Charge 5 battery draining too fast

[SharleneH]

I have had the new Charge 5 for 2 days. The battery discharges within a day. GPS is off, the phone is not set to always on. In looking over the troubleshooting instructions from Fitbit, it seems that you essentially have to disable all of the features that were selling points of this device in order to get decent battery life. Even my ancient Charge 3 got 6 days on one charge! Has anyone with this battery problem found a solution other than disabling everything?

[foreversoul]

I'm waiting with great anticipation to hear reports as to whether the firmware update indeed has resolved people's battery drain issues or not. I returned my C5 long time ago but will buy it again if the firmware update is solid. 

[themezman]

Hi, which version of Android App are you using with the 142.37 version of the Charge 5 Firmware where you are getting only 7-10% battery charge drop per day?

[tcat007]

I'm on 149.11 and getting 10 days for past 2 months.  I was having the drain in a day problem which seemed fixed with charger reboot (only did that once 2 months ago). I don't really want the update!

[themezman]

@GDSchulzwhich version of the Firmware are you using in a Charge 5 and with what ver of Fitbit App for Android where you are losing only 8% of battery charge per day?

[shimsim]

@YojanaFitbit now that the long-awaited firmware has been released, if the device has been updated to it (VERSION 1.171.50), can we get a confirmation that any customer that is still experiencing irregular battery drain under normal usage of the charge 5 (e.g. 30% battery drops overnight) has a unit with a different defect? 

Obviously, they should then contact customer service, but are there any additional troubleshooting steps they should take to avoid the painfully slow diagnostic that has been happening when customers with this issue have been contacting customer service with this issue? (my own personal experience included) that way we can expedite a fix as some people have been waiting months already.

[Easytiger]

I didn’t want the update either but the app displayed a banner across most of the screen saying update available and despite the cross in the corner, can’t be dismissed and is permanently displayed until you update, so seems Fitbit state you’ll take this update whether you want it or not. I’ve already found my Fitbit is now prompting me every few minutes to install a Fitbit pay card which I don’t want or need!

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How can this be the “best answer” after less than 2 hours of releasing the firmware update?It claims to fix the battery drain with gps enabled exercises when all the complaints state that they have GPS turned off. Surely wait until people reply with feedback to say whether it’s fixed the issue before self-proclaiming it’s resolved the issue?!?

[Micodude]

Well, since my device died (batt wont charge amd it wont turn on), managed to get a replacement request through - now simply waiting for the label to be emailed to me so that I can ship it.

[weishein]

I've installed the latest firmware. Unfortunately, after the installation, I am no longer able to use the touch screen. Which is worst than having a battery draining problem! Can you guys, for once, get them right? 😡

[KlausVanderson]

Installed the new update. Now the thing dies as soon as it comes off the charger.

[JKOFFOTH]

Try to hit the arrow and then try the X.

John

[NewSuttonGirl]

Given responses like yours, it makes one wonder why Fitbit has not implemented thorough QA standards before releasing not just updates but also products.  

[oshelot]

The firmware update fixed nothing. My battery drained in 3 hours before the update and does so after. I tried every troubleshooting step. Charging fully, restarting while charging. This occurs without doing any exercise too. I've contacted Fitbit support again and again, now they are telling me to wait for the next update. That will be another 3-4 months where I can use my device. I have bought a defective, unusable product and your support offers no resolution. People with less performance issues than mine have gotten new devices sent.

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This update did nothing to fix the issue. Battery still drains in 3ish hours. Not doing exercise or anything. Fitbit's response after going through troubleshooting (again) with them... WAIT FOR THE NEXT UPDATE.... HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO USE MY DEVICE FOR 2 MONTHS. 

I'm usually a rational and understanding person... this issue has me sour though

[JackofTrades]

I was told the update would fix the issues not related to gps. 

I haven't ever used GPS on my charge 5. I took a 3 day work trip and my device went from 100 to 3% 4 times. 

When I called, Fitbit claimed I needed to wait for this update to fix it... And this update is for GPS? Fitbit is a fraudulent company. 

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Fitbit marks it as best answer because they are intending on defrauding customers. Rather than send a replacement device, they run you around until you can't return it. 

No one should buy a charge 5. No one should buy any Fitbit device. 

[ChrisB1966]

@YojanaFitbit and fellow Moderators it's not going that great is it, it never could.

I'm personally doing okay with my replacement Charge 5 after the first failed completely after doing the random battery drain and then death spiral of day after day charging from full to flat. My new C5 runs the old firmware and has worked fine so far, to say in the release notes that this firmware update fixes issues some users had with GPS exercise monitoring is disingenuous. 

If my new C5 and others don't have the issue how can it be firmware, if others don't use or have turned off internal GPS on the C5 again how can that be. The release notes are too vague, difficult to believe, and should not use the word 'fixed' without some supporting evidence along the lines of 'we rolled out this in beta testing on X number of devices and the problem decreased for X %'. What is happening now is beta testing on efficacy of the fix.

I'm probably like many others now watching from the sidelines and not willing to spend any more time/money, hopefully my C5 will last a little longer.

[shimsim]

@ChrisB1966  Well said! I am in the exact same boat. The claim of it being a firmware issue has always seemed like a convenient way to buy time and hope the complaints die down. I read one customer ( @oshelot ) getting told there will be another firmware update, that must be some kind of joke considering how long this one took.

Fitbit needs to address this problem ASAP and conclusively, its not just damaging the confidence of affected customers but the trust of those with working C5 who are watching this issue play out.

[Dbottrill]

Why has this being said to customers since March?!!

[GDSchulz]

@themezman thank you for your question.

1. I purchased my C5 on Amazon in October 2021 shortly after C5 release.
Battery drain right from the start was about 8% per day, from purchase
until late April 2022. Most recent firmware update (prior to this week)
was v1.149.11 in about Dec 2021. Fitbit says that update contained the
"Fitbit ECG app" to "assess your heart for atrial fibrillation (AFib)." My
battery continued to function normally.

2. Months later, in late April 2022, I suddenly began to experience rapid
battery drain. A full charge lasted little more than 3 days. The switch
to rapid drain was very sudden, not gradual.

3. About a week after that (April), I got a notification from Fitbit that
they had enabled irregular heartbeat detection on my C5. Monitoring
happens while you sleep and processing is offline. But the data involved
is obviously extensive as each beat of your heart is timestamped and sent
to Fitbit for processing. (Separate signup required but it's free and I
did sign up.) Let me be clear: I don't know that this had anything to do
with the battery drain issue, but nothing else had changed on my C5 and the
timing was suspicious.

4. On the forum here, somebody suggested that restarting the C5 after 100%
charging would cure the problem. I was dubious, but I tried it and it
worked. Battery usage went back to normal as it has continued to be while
using the workaround.

5. Android app is Version 3.63.1 (36337451) which I downloaded in May or
June 2022. Fitbit firmware is the new Version 1.171.50. Daily battery
usage is about the same as it was on the previous firmware version from
December. Can't say I see any difference. Just over 48 hours ago I
updated the firmware, charged the C5 to 100%, and restarted again. Now the
battery is still indicating 84% charge. So battery usage is the same as
it's been all along, except for a week or two in April until I discovered
the restat workaround.

I have a few quibbles with the C5, but so far I like it very much. Huge
improvement over my old C3.

[IppTak]

@GDSchulz Thank you for sharing this. I am excited to try it.  When you say restart, are you referring to doing it in the watch (under settings) or using the charger (3x clicks 1-second apart)?

Just to add, I am observing the same thing and the problem started earlier this week (mid-July). The drain came very sudden, and I do not recall much changing in the watch. (if at all)

[themezman]

@GDSchulzThank you for your detailed, well-organized, and clearly-worded Reply to my question. II do appreciate the effort you put into it.

The story about the hhistory & behavior of my C5 is very similar to that of yours. So, my info below has been written to follow the numbered outline that you uuse along with quotes from you that reflect what I have found. :

 1. I purchased my C5 from Best Buy on Dec 10, 2021, although, according to the C5's Settings->Device Info,  I did not "Activate" it until Mar 18, 2022. I installed, configured,  & enabled all of the Fitbit Apps available at that time, and turned on the Internal GPS.

LLike with your C5,  my Bat drain right from the start was quite good, multiple days. Unfortunately, I did not measure the battery charge llif back then, but I remember being very pleased with it, especially because I was using the C5's Internal GGPS withthe Exercise Module to map my route for 2-2.5 hour bike rides. SSo my battery life was good from Mar 18 until until May 22 when my first

battery drain & needing to "Restart Using Connector Buttom"  (which now I realize was probably due to the battery suddenly rapidly draining ccompletely issues began. I believe that my firmware was v1.149.11 on the Activation Date, and currently still is, because you said "Most recent firmware update (prior to this week) was v1.149.11 in about Dec 2021.".

I remember configuring and turning On the ECG app that "Fitbit says that update contained the "Fitbit ECG app"  Like your C5, my battery continued to function normally after enabling it on Mar 18 and using it without problems up until the battery issue began, for me, about May 22 and, for you, about late April. I don't think that the timing of the beginning of your battery problem and mine are coincidental.

2. Also like you, "the switch to rapid drain was very sudden, not gradual", I am not sure how long I was getting on a charge, but less than a day (I think) where you said that you were getting 3 days.

3. Also like you, I rremember, during the same time frame as you, getting "a notification from  Fitbit that they had enabled irregular heartbeat detection". I think that I did sign up and use the App, but I Uninstalled that App this week while troubleshooting the battery drain. I will have to try signing up again and try to find a record of when Fitbit enabled that feature for me,  if they did. .

At any rate,  I agree with you that "nothing else could have changed on my C5 before the battery issue began

and the timing is suspicious". 

4. On the forum here, somebody suggested that restarting the C5 after 100% charging would cure the problem. I was dubious, but I tried it and it worked. Battery usage went back to normal as it has continued to be while using the workaround. 

5. Thank you for confirming that your Android app is Version 3.63.1 (36337451), tthat the Fitbit firmware you were using up until this week was 1.149.11 and is now the new Version 1.171.50, aan,  most importantly,  that "Daily battery usage is about the same as it was on the previous firmware version from December. Can't say I see any difference. Just over 48 hours ago I updated the firmware, charged the C5 to 100%, and restarted again. Now the battery is still indicating 84% charge. So battery usage is the same as it's been all along, except for a week or two in April until I discovered the rrestart  workaround".

I have done the restart workaround, started a timer and let the Fitbit run without Built-in GPS, without ECG, EKG, and no exercise activity while I typed this Reply up. Also, I still have the Dec firmware installed.  It has not been available to me yet and, based upon the horror stories about new issues users started having with the new firmware,  I will hold off on

installing it until those issues are resolved.  Anyhow,  you & some others have Posted that the new version did not change their battery charge lifetime.

Unfortunately, unlike you, I am still up Sh*tz Creek with my battery discharge that I just measured.  In the past 3 hours, it has gone down 50%.  6 hours on a charge is barely long enough to use a the sleep analysis features for a night. Furthermore, when I turn the features that I have disabled back on, the problem will be even worse.

I AM VERY PISSED OFF. I have spent way too much time on this problem. Meanwhile I have not been able to collect data that I need for the exercise/sleep/weight loss program that I have setup.

6. I  also have the same opinions basically as you. I like the C5, it's Color Display, iit's *purported*  battery charge lifetime, and it's Apps (although I have been waiting a long time for the Relax App to become available for the C5). That said, I also have *a lot mmor* than quibbles with Fitbit's Product Testing and Support.

BTW:I also had  a C3 and liked it OK (except for trying to read the Display when outdoors and the design of it's charger),  but I like the C5 a lot more.

Thanks again for your Reply &  info. If I find out anything about relevant to this topic, including the Atrial Fib feature, which I still suspect, I will Post it here.

[GDSchulz]

I remove from charging cable then use restart under settings. Have never
tried the other method.