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.

[Alison100]

I have had a shocking experience with this update.  Especially as I didn't actually ask it to do an update.  On the 14th of January my charge 5 just went black.  I reset it using the cable and it charged up to 100% and seemed fine, but when I went into the app it gave me a message to continue the update.  The update drained the battery to 0% and now it doesn't charge past 1%, no matter how many times I reset it.   How do I go back to the previous version.  I can not use my fitbit at all as it does not hold charge for even a few minutes.  Prior to the update it would easily hold charge for an entire week.

[Yellowstonegirl]

Totally agree. I think Google plans to discontinue Fitbit products,
incorporating them in Pixels.

It this is true, the lack of support for what we have will not make me want
to buy the replacement.

Fix this, please!

[RuthyH]

Mine has done exactly the same.

Black screen but can feel it buzzing and its tracking everything in the app but can't see anything. 

This has only happened after the update so Fitbit really need to release a new update to fix this problem as its happened to so many people.

Or is it just a way to try scam people out of more money to buy a new one??

If it doesn't get resolved by fitbit, I will never be purchasing another fitbit again.

[SeanD1956]

I'll see how it goes as I have warranty until Jan 2025. With the discount, I got it for £74.50 - which is still a lot if it's likely to fail after a year - I wouldn't pay any more.

[kfair]

My screen went black and no longer charges.  Cannot reset with button on charging cable.  Contacted customer service to tell me it’s out of warranty.  They then suggested that I install the update.  How could I possibly do that when it won’t charge and I can’t see the screen?  They just lost a longtime Fitbit customer.  I can’t afford to keep replacing every 2 years.

[Itchybuzz]

 all of a sudden my charge 5 won’t hold a charge.  Device isn’t usable now.  What happened and how can I fix this?

[markand]

I’m in the same boat. It drains in a day or 2. 

[bttrswt36]

Firmware update killed my battery, would your company mind addressing and rectifying the issue instead of saying "gee that's too bad".

[dan3458585]

Try second option if you haven’t https://help.fitbit.com/manuals/charge_5/Content/manuals/Topics/Update,%20Restart,%20and%20Erase/Res... 

[Citigirl15]

How about pushing out a previous version that actually worked and didn't drain the battery or a patch that doesn't drain the battery so that we can continue using our devices while you figure out what is wrong with this release?

[renaegeerlings]

Two big downsides I've noticed since this upgrade.  

1.  My battery dies immediately.  I used to go DAYS without needing a recharge and now it's constantly out of battery so it's off my arm a lot more. 

2.  My screen doesn't respond like it used to.  It doesn't turn on when it tap it.  In fact, sometimes the only way I can GET it to turn on is to plug it in (even when the battery isn't dead.) 

It feels like this was the 'Kill the Charge 5 to make people upgrade" upgrade. And I'm still eagerly waiting for the Challenges to come back since that was the BEST feature on the Charge and the whole reason why I bought one for my father...just before Google came along and killed them! 😭

[JewlzK]

Same.  Updated on Friday. Dead by Sunday.  No customer help.  Another Fitbit brick.

[Tom_Wal]

I just read about the battery issue after the December 2023 firmware update.

I thought my Charge 5 was broken out of warranty so went out and bought a Charge 6. Fantastic. A waste of £120 I didn't need to spend as I was happy with my 5.

I've noticed sleep score seems to not work on my Charge 6. Have a black tattoo on my wrist. Switched it to the other arm overnight (no tattoo) and low and behold, my sleep was tracked.

Is the Fitbit issue with dark skin still a thing??

[MikeK1967]

Well, my charge 5 does not work now.     Won’t respond.      Gross

[MMMHHH]

My charge 5 died when the update landed. It was perfect and then suddenly died overnight. It was only a year old. I’ve tried rebooting it about 50 times. No signs of life. I’m reading hundreds of these same stories. this update has been catastrophic  and killed hundreds (maybe thousands..!)  of people’s devices. How will we be compensated? 

[bttrswt36]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/technology-68140297.amp

We should all start reaching out to news outlets 

[SunsetRunner]

Seems that the BBC have picked this one up earlier today!

About time 

I won’t post link

as my last posting with links (a few pages back) got deleted

maybe customer services at Fitbit will start to take this issue more seriously 

[nearthound]

Thanks for info re article!

[nearthound]

Thank you!

[Yellowstonegirl]

Sorry to hear that.