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.

[scott99lee]

Any news on new battery drain problem? My Fitbit went from 99 to dead in an hour yesterday.

[Loulou4022]

I’m so glad I haven’t updated yet. My charge 4 went to tech heaven after an update so I’m always wary about updating and just seen BBC news article. I’m hoping it doesn’t auto update as i’ve just coughed up for 4 new straps in the sale and I won't be purchasing another Fitbit if this goes the same way as my charge 4 before!! Can’t help thinking this is a marketing ploy to get customers to upgrade? 

[Gevans1388]

Randomly dies. Screen won't respond to touch. Plug it in and immediately says battery is at 80% or whatever. I have tried all the resets and other ideas to fix. I reported this weeks ago and all I got was a 35% off a new fitbit, but it can't be applied to the charge 6.  I had a tracker that worked well until the update. I want that back, or another tracker. Not one of your crazy expensive smart watches. I called into customer service and spoke with them for a while, they put me on hold and then hung up. Losing a long time customer.

[MikeK1967]

So agree with this. Fix this!!!!! Or I am gone.

[Mercedi]

I know I won’t buy another Fitbit and I have had 3 trackers so have been a Fitbit user for several years

Sent from my iPad

[MMMHHH]

death of my Fitbit Charge5: overnight on 19th Dec following an update. It went from perfect to dead and unrecoverable in an instant.

Is this:

A: a terrrible mistake that Google should own up to and compensate customers, or,

B: something more sinister, intentionally killing off devices as a way to drive demand for new ones, like the iPhone scandal…? In which case they have just got caught and the PR sh*t is hitting the fan.

Let’s make #fitbitmurders trend..!

[bbunge]

Interesting that some are still having issues with firmware 194.91. My Charge 5 upgraded without a hitch and, in fact, I feel that the battery life is better by a couple of days with this new firmware. I do, however, have the GPS set to phone because GPS on Charge 5 will drain the battery faster and I have a phone with me whenever I'm out.

For those still having issues a factory reset should help.

As for the news articles, it does not help that Google would not comment. The media does tend to hype things up.

[MMMHHH]

There are hundreds of people on here who have had the same catastrophic problem.
If you are real you are a lucky minority, if you are a google/fitbit employee planting a positive as damage limitation it is too little too late, and frankly rather obvious….

[JewlzK]

If only it could be reset.. The device cannot be found, black screen, no vibration when placed in charger, no LED sensor lights.

Updated Friday morning.  App last communication shows battery was 94% full Saturday. 

Tried to reset by 3 x pulse method and 15 sec hold method.  NADA....

[bttrswt36]

For the record, GPS is set to phone and Restart has not worked. Battery drains within the hour immediately following the update.

[bigdog02]

Add another dead one to the pile.  Purchased new June 2022.
Started randomly dying about a week ago - thought it was a fluke.

Took like 6 hours to charge, which I thought was odd, put it back on and wore it.  Dead in 2 days - shut off randomly.

Tried all the reset steps, made sure everything was turned off/set so it was not draining by being on all the time or GPS being on.  
Plugged it in - 22% battery, unplugged it - 42% battery, plugged in 3 button press reset - battery 28%, unplugged - 56%

Charged for hours to 90% and put it on, went from 90 to 70 percent in about 3 hours.

Contacted support, went through all their recommended steps again - no luck.  Basically was told it was out of warranty, sorry, anything else we can help you with?  Found the monster thread about everyone having issues so tossing my name into the pile.  Wife has a Charge 5 as well, expect it to be bricked soon too.
Very disappointed.

[SeanD1956]

Here's the BBC (UK) News item of today: Fitbit customers say devices unusable after update - BBC News

It may not be viewable in other countries but I'm sure that a tech wizard out there can advise how to get around country restrictions! 😉

[YellowBeetle]

The battery problems are affecting my device too

[dan3458585]

Try the second option in this help article https://help.fitbit.com/manuals/charge_5/Content/manuals/Topics/Update,%20Restart,%20and%20Erase/Res... 

[Swannerz]

I'm so thankful for the BBC article as I hadn't updated my Charge 5 (bought in August 2023).

I have had an 3-year-old iPhone bricked by an update recently and I can't take any more of this planned obsolescence from big tech. It's disgraceful. 

[bttrswt36]

@dan3458585 no luck on either restart mode. Battery has already gone from 95% to 50% in about 15 minutes. They need a firmware patch or rollback

[Hildy029]

I got the run around on the warranty for my Charge 5 also.  Purchased in February 2023 on Amazon.  Told they would not honor the warranty since Amazon is not an authorized seller(???).  Responded back that I have been a loyal customer for 10 years who will no longer purchase or recommend Fitbits.  Promptly bought another brand of fitness tracker.  Lost my business with this mess, the poor customer service and lack of resolution.

[SeanD1956]

@Hildy029As an aside to this discussion, you make a very good point about Amazon (and other reseller sites), very few OEM's (Original Equipment Manufacturers) honour warranties if the product is bought through these channels. Hence why they are cheaper than buying direct.

[Swannerz]

Amazon isn't considered an authorised seller? That is outrageous.

[dan3458585]

Must be different hardware versions.   Sorry for your bad experience.