Charge 5 battery is draining and HR sensor doesn't work

[kuzzzma]

Several people already reported this problem in other threads, with the same start date - Monday September 30th, 2024.

• Charge shows rapidly changing levels of battery charge: goes from 100% -> 87% -> 55% -> 77% -> 19% ->37% -> 1% etc
• If restarted: shown level of battery might go up, might remain the same
• If left - battery level indication decreases at unnatural speed (10% or more in half an hour) 
• Since Monday Charge has stopped heart rate data collection, but somehow shows resting heart rate (both on app and on the device)
• Light of the sensors on the back is not working, so the sensor is down
• Disabling heart rate measurement doesn't reduce battery consumption
• While charging - frequently restarts, shows random charge levels
• Fitbit app fails to pair up with the device (I've tried removing device and adding it again).

Tried: restarting device multiple times, restarting Fitbit app, restarting phone, removing device from the app, reinstalling app and adding device anew.

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[Mariola]

I would love to hear some type of response from fitbit! Mine went dark earlier this week and all attempts to charge and restart lead nowhere. Tuesday it started flashing the logo (I've had it sitting on a recharger) and then yesterday it seemed to turn on and was showing 100%charge. Fabulous I thought but I didn't put it on because I had reinstalled my old Inspire. This morning the Charge was down to 3 % power even though it sat on the counter overnight doing nothing and now that I've put it back on the recharger it buzzes every few seconds. Obviously something screwed everything up at thw beginning of the week and we need Fitbit to give us some answers!!

[Jools20]

Exactly the same issue for me. I’ve restarted the device multiple times, changed the clock multiple times and can’t get it working. The firmware update at end of September has bricked it

[Mariola]

Absolutely and what's the response from Fitbit - crickets! Ironically, I
got an email today from Fitbit celebrating my 10th anniversary with Fitbit
- don't see how we'll make it to 11 if this issue isn't resolved soon!

[kuzzzma]

Fitbit released some kind of Update via Fitbit app for Charge 5, will try to install (my Charge 5 keeps gong to black screen even after several hours of "charging")

[kuzzzma]

I've managed to update my Charge 5 to firmware version 57.20001.188.58, that appeared today via Fitbit app.

Results:

• Battery charge went from 100% to 82% in less that 10 minutes
• Heart sensor emits green light, but device shows -- as a heart rate, and glitches with current heart rate number every ~3-4 seconds (I've timed it)
• Device somehow shows resting heart rate, despite being off all night.

Will test battery behaviour further.

[kuzzzma]

Battery level is still a mess: it changes in leaps, 82% -> 72% -> 61% -> 52% with a 5 minutes (!) interval.

[Mariola]

How were you notified of the update, not that it's doing you any good. My battery is draining very rapidly as well. It's nuts.

[kuzzzma]

It appeared in the fitbit app this morning - normal pink dot near device battery level indication.

By that time I had my Charge 5 on charge for a few hours unresponsive, but somehow managed to get through the update - so I believe, that battery works fine, it's just the display levels are wrong, so when battery is seemingly drained device shuts down.

I've tested new update 57.20001.188.58:

• with it device went from 100% to 2% in 40 minutes (with manual screen activation).
• device managed to count steps and distance during that time
• activity zones and heart rate were not recorded for this period, despite current heart rate appearing as flashes every 3 seconds (as noted above).

[SunsetRunner]

Since yesterday my Charge 5 has completely died. The auto-push firmware update has rendered it completely useless despite working fine right up until the update.

The display is now completely unresponsive.

There is a continuous red light on the underside, the flashy green sensor leds don’t do anything anymore and when I did a reset using the charging cable 3x press, it vibrates and the Fitbit logo comes on but remains and nothing else happens.

I tried to contact Fitbit support but since I’ve had it for just over 2 years they won’t do anything about it and should buy a new one…

Very frustrating and not least completely suspicious…

[RWBF]

Hi there Kuzzzma, I read your Fitbit has a firmware 188.58. Mine had a firmware 194.91 when it broke down. Are you sure you did not upgrade to 194.91 (or was it a downgrade from 194.91). If not the case, then the firmware may not be the problem but a malfunctioning hardware is?

My wive’s Fitbit is still running on firmware 188.58 and is a year older than mine was. I be sure not to update her Fitbit anytime soon, currently it may be the only option to prevent it from getting bricked. Unless of course it is a hardware problem afterall.

Luckily to update or not is an enduser’s choice (well I hope it still is 🤞 )  https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Charge-5/How-to-prevent-a-Charge-5-from-updating/td-p/5430166 . Well it doesn’t solve our problem.

If your fitbit is still under warranty, contact your retailer. You may get a new one. If not contact Google fitbit support, I don’t think they are monitoring this forum from an IT-perspective.

[kuzzzma]

Pretty sure mine had more 7s in it's firmware number upon the problem occurrence.

Too many reports with exact same time of onset - Monday this week. Reeks of either firmware update failure or planned introduction of "problems" to encourage purchases.

Mine was activated on December 7, 2022. 

[Mariola]

Well, they won't be getting another penney from me! I've been using fitbits for10 years and understand that devices can fail over time and need to be replaced. But not this - a device rendered useless after an update not on just my device, but many, many others. Too coincidental to not be deliberate on the company's part to force purchase of a new unit, or, if not that, wild incompetence, neither of which I can support. I'll be purchasing a different brand once I do some research on available options.

[Jools20]

Mine was activated 01/10/22 and died pretty much 2 years to the day following the firmware update. I contacted Fitbit via online chat, explained that it died due to the firmware update and they exchanging it for me

[Satej]

Faced exactly the same issue.I hope fit bit addresses this issue as many people are facing the same issue.

[CrusinClassic]

Feeling they just do not want to support this device any longer. Forcing us to up grade or go to another brand. Charged twice tonight already and level dropped to 5%….

Reset did not help…

[CrusinClassic]

My version shows….. Version 20001.194.91

keeps dying off in hours…

reset no help…

[RWBF]

I assume it’s not under warranty anymore, you could still try to contact Google Fitbit support maybe they are willing to exchange it. If it is still under warranty contact your retailer a.s.a.p. Nothing will work to bring life back to your device, so many have tried :(. Mine was still under warranty (13 months young), so I revieced a new one (or refurbished) from google-Fitbit.

It is on a firmware 182.26. And I am not going to update it to a newer firmware 😎. 

[Mariola]

Mine died literally 3 days after my warranty expired, and it's already on
the 194 firmware so I don't think anything is going to save it. I'm just
angry that this is a known issue affecting many and Fitbit is doing nothing
to resolve it except direct people to the same set of 'fixes' that don't do
a thing.