Charge 5 band falling off

[anja.2000]

I had my Charge 2 for ages and have just upgraded to a Charge 5. Really disappointed that after only a few weeks the upper clasp keeps coming undone and the Fitbit falls off my wrist or gets stuck in my sleeve. I almost lost it already. Can’t believe that this issue has still not been addressed in the product design and fixed, very disappointed…… 

[SunsetRunner]

I had this happen once after I switched from the small band to the large.  I discovered in order to fully lock the band you need to give a significant push.  I position my thumbs opposite so they are pressing toward each other and then give a good push.  Band has not popped off during a variety of exercises (push-ups, inverted rows,etc.) nor when it gets caught on a snug fitting sleeve.  YMMV 

When I push them together it just seems to compress the band tab in to the slot of the fitbit so the latch catches fully.  I think by design it is intentional, as to make a connection that remains under tension making it difficult for the release inadvertently, but not necessarily intuitive for some to press so hard to engage. Personally, I feel I press way harder then should be needed, but it seems to work (for me at least).

[Lymmeln]

Yes. That. I figured ut when Charge five. arrived

[Bleepblopp]

I put a tiny amount of gorilla glue in the space when the two connect.  Ghetto fix 😆😎

[DavideFitbit]

Hi everyone, thank you for sharing all the steps that worked out for you. I'm great to know some of you have also received a replacement and have seen an improvement. 

If you're still having this inconvenience and you haven't done so already, please make sure to get in touch with the Customer Support team for further assistance with this. Click here to get connected

Have a good day. 

[SunsetRunner]

Appreciate these posts about charge 5. The connectors on my charge 4 broke. Since they broke at 13 months the response from Fitbit was to offer 35% off another device. I wondered why I would get another Fitbit and these posts confirm my caution. Thank you 

[Rothgar]

I'm a newbie to fitbit. Got one from Scan, my HMO, and thought it was pretty cool. Had it about two weeks and then it fell off my wrist and hasn't been seen again. Woke up on my boat with it on, mid-morning it was gone, maybe overboard. It was engaged correctly and the band end tucked under as instructed. Didn't matter. I would think it's not that hard to make a more secure clasp. 

[Lymmeln]

Try to put the band that is over under the band I did that and have never had any problems since that

Hämta Outlook för Android

[DavideFitbit]

@SunsetRunner @Rothgar @Lymmeln Thank you for sharing your feedback and your experience with the wristbands of different Fitbit devices. Your comments are greatly appreciated and the team of developers continues to work to improve the quality. 

See you around. 

[Miyamae6]

I am also allergic to the silicon band. My skin turns red and blisters. I got several off-brand replacement bands a few months ago. I never had any problems with the one I chose. That fitbit was stolen when I was on a trip- I left it in the bathroom when I took it off to shower. I just got a replacement Charge 5 and the bands don't stay on it  Everytime I tried to slip it on, it would unclip. : (. My older elastic band that looks like a hair scrunchie is staying on though!  I think it may be because the other ones have a plastic connector piece, whereas this scrunchie band has metal clips?

Anyway, I'm thinking you have to just use trial and error to get one that will stay on. The best would be if fitbit made more varieties of  cloth or leather bands for people who are having reactions to the silicon. I'm guess brand name bands will fit better...

[DavideFitbit]

Welcome to the Fitbit Community forums, @Miyamae6. 

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with your Charge 5 and the wristbands. 

Could you please confirm if you've been experiencing any allergic reaction with the Charge 5 that you got?

Regarding the band that is constantly unclipping, this is not an expected behavior and it's recommended to get in touch with the Customer Support team if you continue to have this problem so they can let you of what are the options available for you. 

I'll be around. 

[Slc1966]

I'm having the same problem with my charge 5. The bottom half of the band will not stay securely in the tracker. I push until it clicks, but it comes out very easily. I have release tabs on the top/bottom, which is where my band attaches. I see references to side latches/butto s, but can't seem to find them. Any help is appreciated

[JordMan]

Contact Customer Support. They gave me a new band and I haven’t had an issue since!

[Cgiampietro]

My band also came off while swimming with the Charge 5 today. Unfortunately it is lost to the ocean now. Never once have I removed the band from the watch, so there should have not been any issue with it not being clasped correctly. 

I'm extremely disappointed that an active-wear watch was able to come off so easily. Might be my first and last Fitbit. 

[DavideFitbit]

Welcome to the Community forums, @Slc1966 @Cgiampietro. 

I'm sorry to see that you're experiencing the same problem with your Charge 5 and the wristband. 

If you haven't done so already, please make sure to get in touch with the Customer Support team so they can provide you with further assistance with this. They will let you know the options available for you in this case. 

Keep in mind that every case is evaluated individually, but I do recommend that you continue the communication with them to know more about your options. You can click here to get connected via chat or to call us directly. 

See you around. 

[outlw]

Since this is the first thread that pops up when researching the issue, I will post my observations and fix here 😉

To me, it looks like the tolerances for the post (on the band) and housing (on the Fitbit) are too large, and the retaining clip possibly is a touch too short.

At one end, this can lead to a connection that is overly tight and hard to press all the way in until it clips into place.

At the other end, where my issue is, the hosing on the Charge 5 is too large, or the post on the band is too small, leading to excessive slop and a loose connection that unclips itself very frequently.

Without being party to the design process or having the component drawings, a possible fix for Fitbit could be to deepen the well where the clip clasps into the post, extend the length of the clip slightly and increase the spring force a bit (making the clip pull the band towards the body of the device harder, but possibly making it more difficult to remove the band).

Since I am really not a fan of silicon bands, I have an inexpensive aftermarket Milanaise band with a magnetic clasp on it, which I find to be perfect.

Unfortunately, the tolerances are so off between the post and housing that it constantly unclips, with the issue being more pronounced after wearing it for a few months.

I must say, I have not tested the stock bands, so this could be an issue more with aftermarket parts than the first party ones.

My band though is so loose though that it frequently unclips from something as simple as flexing my wrist.

With the slop in the connection being the obvious issue, the obvious solution is to tighten the tolerances!
For my housing/post pair, a very small piece of paper folded in half was the perfect thickness to do this.

After the fix, my band is rock solid on the Fitbit and has not once fallen off.

Solution for a loose connection:

1. Remove band and clean both sides of the connection.
2. Cut 2x ~5x20mm pieces of standard paper (one for each side of the band).
3. Fold the paper in half through the long side, so your piece of paper is double thick and around 5x10mm in size.
4. With the Fitbit face down, place the piece of folded paper into the housing on the Fitbit, being sure it is on the Screen Side (opposite the clip).
5. Carefully insert the band so that the paper stays between the housing and post.
6. Press together Hard! You may need to also move the clasp on the Fitbit towards the closed position to help it clip into place.
   If it the band absolutely will not clip into the Fitbit, try again with a single thickness of paper.
   Conversely, if it is still too loose, try with an additional layer of paper to tighten it up.
7. Enjoy a Fitbit that actually stays on your wrist 👍

-outlw

[DavideFitbit]

Welcome to the Fitbit Community forums, @outlw. 

I really appreciate you sharing your detailed experience with the different wristbands available for this device and how to prevent the band from falling off. I'm sure these tips will be helpful for other users as well. Thank you for all your feedback and comments. 

See you around. 

[RebeccaA19]

I am a first time fitbit user, I purchased a Charge 5 just over 3 months ago and have had this issue from the start. The strap will pop off with the modt basic of movement such as in bed or swimming and luckily up until now its always happened where I have noticed or found it again. Well the inevitable has happened... the watch has disconnected from the bottom clasp during an areobics exercise and it is now lost. I rewalked my 3 mile walk home and contacted the venue without luck.   

I contacted the chat to seek a replacement under warranty due to the loss being a direct result of this manufacturing fault, to be offered a 35% discount towards another Fitbit. 

This has really upset me as I know personally of 2 others this has happened to who have been offered a free replacement! What is even more infuriating is that one of those people were sat right next to me on their customer chat and worded their chat exactly the same as theirs had also popped off during the session and lost as a result and they were offered a replacement there and then! But the worst part.... their device was 3 years old so 1) HOW is that fair? One resolution for one customer with exactly the same issue and loss as a result and then my offer of 35%?  

[SunsetRunner]

Hi Davide

i still have this problem. Both sides click, but one of them seems to unlatch more easily, and it happens several times a day. I fear that one day I will not notice it catching on clothing, etc and will end up losing the Fitbit.

 Thanks 

[DavideFitbit]

@RebeccaA19 @SunsetRunner Thank you for sharing that you experienced the same issue with your Charge 5 and for all your feedback about this so far. 

I've been informed that you already contacted the Customer Support team for further assistance with this and it seems they've provided you with more instructions. In this case, they will let you know how to proceed. 

Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience. 

[kodaray]

I lost mind last August because of this, I found it in the car under the seat, luckly. I did every thing you said to do but the fir on the problem side is loose.

It needs to be repaired or replaced. How do I do that? rpierce  at garlic.com