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Charge 5 Screen/Battery Issues

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‎03-26-2026 14:29 - last edited on ‎03-26-2026 18:01 by Fitbit Moderator

‎03-26-2026 14:29 - last edited on ‎03-26-2026 18:01 by Fitbit Moderator

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 The other day I was having difficulty getting my Charge 5 to charge. Little did I know that it was charging the whole time but the screen was black. Once I tried the 3 pulse forced reset, it still took some time for the screen to work. A day later, it died again! Once it finally charged, the screen has now been flickering, is unresponsive, and overly bright even after changing the brightness setting to dim. All updates have occurred and I even changed the watch face. Is this my sign to get a new one?! Or is there a fix?

 

Moderator edit: clarified subject.

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1 REPLY 1

‎03-26-2026 18:00

‎03-26-2026 18:00

A warm welcome to the community @HaileeBug. 

Thank you for sending over those details regarding your Charge 5. I’m sorry to hear it's been acting up these past few days.

You might have tried some of this already, but please follow the instructions below to be sure you haven't missed anything:

1. Sync the device in the Fitbit app.

  • From the Today tab in the Fitbit app, tap Devices.
  • Chooose the Charge 5.
  • Tap Sync Now.

2. Check for available Firmware updates.

  • With the Fitbit device nearby, open the Fitbit app (make sure the Fitbit device is charged).
  • Tap the Today Tab > Devices > your device.
  • Tap Update (This option only appears if an update is available).

Follow the on-screen instructions: Keep the Fitbit device close to your phone during the update. When the update starts, a progress bar appears on the device and in the Fitbit app until the update is complete.

3. Charge the device:

  • Double-check the connection: Ensure secure connection to the charging cable and that the cable is plugged into a working USB port (computer or UL-certified wall charger).

If these steps don't work:

4. Restart the device: Keep in mind that your data won't be deleted: How do I restart my Fitbit device?

5. Changing the clock face via the Fitbit app can sometimes resolve a black screen issue:

  • Open the Fitbit app.
  • Choose Device Settings.
  • Navigate to the clock face options and try selecting a different clock face.
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