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.

[Dchristian]

Same here. Super fun!

[Wayne27]

My charge 5 went from a perfectly working device to complete junk after I updated the firmware. Lost all battery power and can do nothing with it.

Contacted fitbit and got the we are so sorry but your product is out of warranty reply. That's all well and good but it's your update that has ruined my fitbit!

From that response fitbit has lost 2 customers. Hello Garmin! Terrible customer service, our fault, your problem!

[MikeK1967]

Me too. Brick it is

[TravellerGDW]

I updated to this firmware and setup a google account at the beginning of 2024.  My phone worked for a couple hours then stopped holding a charge.  At least that's what I was thinking at the time, I though the battery had given up.  So being the nerd I am, I looked up how to replace the battery and ordered a new one on Amazon.   I know, I know, I voided the "warranty" but it was more than two years old and figured nothing to loose.  Two days later after some gentle prying and holding my breath I had the new battery installed.  Plugged into charger and waited for it to charge.  Guess what?  Exact same problem, acted like the battery was toast. It works when plugged into the charging cord, but when unplugged it only "lasts" about 15 to 30 minutes.  I thought it was a battery charging problem, but when I plug it back into the charger, it says 99% full and works while plugged in.  I also tried a full reset on the charge 5 and re-adding it to my phone, no luck. So, I'm starting to think it's related to the software not thinking the battery is charged enough and the software shuts down the watch. I don't think it's the "new" battery given the watch is acting exactly like it did with the original battery after the update.  I also don't recommend replacing the battery as it didn't fix the problem and of course it voids any warranty.  Just post this as one more clue as to what might be wrong.  As an aside, my wife updated her charge 5 (roughly the same age as mine) and we had to do a full reset using the usb cable 3 button push as it had locked up after changing the time display, but it's been working since.  I think for these types of problems there's really no excuse for fitbit/google to not take back the watch and repair or replace it; no reason it should end up in the landfill after a software update.  I think an updated (or rolled back) firmware might fix the problem too, given I can still connect to my phone after plugging in the watch. Fitbit/Google should allow the customer to roll back a FW update.

[VickyT916]

I am done with FitBit. Has anyone found a suitable replacement? I like my cloth band on the Charge 5.

[mikejisrael]

Another dead Charge 5. It worked perfectly before this update. Not sure about battery because the screen just shows the dreaded cross in red circle. Support so far has been underwhelming.

[Z-Nine]

I've seen this issue being reported on by several tech news articles now. Hopefully the bad publicity illicits a quick response from Fitbit/Google

Edit: Funnily enough, a recent Pixel update had locked out some users from their Pixel 8/pro phones.

[kismet127]

Hi LizzyFitbit, after I did the recent update on my Charge 5, my Fitbit will no longer sync with my phone. My phone is older so only has Android 12. I've since read on this community forum, that our Fitbit's now need Android 15 to work - a heads up before we updated & lost the use of our Fitbit syncing with our older phones would have prevented us no longer being able to use our Fitbit Charge 5. I definitely was not impressed, and don't intend to purchase a new phone, just because of your recent update. They both worked perfectly fine together, before the update!!! Not very happy with the outcome, at all. Cheers !

[mpyusko]

Clock Faces?

Who cares about new clock faces?

Over 1200 people care about the Relax feature, that's even listed in the Fitbit app, used to be a feature on the older models, but we're still being ignored.  There are tons of people with anxiety and high stress situations who benefit from the relax app.  What does a clock face do for them?

Maybe if we had the Relax app, we could relax about it.🤔

C'mon Fitbit... Clock faces are supposed to make us happy over a feature we've been asking about for YEARS?!?!?  Wake up, so we can relax.

[Quiq]

I am from the Netherlands. This article is in Dutch. Also here the same lame actions by Fitbit/Google. In this article they get the advice from Google/Fibit: just buy a new one! Service regarding own product is not provided.

https://www.iculture.nl/nieuws/fitbit-charge-5-problemen/ 

[Hussein.hafez]

I'm adding my voice to the chorus of Fitbit charge 5 users who've had their device bricked by this update. I've followed all the instructions on how to restart with the cable. It vibrates but won't turn on. Happened immediately after the update

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Honestly this has turned me off the brand. I've now bought a polar watch. Even if his gets fixed I've completely lost confidence in Fitbit. Which other company puts out an update like this and doesn't even give an answer

[TeeEm]

My Charge 5 just died after the update. I am just getting constant flashing of the FitBit logo. It won't switch on. The response from Fitbit is as its one month out of warranty, I should buy a new one! What a joke!

[richardbsimpson]

Fitbit Customer Support Have Gone Silent On Me.

They should learn from Sonos, Sonos planned to brick old versions of their products when it was no longer going to be supported by latest firmware/software.

They got a huge backlash from long standing lifetime and dedicated customers, They apologized, they changed there thinking and ultimately there policy and recognized the loyalty they had from there customers.

In todays world its no longer acceptable to brick tech and add it to the ever increasing pile of e-waste.

My opinion is that Fitbit have a corporate responsibility to admit and ultimately correct and resolve this issue of bricked devices due failing firmware update and minimize the amount of e-waste it is generating, be loyal to your customers who have probably been a the journey with you but must be sore tested now.

Time to wake up Fitbit.

[Zaheyu]

Wait for a few days. Mine did not die the next day.

[RM001]

Any suggestions for another brand to purchase? My device is lucky to hold an hours charge since update... whats everyone buying?

[Andistgt43]

Having the same issue - black screen.

frsutrating to hear that Fitbit / Google won’t support a fix. 

After 10 years of being a loyal Fitbit user, it may be time to move to another brand. 

[dan3458585]

One thing I didn’t do is migrate to a Google account for my FitBit App on iOS.  Are those affected by this bug using a Google account?

[Fit4Mountains]

After the update my charge 5 screen is unresponsive.  I've tried to restart using the button on the charging cable, the device will vibrate, but the screen never comes on.  I can see the device in my phone's Bluetooth and it will sync only when the device is plugged in.

[Lao924]

Came here because I’m experiencing the same issue, although I’m not as tech savvy so I’m unsure how to fix the issue at all. Any luck? 

[bttrswt36]

@Lao924 all you can do is hope yours is under warranty because apparently they have zero actual solutions.