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.

[40ishek]

This morning, my Fitbit Charge 5 showed a battery level of 28%, but it quickly dropped to 19% in just a minute. When I plugged in the charging cable, the battery level immediately increased to 27%. I quickly unplugged it, and the level stayed at 27%. Four hours later, the battery is at 24%. I am monitoring the situation.

[AnnaFZ]

Mine has dropped 44% overnight and the sleep tracker has stopped working.
Apparently I had less than 3 hours last night, which my sedative
painkillers make extremely unlikely! I think I need to shop around for a
replacement, and it won't be Fitbit.

[Markfm]

My sleep monitoring also appears messed up.  Today it shows a sleep period of 3:46, over 23:38 - 03:50, but HR graph appears consistent with sleep until 08:00 (actual sleep period).

[SunsetRunner]

@ED57they have to care before they would replace products that their firmware update bricked. And they obviously don't care, since this has been going on since July 2023 and they have yet to acknowledge they screwed things up. Company policy - don't admit guilt, so as to limit liability. I moved on quite a while ago. I only stayed around to see if they come to their senses or finally get a firmware update that fixes everything. And to provide advice to move on to another company from one that doesn't give a plug nickel about their customers.

[M3ta]

Interesting. Like many others in this thread I've noticed increased battery use/decreased battery life. Thankfully my fitbit is still somewhat usable think I'm down to 3 days basically from 5+ but think you should be pulling diagnostic logs from folk to hunt down the bugs in the update.

[SunsetRunner]

I just received my replacement device and it's running 171.50.   With no available update.  DOES FITBIT HAVE A CLUE???

[SunsetRunner]

You're in the first part of the game... I hope it stops there, and you won't encounter any more issues in the future. But based on users, we all experienced three days of battery life at some point, then less... After that, the Fitbit starts glitching, showing an increased amount of brightness on the screen. Then, sensors begin to fail, and at some point, when you charge the watch, it doesn't even read the charging properly. Eventually, it simply stops working completely and there's absolutely no way to turn it on again.

It breaks down in steps, which is hilarious.

[SunsetRunner]

If they downgraded the factory units to 171.50 and no updates are visible, then they know its software related issue. 

Question is, what the hell happened and how is it destroying the device? would love to see that code! haha.

[LauraVN]

I'm having the same problem....

[mlepage]

I also got the update over the holidays. I didn't notice anything weird at first, but twice my battery drained fully without even sending a low battery notification, much earlier than I would expect (say 5 days or so between charges, for my Fitbit Charge 5 purchased at release).

The second time the battery died, I got the red/white circle/x device-lock-up that required the charging cable button presses to resurrect the device. The device rebooted and charged, but since then over several days, reboots, drain/recharge, etc. the device has not counted any steps/heartbeat/sleep or reported any to the app on the phone (Pixel 6 Pro).

I did read this forum thread at that time.

As it was Dec 31, 2023 I put the Fitbit Charge 5 away, researched other options, and went out and bought a Galaxy Watch 6 which I've been using ever since.

However, I'd still like to resurrect my Fitbit Charge 5 (which is fine, but the update wrecked) and am curious if there is any new update that fixes these issues (I'm not interested in the new watch faces) so I can continue to use the device, or let my kids use it.

Also I'm very disappointed in Fitbit. I had one of the earlier models (Flex) and the Charge 5, which I was happy with, but failed me when I needed it (I was trying to exercise every day over the holiday break).

[Velmore]

Since the update the sleep does not show any more on the fitbit. It does show on the phone and here on line

[IanFree1066]

I did my update and now it’s just not working at all

[Marjolaine79]

You are still within the 12 months warranty period.  Contact customer service and ask for a replacement.

My Charge 5 did the exact same thing in 2022 after an update and they replaced it since I was about at the 1 year mark.

if you are beyond the 1 year warranty period, only thing they’ll do is offer a 35% rebate on a new one, even if it it obvious something went wrong with because of a software issue and not improper care or use.

[JohnTheBrave]

What is the curent situation with replacements? A few years ago I had to go get a free replacement watch under warranty and was told I can have the same model but it does not come with a one year warranty - the warranty runs until the end of the old watch or get the discount for a new one with a new warranty - sucks!

[Widdershins]

It's all in the small print "weasel words" whether their policy is a timespan from the initial purchase date or the date on which you take possession of the item (and subsequent items should that occur). The shorter (disadvantageous) version is a common business policy over many manufacturers and countries.

[AnnaFZ]

Since my first post about battery life I have done two charger resets and
recharged twice. It is currently flat again. Since doing the resets the
sleep tracker and heart rate monitor have stopped working. It is rapidly
failing.

Does anyone know if Fitbit have addressed the issue publicly?

I wonder how many people would be interested in an Apple style class
action? 🤔

[Murphy21]

Having the same issue here

did you get a resolution? 

[AnnaFZ]

Not even a response.

[Murphy21]

That’s disgraceful on Fitbit’s part

it's my teenaged son’s watch. Didn’t sync it since Nov, did that last night and now it’s dead completely before even getting to the evidently dodgy software ‘update’

my update went through ok yesterday but battery life is shot

looks like we’ll be switching from Fitbit asap so 

[WendyL.]

My screen is still black on the charge 5, no change after trying to restart it - having the same vibes after pushing the buttons but no screen view except the the initial fitbit logo that it's restarting.