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Charge 5 Logo Blinking / Not Connecting to iPhone / No Forum posted fixes work

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‎09-28-2023 21:04 - edited ‎10-03-2023 19:33

‎09-28-2023 21:04 - edited ‎10-03-2023 19:33

As a heads up for anyone looking for just a general what to expect and to detail what I experienced tonight. 

I went for a run tonight ... Charge 5 worked fine, run synced (1824 EST).  I double-tapped the sleeping screen a little while later, to check the time ... no response.  I put it on the charger - saw the logo flash, figured it restarted, and left it to charge for a little bit.  I put it on a little later and figured it was good to go...WRONG.  I double-tapped the screen to check the time ... nothing.  I put it back on the charger only to find the logo blinking.

I tried all of the forum post solutions related to the problem but here are the issues I am dealing with:

1. Blinking Screen

2. Button Restart Did Not Work

3. iPhone app shows a firmware is available

4. Most likely due to the top issue - Charge 5 does not connect with my iPhone and subsequently I cannot update the firmware.  Yes, I restarted my iPhone, and turned the Bluetooth on and off, and my Charge5 will not connect.

5. I called customer support on the phone, detailed all the issues, passed my data related to the account, confirmed my email address, and was told that I would receive an email with the solution.  I asked what that meant, and the very nice customer service rep (seriously props to Andrea - said with a Spanish accent) explained that I would receive an email today with a warranty solution.

NOTE: I am not hopeful as I bought it to train for the Marine Corps Marathon-50K which I ran in October 2022.

6. As many people have labeled their Fitbits, I now have a little blinking brick.

7. I will post an update once I receive the email. 

--------------

Received an email solution update - 50% off a new device*

*This offer can only be applied towards one Fitbit device currently in stock. This offer is not applicable to Fitbit Ace 3, Charge 6 and Google Pixel watch. 

*The discount offer expires 30 days after receipt.

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Go figure ... the 5 is no longer available and the one that is closest to the 5 is the 6 which you cannot purchase.

This is terrible.

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UPDATE:

My Charge 5 is no longer in the blinking light cycle.  It now syncs with my phone, I changed a watch face via the app as that was supposed to do something, and NOW .... wait for it ... that's it.  The screen doesn't display, there is no feedback when I put the Charge5 on the charging cable (usually you get a vibration letting you know it is connected), and the green light on the back of the watch flashes every once in a while.  On the plus side, I have already logged 23K steps today?

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Update: The screen turned on! Full Charge! It lasted 3 hours then died.  Charged it again!  It lasted 3 hours then died...Hooray!

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5 REPLIES 5

‎09-29-2023 00:49

‎09-29-2023 00:49

This is what I was offered. 

 

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‎09-29-2023 01:12 - edited ‎09-29-2023 01:14

‎09-29-2023 01:12 - edited ‎09-29-2023 01:14

Hi,

Just in case, did you try the restart using the cable button? I had to try several times until my watch was recognized (it wasn't charging/vibrating when plugged). It ended up working then I could sync it to my iPhone again. I did have to try that a few times before it worked and the logo reappeared., the watched vibrated etc. I lost just 24hrs of data, doing that. 

I'm not sure if that's what you meant by 'button restart' and if so I'm sorry for wasting your time. Restarting from the watch itself via the Settings menu didn't work at all for me, nor did all the other things you've mentioned with bluetooth etc. The only thing that worked was the cable restart.

Hope that helps, and know you're not alone. Completely wild that they're sending thousands of watches to the landfill and asking customers to pay, because they botched their software upgrade. And even wilder, they haven't stopped the upgrade from rolling out since July despite ALL the issues reported.

Take care

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0 Votes

‎09-29-2023 11:39

In response to NoCatsWithoutTS

‎09-29-2023 11:39

NoCatsWithoutTS,

Yes, I attempted the cable restart multiple times alas no luck.  I suppose I will keep trying until I figure out what to do next.  Funny, I pulled my Flex2 out of the drawer after almost over a year of not using it, and that joker works like a champ.

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0 Votes

‎09-29-2023 11:40

In response to Fiberscraps

‎09-29-2023 11:40

What is your plan? Did you use your code?  Or are you ditching FB and going to Garmin? 

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0 Votes

‎10-01-2023 07:34

‎10-01-2023 07:34

I had a similar series of problems. I can charge my fitbit charge 5 to 99% remove from charger and it shows 1% charge and dies. It's useless. Had a fitbit for just over a year however this one is a replacement as the first broke so it lasted less than 9  months.

Following for an solution 

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