Charge 5 stopped working after swimming with it

[margnotis]

I just bought a Fitbit charge 5 and thee day of I go to the gym and end things with a nice swim. Fitbit says their devices are water resistant up to 50m. Well I did a few lengths and got out to notice my brand new charge 5 not turning on. What a waste of money that was...

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[MarreFitbit]

Hi there, @margnotis. Welcome to the Fitbit Community Forums. I understand how you must be feeling. 

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, may I know if your Charge 5 vibrated during the restart process? If it didn't, 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.

[Surfista]

Hi MarreFitbit,

I don't understand why forum moderators keep telling people who have problems with the Charge 5 after swimming:

"If your device got wet, it’s important to take it off and dry it well before putting it back on"

The Charge 5 is sold as being able to withstand submersion to 164 feet, or 50 meters.

If it fails after a few laps in the pool, please just say that it is defective, and the user should contact customer service to receive a replacement. While my daughter and I use our charge 5 devices regularly in the water with no issues, it does appear that many others were sold with a manufacturing defect. 

[pdxwordsmith]

I have the same problem. Went swimming and my Fitbit went black. Cleaned the contacts and have tried charging and rebooting several times but it's still black. No reboot, no vibration, no Fitbit logo. 

[DarleneAA]

I was in the shower, not even submergered it stopped working!!