Charge 5 Firmware Update 194.91

[LizzyFitbit]

We’re excited to announce that a firmware update version 194.91 for Charge 5 is now available! If you installed it, let us know what you think!

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.

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.

[iubrian]

Disheartening is a good way to describe it. I can’t speak for everyone but for myself, with the exception of a firmware update last year that temporarily and not so drastically impacted battery life, I have been very pleased with my Charge 5. I personally do not want a “smart watch,” I want a less obtrusive fitness tracker that provides a lot of health data, and for most of the time I’ve owned it my Charge 5 has checked those boxes for me, as have the previous generations. That’s part of the anger - they took a product I was very satisfied with and “broke” it. Now, I am hopeful that it is temporary, but as someone who has owned their products for almost 8 years, and who wants to continue to be a customer in the future, it seems that loyalty and customer satisfaction are unimportant. I know that the $150 I spend every year or two isn’t a massive amount, but it is something. I would guess that it is a minority of devices that have this issue, but I don’t know. Regardless, while I don’t know the exact formula for what would make it right, I know offering a discount on the same, now two year old version of the tracker isn’t it. Maybe offering a discount on the 6 would be; I could probably live with that - knowing that I have had my Charge 5 for a while, I don’t know that I would expect a full new replacement, but something that says “we are sorry you are having this issue; we are trying to find out in the cause but we know how inconvenient to you this must be. We value you as a customer and while we can’t give you a new tracker, we would offer you a 50 percent discount on the Charge 6.” I would probably think that is a fair compromise, and, assuming that this is an issue that impacts a minority of devices, would not seem to be cost prohibitive. I would continue to tout Fitbit’s praises. Now, on the other hand, if this issue is far more pervasive, then maybe discounting new devices would be cost prohibitive BUT that would raise a whole other set of issues. 

But yes, disheartening - I think reading between the lines of the anger of the posts, the message is “we like your devices when they work, and we want to continue to be your customers. Why are you behaving this way?” 

[MeaghanCR]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Fitbit!

I got my Charge 5 the week it came out and I've been dying for new watch faces.  I had no problems with the update, I see others have... For the first time in a while I'm very pleasantly surprised with this update so thanks 🙂

[TuTTi57]

Very well said. I agree. Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

[Hildy029]

My Charge 5 has not tracked any data since the afternoon of 01/14/2024. The firmware update was installed.  The battery life is much shorter-I have charge it every 18 hours or so.  It no longers for days as it in the past.  I have reached out to online help for assistance-none of thier suggestions have resolved the issues.  For now, my fitbit is just a fancy watch since it no longer tracks steps, exercise, sleep ect.  I am very disappointed with the update and the lack of resolutions to my issues.  

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Very well said-I've owned a Fitbit for over 9 years now.  This update has broken my fitbit and I have gotten no resolution from customer service.  I really don't want to buy a new device.  But I may be forced to move on from Fitbit after this.

[Solo34]

My Fitbit also stopped working as it updated!

[iubrian]

For the love of God why are you continuing to push out this update! You know it’s bricking devices. The lack of a solution is one thing. The inability to roll back to a stable version is another. BUT CONTINUING TO PUSH AN UPDATE THAT RENDERS DEVICES UNUSABLE AFTER YOU ARE ON NOTICE THERE IS A PROBLEM!!! WHO, in the history of software does that!? 

[PauloSergio]

Mine was updated, but earlier today when I arrived at my house, I noticed that a problem had suddenly arisen, it flashes the Fitbit logo and sometimes an "x" appears inside a red circle. What is the problem?

[Airport-Andy]

After updating yesterday (before reading about the problems) my phone app today says I have no sleep data, yet if I open the sleep data page the data is there. Also the same is happening with the Health Metrics, the first screen says no health metrics data, but I can open the page and the data is there and I can get the 7 day chart etc.

[TanyaBray]

I am having the same issue and would like a solution.

[RJayneC]

The update has broken my Charge 5. 

Completely bricked it. 

It's firmware, I don't buy the 'we can't fix it' responses people have been getting, as firmware can always be fixed. 

[TP777]

Hi Bantam59,

 I am also from Australia and have run into the same issues as you, the charge 5 I purchased almost exactly a year ago, do you have any suggestions how did you get a full refund?

[TP777]

I am having all the same problems as everyone below has posted, firstly terrible battery life, then lose of functions (like HR), now the Charge 5 is just blank,  has no flashing lights at the back, can't sync and doesn't even buzz when put on charger.  This product is less than 1 year old, please let me know how I get a refund or replacement 

[SunsetRunner]

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@SunsetRunner wrote:

I had quite the ordeal with the update. The Fitbit would crash constantly and forcing a restart with the charger had no effect. Finally, I cleared the user data on the Fitbit and it stopped crashing. However, it now loses about 1% of its battery per minute. Restarting it, rebooting my phone, and clearing the cache have no effect. I purchased this in Nov '22 and before the update the battery would last 6 days.

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Update: I contacted support and it was determined my battery is the issue. It was never an issue before the update. Also because I purchased the Charge 5 in Nov 2022, it is out of warranty. I was given a 50% discount code for another Fitbit device but I think it's time to switch to a Samsung. Whats funny is I just hit my "10 years of the Fitbit Community" as I was typing this. 

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Update from my previous post:
I have factory reset my phone, cleared the Fitbit's user data multiple times, and tried changing watch faces at least 10 times and it still drains the batter from 100% to empty in less than an hour. The last time I cleared the user data, I did not connect it to my phone; it is still draining very quickly. Since this has been happening for over a month I don't believe it will ever get fixed. It is time to move on.

[Daveleeander2]

Good luck getting anything out of them

[AkaZulu]

Less than 48 hours ago this firmware has been installed and I've had massive battery drain issues. Only lasting an hour before needing a complete recharge. Had my device for 6 months from new and never had this issue ever. Battery life would be good for a week before needing a charge. This issue has rendered my device useless for every purpose it was intended for. 

Is there a way to roll back this firmware to the previous one ?? 

Tried resyncing and removing. Tried clock change with mixed results, mostly unable to sync, whereas before never was an issue. 

Also, there is no Readiness info when I swipe up as the update notes has suggested there be. I've been a Premium subscriber since day 1 of ownership.

Surely the tech heads can release a fix already and provide an update to the community ?

[AlanBFit]

Yeah right...sorry for this happening. I have a fw update sitting waiting
for action. I refuse to update.

[AnnaFZ]

Unfortunately it's completely screwed. They will try to tell you it will be
fine with the 4.08 app update. I don't believe them. The sensors on mine
failed as soon as I updated it.

[AnnaFZ]

Good for you. I hope more people read this and do the same.

[PrincessMelly]

I've been going in circles with Fitbit and they won't even acknowledge the issue. 

If your device is still under warranty they'll probably replace it for you. But for those of us whose fitbits are outside of the warranty we're basically screwed.

[Sideshowsusie]

Exactly the same for me