Charge 5 stopped working after getting wet

[CAR49ers]

I engaged the Water Lock on my Charge 5, went into the pool for 10 minutes, and now the watch will not work!  What now?

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[MarreFitbit]

Hi there, @CAR49ers. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I'm sorry to hear that your Charge 5 has stopped working after getting wet. I understand your concern, I will do my best to help you with this!

If your device got wet, it’s important to take it off and dry it well before putting it back on. On the other hand, if your device has come into contact with any liquid other than fresh water, you should clean it with fresh water and a soap-free cleanser and dry it with a lint free-cloth.

If you've done the above but to no avail, please restart your Charge 5 by following these steps. 

If the restart doesn't work and your Fitbit device doesn't vibrate during the restart process, I'd recommend trying the steps below:

• Clean the charging contacts on the back of your device and the pins on your charging cable using the instructions in How do I clean my Fitbit device?
• If the error "insufficient power source" appears on your device's screen, remove other devices plugged in to your power source, or plug your device in to another source.
• Try a different USB port or a UL-certified wall charger.
• Check the alignment and try reconnecting your device to the charging cable. For more information, see How do I charge my Fitbit device?
• Restart your Fitbit once again.

[CAR49ers]

Well, it took 5 days but it dried out and is now working again. Guess I
will not take it swimming again. Thanks

[MarreFitbit]

@CAR49ers You're welcome! I'm glad to hear that you're back on track. 

I would like to invite you to visit our Health & Wellness where you will find great tips and encouragement from other members.

[CAR49ers]

None of the above worked for me until five days after I took a swim!  I engaged the 'Water Lock' before the swim, then "Bleep Happens"!  Obviously, the Water Lock does not work!  Luckily the watch eventually dried out on its own and the regular components began working again.  Fitbit was within a day or two of losing an eight-year customer.  As an aside, I am surprised that Fitbit apparently no longer offers the Charge 5, which I considered the best product over the past few years!  I tried upgrading to the Charge 6 and the sensors were always way off from the Charge 5 data, so I sent it back.  Amazon (surprise, surprise) still has Charge 5s available for those interested.  Hopefully, I am not on this message board again soon.

[weljj]

The water lock does not lock out water, it was badly named.   All it does is prevent the screen from activating unnecessarily when you are in water.

I personally don't think the charge 5 can handle swimming activity, it's rated to withstand 1.5 meters of depth in water *without any movement*.   Nearly all the references I found say realistically a 1.5 meter depth rating means the device can survive accidental splashes or an accidental drop in the water, but not extended activity in water.