinking my knockoff may actually work better! I sure hope so! It’s coming today!

[6TJS6]

@Mistadobalina     Unfortunately, this only seems to be for those that received the version 194.61 update. A lot of people were still on version 188.58 when everything started to implode, such as myself. I don't remember ever getting a prompt to update to the newer firmware, and it doesn't seem it was avoidable to update for some. I still wonder if it has something to do with the new update trying to install, but then failing. To me this would better explain why some people started having problems after the update, as well as those that are still on the older version. Seems too coincidental that both versions started having the same issues in the same approximate time frame.