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.

[Sean_in_sd]

The Fitbit managed store on Amazon?

[SeanD1956]

They are an authorised seller if the product you purchase indicates "Facilitated by Amazon" BUT the "Warranty/Returns Policy" remains with Amazon, not the OEM, in this case Fitbit. @Hildy029 should return the Charge 5 to Amazon through their Amazon Account, if Amazon gave a 12 month warranty. I hope this makes the situation clear.

[Citigirl15]

I reposted your tweet.  Really, they could push out the previous version that worked, while they figure out what's wrong with this version.

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Second option didn't work for me. 

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Agreed.  Sooner rather than later.  They have unhappy users all over the world.  It's a PR nightmare and will only get bigger.  Google/Fitbit needs to do something now!

[UlrikeDG]

Weird, because Amazon is listed as a Fitbit Retailer on Fitbit's own website. https://www.fitbit.com/global/us/partners/retailers

You may be able to buy from a 3rd party on the Amazon site (Amazon often doesn't make this clear), but when I've looked for Fitbits on Amazon, the default seller has always been Amazon proper.

[iubrian]

I think the first thing to recognize is that Google’s acquisition of FitBit was never about maintaining the brand; it was about acquiring user data. And they are probably close to having sufficiently mined that stream for their purposes.

Second, never attribute to malice that which can adequately be explained by stupidity (or lack of quality control). Charge 5 devices do not make a large enough part of Google’s revenue stream such that it would make sense that they developed a plan to brick some, but not all devices, with the hopes that the owners of those bricked devices would upgrade. Conversely, thousands (or even hundreds of thousands) of ticked off Charge 5 users don’t move the needle either in terms of Google caring to do the right thing, especially if the purpose of their acquisition was data mining, not maintaining a brand, which explains the completely indifferent response - what are thousands of ticked off users of a brand that Google has no interest in continuing long term, and for which it has largely already served its purpose to Google? A figurative drop in the bucket. It’s likely not deliberate malfeasance but it does speak volumes about the ethos of the company. 

[Citigirl15]

This answer is not at all encouraging, and I'm not yet ready to give up on this device and move on.  I'm going to hammer on support a little longer. 

[SeanD1956]

Agree @UlrikeDG but Amazon is the Retailer to whom any warranty/service issues should be directed to for resolution. Look at it from the point of view that you buy a kettle in your local high street store and it fails within warranty. You would take it back to the store, not the manufacturer.

[UlrikeDG]

This might be something that works differently in different countries. Here, most stores have a short return window (usually it's 14 to 90 days depending on the store), during which defective merchandise can be returned for an exchange or refund. Outside of that, and for issues covered by Warranty, you must contact the manufacturer.

In this case, Fitbit is saying that Amazon is different from allll the other stores listed on their page of authorized dealers. If the device had been purchased at Best Buy or Walmart, it would have been replaced.

[MikeK1967]

This is a software issue. They are playing the point finger game.

This is another way to point the finger away from the problem.

[JeremyB78]

The UI update in September was a bother (not good)but workable. This update things aren't working right. Please make a way to roll back to old versions of the firmware. If I can't get this fixed I will look at other options. 

[mtrgrl]

Just installed the update and it bricked my Fitbit. It's completely unresponsive.

[MikeK1967]

Oops. Should not have done that. Google wants you to upgrade.
More money for them. We all are in it now.

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Do NOT do that. You will lose connectivity to the phone. Then you
are screwed to install the previous version. This is SIMPLE, give us
the old version that works and install it.

A rollback!!!!

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Rollback

[SeanD1956]

I'm not sure which country you are in @UlrikeDG but, here in the UK, we have very good and comprehensive Consumer Protection Laws. Generally, if a product fails within the first 12 months, you can get a full refund or a direct replacement despite what the seller says in their warranty/returns conditions. Between 1 and 6 years, you still have rights for a full or partial refund, a replacement or a repair at the manufacturer's cost. After 6 years? You've guessed it!!!

[maggiebro]

Same here. Saw article yesterday about the charge 5.  When I contacted the help desk after Christmas as I was out of my warranty I was treated with disinterest. The issue had showed itself when I migrated to google no problems before this.  Was offered 35% discount from help desk to use on their website but the prices were much dearer than John Lewis and Curry’s so didn’t bother as the discount wouldn’t have made much difference to the price.  I was informed which Fitbit I could and couldn’t use the code for!  Been a user for many years  have had several different Fitbit’s over this time. I am not happy.

[Nat1772]

Loses charge so fast won't last 8 hrs since this update its not even 2 yrs old

Put a fix through reinstate previous version or replace my fitbit

[SunsetRunner]

like so many others, it’s not charging - losing charge overnight (100% to 3%) - display doesn’t come up when tapped. 

[NSD1971]

Exactly the same here. Ended up paying £84.49 for a new Charge 5 with their discount. Am now pretty appalled. Rip off Fitbit. You broke it - you pay for it please

[Renzema]

Please give the option to remove "View your daily readiness score on your tracker" from the watch.  If we are not a premium subscriber, we have no need for this spam on the watch.

[w3wilkes]

Just do a search on "BBC fitbit" and "PC World fitbit". Looks like the story is going world wide.

[DJ59]

Having the same problem, considering on replacing my fitbit also. Any recommendations?