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.

[SarithaK]

Hello,

I was able to see heart rate, sleep score and oxygen saturation immediately
after restart. After sometime that too would stop.

[RSchulze]

Same issue as so many here on the forums. Black screen, unresponsive. Tracks metrics, but drains battery from 100% to 0% in half a day.

Doesn't look like a hardware issue since the logo is displayed when rebooting via the "press three times on the chargring cable" and the logo with loading bar when switching the clock face. Neither bring back the normal watch interface though, stays black.

Feels like a software/firmware issue.

[Mamabeartoyou]

Yep. Thats all I can see. Reached out to support, told me the same troubleshooting that Ive done all morning. And now of course my charge 5 isnt under warranty anymore and all they could help with is give me a 35% off to buy a new one! Come on! Just terrible. 

[GWB67]

That's what they always end up saying if they can't fix it over the phone. I think they expect these devices to not last very long so try to tempt us with a discount.

My replacement device at the moment is ok, but then it's not yet updated the firmware.

[Hendrik55]

Hello,
My advice to anyone with (battery) problems after the firmware update to 194.91.
Contact the Fitbit helpdesk in your country by phone. Tell them that you are having problems with the battery and want a solution. You may need to do a few things first.
If the problems persist, demand a solution from Fitbit. Even though your Charge 5 may be out of warranty, you are still entitled to a properly functioning device, with a useful life of at least 5 years or more. In my case I have referred to European legislation according to which you are entitled to a usage period appropriate to the device.
My Charge 5 was 3 months out of its 2 year warranty, but I still got a new one for free. So don't pay anything
This new one has been running on firmware 188.58 for a month now and I hope it doesn't get updated. Battery life seems even better than my first one.
Maybe someone should mark this as the best answer. (I can't do that myself) and I hope that many users will benefit from it and manage to get their defective Charge 5 replaced.
Good luck!

[FitbitUser2124]

what is your firmware now?

[FitbitUser2124]

hi

is your replacement firmware updated to 194.91 ? if you have, does it work
normally without battery problem, blank screen ETC?

[Hendrik55]

Still on 188.58

No problems, working fine 🙂

I hope 194.91 stays away from it.

[GWB67]

My replacement device still on 188.58 too. The first device packed up at 8 months.

[truenorthernone]

Exact same issue and response. No way I’ll spend more money with a company whose product barely lasts a year. 

[tcat007]

I'm at 2 years, 1 month. No issues other than really slow updates.  Had the draining issue twice, but reboot with USB button fixes that.

[truenorthernone]

Be happy you’re in Europe and have a 2 year warranty and legislation that supports consumers. Here in the US we only have a one year warranty and no protection beyond that. My Charge 5 bricked after 16 months and the company offered a discount if I buy a new one. I’m buying my next fitness watch from a different company. 

[SarithaK]

There's been a change after Google 's takeover for sure.

---

Thank you Georgia. I tried several times, it is not 100%. Either the step count starts & stops again, no heart rate recognition & battery still drains in a day. Luckily, it is still under warranty, going for replacement.

[Hendrik55]

I tried to send this message to Lizzy, but it seems I'm blocked...

"Hello Lizzy,

In the firmware 194.91 thread you sad: "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."

But I don't see any comments or reactions from you and there are many unexpected behaviors after your update. But still no answers or solutions from Google/Fitbit. A hole thread with problems. Is that not enough?

This makes you unbelievable as a Fitbit moderator."

Greetz

[Markfm]

Update on my Charge 5 - replacement is being sent for a faulty HR sensor. 

It took 10 days, doing what the support staff asked, providing them the data back that was requested, to reach the "okay, we'll provide you a replacement" point, but that's something I'm used to having owned other-manufacturer products with email-based support.  Fitbit staff were uniformly polite, friendly, simply following their debug prices.

I'd originally seen the problem around March 19.  I did a clear data and reset, things worked well for a couple weeks.

(No battery drain or hard freeze issue, but the HR was significantly under-reporting during strenuous exercise, and a few times would show a very high, wrong, HR.)

In early April the errors started up again.  It would only rarely, briefly, make it to the Cardio zone, though other sensors I have showed I was clearly in the Cardio zone for extended periods, and I often saw the reported HR decreasing over time (down to the 70s while I was in the 120 - 130 range).

Net, this replacement round has been painless, given I did what they asked to get them to understand it really was not functional.

[tcat007]

Think it's worth buying an Inspire 3 as Charge 5 replacement?  It seems to have fewer issues and better accuracy.  I don't use GPS.  I've been trying to get away from Fitbit, but nothing come close to accuracy without going high dollar (Oura, Apple).  I don't use Apple products.

[Markfm]

It depends on what you're looking for.  I prefer the Charge's larger screen and being able to use Fitbit/Google Pay (not available on the Inspire), and the new C6 is supposed to have pretty good HR sensing (people's opinions vary, always outliers, but reading the ones where it's actually checked against an  accurate chest strap it looks like it's solid).

[Mrfreez]

Oh no, my charge 5 was also « contaminated » this night: black screen and no charge this morning 😭

And the press-3-times-charger hack doesn’t resurrect it. Firmware 194.91 for 3 weeks…

I’m so disappointed

[FB4TP]

I agree, in part, with Geertz. For these forums to work, to have sincere feedback from users, its critical that Google/Fitbit participate.

There have been an enormous outpouring of feedback on the 194.91 build from the public. By contrast, nothing from Google/Fitbit. The trajectory at the moment looks to be a loss of faith in the forum, the product, and the brands.

[Arimathea]

My Charge 5 is no longer named correctly.

It will not charge. At all. I have tried the reset procedure as well as the normal charge procedure. No response.

This device is less than 2 years old.

I have been a Fitbit owner since 2012. I am very disappointed with this one.