Charge 5 no longer keeping a charge

[SallyHop]

I've had my Charge 5 since Nov 2021. My problem started yesterday. Up until yesterday, the charge on my Charge 5 held for at least 7 days. Yesterday, it went from 99% to 24% in a mere 6 hours. I charged it again before I went to sleep, and when I got up this morning, it was below 4% and shut itself off. I just recharged it this morning, and it went from 99% to 77% in a half hour. I did get the system update at the end of June or early July. Anybody have any suggestions as to why this is happening after 9 months of working just fine? I have very little turned on--GPS, etc. 

Please help! I love this Fitbit, but I can't have it uncharging several times a day. 

Thanks!

[LiJaHi]

@SallyHop there are several lengthy threads on this topic here in the Charge 5 section already. Unfortunately, there are plenty of other people having the same experience.

[SallyHop]

I've read through several of the threads but none seemed to have this issue since the most recent update came out. I was curious if there were any out there who had no problems before the update but are having issues now. 

Thanks!

[roberjw]

I never had any issues with battery life and I have owned my Charge 5 since early January. This week after the update my tracker has started suffering from unreasonably short battery life issue. I charged fully before work this morning and within 3 hours my battery is completely dead. I will need a solution or else I will be force to look for a new tracker because this battery life is impossible to work around.

[SallyHop]

One thing I tried this morning was to restart my Fitbit. So far, it seems to be holding it's charge. Give that a try, roberjw. 

[SunsetRunner]

Several people have reported that their previously perfect Charge 5 was now having battery charge problems after the update. Apparently the update which was intended to fix a looping problem caused a looping problem in other units. One person said that Fitbit has recognized this problems and a newer update is forthcoming in a couple of weeks. 

[SallyHop]

Good to know. So far, rebooting has helped today. But, hopefully, an update to the update will keep it from happening again. 

Thanks!

[nancya59]

Just before bed, I charged.   Got to 99% and put watch on for sleep.   Woke up at 3:45am and looked at the watch - it was CRITICAL at 6%.   (5 hours from full to 6%!!)    I read a book while I recharged again.   Restarted the watch after it had charged.   Went back to sleep (now about 5am).   I woke up at 8am and it was down to 16% again.   It's in the charger now.   Gotta love a tracker that has to be in the charger multiple times a day.  (NOT!!)

I got the update 2-3 weeks ago.   Had some battery draining issues but it lasted most of a day then... these were mostly resolved after another update.   Then last week it froze completely (logo for awhile and then the red circle with white X in the middle for awhile more - this problem is posted elsewhere).... Then it was normal for several days.   Now this.   

[nancya59 · Accepted solution]

I also notice that my Charge 5 records a VERY high number of activity minutes when it is discharging rapidly.   I just got rewarded for making 150 minutes of activity and I haven't even left home yet!   While looking, I noticedmy charge is down to 15% again.   Back in the charger for the 3rd time today.....  (it's 2:44pm now where I live.)

I've been using fitbit trackers since 2012... but after 3 weeks of intermittent trouble, I'm beginning to lose my patience.

[Heather_Thomas]

Well it is a very good decription of the problem I am having however it is not a solution which is what I want. This charge is far worse than my charge 2 where the only trouble was bands breaking, falling of. If the charge 5 is an indication then it might be time to get something else (not fitbit).😡

[lesky1090]

I am draining the battery far too fast since the update. Something is definitely not right.