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.

[NSD1971]

Hi Fitbit. Is the message landing yet? Or is someone just busy punching the air in response to the January increase in sales? Would be interesting to know how many others like me had to purchase a new Charge 5 before realising that this is a global issue with no fix. This really isn’t fair or correct. Surely time for a public response. 

[PhillyKeith]

Sadly I think this problem has been going on for a lot longer.  I bought two Charge 5’s over the past year.  The first one would no longer take a charge, so I got a new one.  That one lasted 6 months before the same problem.  I switched over to Apple Watch and couldn’t be happier.  I was a diehard FitBit user but I was tired of the run around. 

[Swannerz]

I recently had to get a refund from the Google Play Store (they mistakenly double-billed me) and was shocked at how slow-moving and bureaucratic they were. My £25 refund took two weeks and about 15 emails. 

[Swannerz]

Oh yes - the red dot / update option has disappeared for me too. So glad I didn't realise that my Fitbit had to be updated manually. 

[Lao924]

Fitbit won’t stand behind their products lasting longer than a year? How long should a Fitbit realistically last? Mine went completely black and unresponsive after the latest update regardless of what I try and Fitbit won’t do anything other than tell me to purchase another product! Why would I purchase again if the first one didn’t last. 

[HFCRacer]

My Charge 5 that I bought in September '23 bricked.  I couldn't find the original box to return it, so I bought a Charge 6.  I hope this one lasts longer.

[KatersG]

This was exactly my experience. It went a bit wonky after the update.  Then I let it drain and restarted it and now it is on and working but draining  really fast.  It is out of warranty but also not that old.  I pay for the premium membership so I am pretty frustrated.  I would appreciate more acknowledgment that this is a known issue.

[Rla0116]

My story is similar yet slightly different. I accepted the update and haven't had a ton of issues since but I went through what others are going through a few months prior to the update. I don't recall the specifics but all of a sudden my Charge 5 stopped working. I spent hours trying to find a solution as to why I couldn't see anything on my watch, it wouldn't connect for a charge, connect to Bluetooth, etc. Then, all of a sudden, it started to work again. I accepted the update, thinking that was what my issue was. Now, the problems that I have (that I've noticed) are with sleep only showing up on my watch intermittently. 

My thoughts are that my problems happened after I allowed my account to switch to Google instead of Fitbit. My main concern is because my account is connected with my health insurance AND with a health study that I am participating in through NIH. I'm wondering what problems I'm going to have in the future because if this. 

[SunsetRunner]

Interesting observation thank you

I have also been keeping away from updating and yes the red dot is no longer showing and neither is the option to update. Thankfully it looks like they have pulled the update. Hopefully they are going to sort it and fix all of the bricked devices 

[CrisVillaFitbit]

Welcome back to the community, @Renzema.

Thanks for letting me know your opinion in regards to the daily readiness score option in your Charge 5 not having a premium subscription.

I recommend you to post this in the Product Feedback board, so our team of developers will be able to check it out and let's be positive that they will take it into consideration.

Thanks for your suggestion and understanding!

[Peng1pete]

Mine, thank goodness, hasn't bricked but the only change I've noticed is with battery life--initially after the update it drained in the course of a few hours. A reset stopped that but now it lasts about 3 days instead of 6, with no other change in usage. Kind of frustrating. 

[mtrgrl]

I took out my Amazfit Bip, which had been sitting in a drawer for years,
and it works just fine.

[AlanBFit]

There is life after fitbit

[MarkinMiles]

Yes @AnnaFZ @, I bought it from Amazon on August 18th 2023 so it should still be under warranty.

[AnnaFZ]

Absolutely, after reading their official flaming gaslight reply to the BBC I'll be surprised if they retain any of their Charge 5 owners. It would serve them right if this tanked the business. 

[MsDarnWright]

The update immediately bricked my Charge 5. After hours of troubleshooting and follow up with Fitbit support they refuse to provide a replacement. 

I'm looking for other tracker brands, completely done with Fitbit after all this trouble. 

[SunsetRunner]

I literally just had this happen to me during lunch. Screen suddenly went black. Phone can see the FitBit, but it won't turn on, won't reset, and customer service was about as helpful as a pit viper. "Ooh... sorry. You did the thing I told you to do and the problem is worse. Too bad your warranty is over! BYEEEE!"

This is maybe the worse user experience I've ever had. I'm giving a lot of thought of leaving Android/FitBit and going back over to Apple. I don't think I want Alphabet to get any more of my money.

[FitbitUser249]

It's quite clear that they are actively choosing to ignore all messages related to this here. It's laughable that everyone is screaming about their device being ruined by their update, absolutely 0 response to any messages for weeks then a Fitbit rep response to a user with a minor complaint unrelated to this. News outlets are picking it up and covering it and not a peep or response here from them. Quite fascinating to see it and ponder what their strategy is. You have to assume that the batteries are fine and that bad firmware is causing this. You either have R&D solve it and release another firmware or take the alternative financial hit/burden that comes w ignoring your users. Maybe it's somehow a lower cost path or they don't have the staff. 🤷

[JewlzK]

No I would never willingly move my  information to Google.  

Exactly how would they fix the bricked Fitbit’s?  My Fitbit will not connect to Bluetooth and it doesn’t turn on.  They cannot magically bring it back to life. The only way to fix this is to offer a charge 6 replacement to those effected. 😡 

[MikeK1967]

Rollback the update.

Stop telling people to unpair. Once you unpair, you are screwed.