Charge 5 black screen

[Cwhy]

Two days Charge 5 decided to give a black screen. Even plugged into charger black. Beeps and records but no screen. Connects to phone. Reset, changed clock screen. Nothing helps. Also has decided to burn battery in 12 hours. So at 18 months I guess it has decided to pack it in. Since I see lots of complaints about this will wait to see if an update will fix. But can tell you now won’t purchase another. 

Moderator edit: clarified subject.

[ManuFitbit]

Welcome to the community forums @Cwhy. 

Thank you for sharing with me the details regarding this difficulty that you are experiencing with your Charge 5 and for the attempts to fix it on your own. 

Please confirm that you have tried to change the clock face following the steps listed here: How do I change the clock face on my Fitbit device? 

If that doesn't solve the issue, go From the Today tab, tap Devices > device image. Tap Sync Now: 

If Sync Now doesn't work, tap Devices > Tile to see if the firmware banner appears. 

[Lesley88D]

I have the same issue. I have only had this device for 2 months. I have tried all the steps they suggest and nothing has worked

[RiekoC]

Hello @Lesley88D 

Since you've tried the recommended troubleshooting without success, the next step would be to contact Support (<-- click link). Complete the prompts until you get the option to chat or call. Support should be able to let you know what options you have under warranty.

[EvelyneN]

Same issue and it is no longer synched to the app on my phone. So no stats recorded. GPS and other exercise is neither tracked nor recorded 😞

[jbsts]

Fitbit Charge 5 bought in May 2025: shuts down unexpectedly
it was bought on Amazon.es; I've restarted the charge 5 and the mobile phone, but the problem reoccurs

[MarioSFitbit]

Hi @EvelyneN and @jbsts! Warm welcome to the Community. 

I appreciate your messages, and I'm sorry to hear that you are experiencing this issue regarding the shut-down of your device's. 
I understand your feelings about this situation, and this is not the experience we want for our customers. 

I was able to confirm that you contacted support. Furthermore, I suggest you continue with them, since they have more tools in order to find your options. 

[Ardaraclarkes]

This happened with my Charge 5 yesterday. I am done with trying to resolve this, it happened last year but as it was under warranty, they replaced it with a refurbished one which lasted 15 months and has happened again. Will never buy Fitbit or Google watch again!!

[MarioSFitbit]

Hi @Ardaraclarkes and welcome to the Fitbit Community. 

I appreciate your message, and I'm really sorry to hear that your Charge 5 is showing a black screen. 

This is definitely not the experience we want for our customers, and I understand your feelings about this situation. 

I was able to confirm that you contacted support. I suggest you to continue with them, since they have more tools in order to find your options. 

[Lesley88D]

Thanks but I have given up in Fitbit. I have had too many issues. I had
only had my last device for a couple of months and it was a replacement for
a fitbit that had stopped working.

Cheers
Lesley

--------

Ditto to me as well.

I have given up on Fitbit and have bought another fitness tracking device

Cheers

--------

Moderator edit - merged messages 

[Sofina]

I have the same problem since a couple of days. I believe something happened in the latest update. 

[LawGiver]

Same here.  A few weeks ago the screen went black...and it took some pretty drastic actions to get it to function.  It then worked for a few weeks but then again this week, suddenly my battery was critical.  I charged for a good while and where I would have normally expected the battery to be around 70% it was at 30% but was really hot.  (official charge cable only btw)  

So this morning, I put it on to charge for about an hour or so and it was at 70% so I put it on my wrist.  Just checked it an hour later.  Dead.  

I only got this because I had had a Charge 4 that started acting up like this and they offered me a healthy discount on a Charge 5.  I had really wanted to have an Apple Watch but decided I'd take Fitbit up on their offer.... looks like I'm back where I started.

From what I'm reading seems like a firmware update has screwed things up for a lot of people.  Maybe its time to jump ship?  Google are in "RINSE / REPEAT" mode where they are going to keep rinsing those of us foolish enough to stay with Fitbit and then offer us a silly discount to tempt us.  Not sure what I'll do this time... its maybe time...

[Lesley88D]

I also believe something happened in the last update

[LawGiver]

As I recall, this is exactly the same thing that the first one did and they replaced it with a refurbished unit.  I believe its not just a firmware issue.