Charge 5 - suddenly battery draining in a few hours

[skatardrummer]

I've worn my Charge 5 every day since getting it in May 2022. It usually lasts about 7 days before I have to charge it. I've changed no settings on it or on my phone. All of the sudden the last 2 days, the battery drains from 100% to 4% in less than 12 hours. I made sure the contact points were clean and charged it last night and put it on before bed, and by morning it was down to 6%. I'm really upset. This wasn't cheap and I don't think it's covered under any warranty. The last Fitbit product I had lasted about 3 years before I had any issues with it. What is going on?

Moderator edit: subject updated for clarity

[DavideFitbit]

Hi, thank you for sharing all these details about the inconvenience you've been having with your Charge 5 and for confirming that you already tried a few troubleshooting steps, @skatardrummer. 

I've been informed that you already contacted the Customer Support team for further assistance with this and it seems they've provided you with some instructions. In this case, they will let you know how to proceed. 

Have a good day. 

[SunsetRunner]

I am having the same issue. The battery barely lasts the day. It is extremely frustrating and no answers to this problem!

[SunsetRunner]

I didn’t receive a reply and no help. I have done all the troubleshooting already.

[skatardrummer]

Hello,

Yes, they are sending a replacement. I had asked if they would possibly do a refund to let me put it toward a different fitbit device as due to MANY MANY MANY complaints about Charge 5 all over the internet having this issue, I don't want to be facing it again in a few months. But I received no response on my request, they just made this decision. That said, I purchased a Fitbit Sense on a early black friday deal. Haven't decided what I'm going to do about the Charge 5 if I'm going to keep it to swap off if I want a more slimline device that day or if I'm going to try to recoup some of the funds. But they don't go for very much even if it were brand new in original packaging (which I'm assuming this one won't be), likely because of all the issues. So I'd still be at a huge loss. It's such a huge bummer because the Charge 5 solved issues that my family members complained about with the Charge 3 and Charge 4, not being able to see it except indoors in low light. My last Fitbit Charge 3 before buying a Charge 5 lasted 3 years before I could no longer see it indoors either. Would have been nice to at least get the same life expectancy or more out of the Charge 5. I know that anything that is manufactured can have some faulty products here and there. I mean my mom had a Charge 4 just completely die before it was a year old. But there's way to many reports for me to be comfortable that it won't happen again with the Charge 5. I am hopeful that the Fitbit Sense will be reliable. If not, I guess I will have a backup!

initially edited to add a side note, but I moved the edit to it's own reply post

[SunsetRunner]

I am glad they are going to send you a replacement! Good luck

Sent from my iPhone

[RRR111]

Having the same problem. Can't hold a charge. Nothing seems to work

[Emandems]

Had this happen to me last night! I've tried the 3 press on the cord, it restarts and says the battery is at 12%. Fully charged it, went to work, didn't make it 2 hours before shutting off. Tried once more when I got home and got 99%, it's been 20 minutes and it's down to 76%...

Had to look in the FAQs and forums to see if anyone else is experiencing this, what a bummer.

[Miah8000]

I’ve noticed this happening as well. I can plug it in to charge and it will charge from 10% to 90%+ in 30 min which is way too fast and then burns through the battery in 2-3 days with no GPS or excessive screen time. 

I bought this back in April and it was getting 6-7 days per charge. 

[MajaR.]

Hi, same happened to me yeasterday, for my second Charge 5😒

The first one lasted not even a year and I bought the new one this summer. Don’t keep the charge more than a few hours. 

Thats not ok.

What to do? 
/Maja

[EmiFit]

The same thing is happening to me too. It was working fine up until three days ago, then at some point on Monday night it stopped working and I got no sleep data at all. I charged it but it ran out again that night.

I thought it must not have charged properly when I plugged it in, so i made sure it was at 100% yesterday before I went out. When I came home, I noticed it said 0 steps (and 0 everything) and there was no heart rate. So last night I tried charging it again. It took many attempts to get it to engage, and it wouldn't turn on.

The app eventually showed up with a firmware update (that it wasn't showing at first), so I thought "that must be it," and I fiddled with the device and charger enough to get it to turn on and complete the update.

When I went to bed, the battery said 100% and the time was showing, though it still wasn't registering my heart rate. When I woke up this morning, it was back to 0% battery and no data. 

I'm really disappointed because the Charge 5 had been very reliable and helpful up to now. I liked everything about it much more than the Charge 4. I don't know what happened to cause it to stop working suddenly, but if it can't be fixed, I'm not going to buy another Fitbit. I will figure out something else rather than buy a new device that stops working in a year. What a waste. 

[SunsetRunner]

I am so sorry to hear that. That is exactly what has been going on with
mine.
I am very disappointed with the lack of communication from Fitbit about
this problem. As it is clearly happening to many people with the charge 5.
I am getting ready to just be done with Fitbit all together. It’s sad…I
have had a Fitbit since 2013.

[skatardrummer]

I noticed this issue once mine decided to go kaput too. It wouldn't charge past 99% and then the first like 30% of the battery would drop really fast in the first hour or so.

[DavideFitbit]

Hi, and welcome to all the new users in the Fitbit Community forums. 

I appreciate all this information that you've shared about the inconvenience that you've been having with your Charge 5 and for confirming that you already tried a few troubleshooting steps. 

As you mentioned earlier there are some general recommendations to improve battery life in general. The battery can last up to 7 days; because battery life is affected by use and other settings, actual results may vary, but the battery shouldn't be draining only after one or two days. Some features that make the battery drain faster are: Built-in GPS, Always-on display, SpO2 tracking. 

Since you already tried these steps, I would also recommend that you complete a three pulse restart following the steps listed here below, this has been useful for other users experiencing something similar: 

1. Connect your device to the charging cable. For instructions, see How do I charge my Fitbit device?
2. Press the button located on the flat end of the charger 3 times (end if the USB cable), pausing for 1 second between presses. Then wait 10 seconds or until the Fitbit logo appears.

In case the Customer Support team already suggested all these steps, I do recommend that you let them know that you're still having this problem and that you continue continue the communication with them. The best way to get help for this problem is to chat with us online or give us a call. Click here to get connected. 

Thanks again for sharing all your feedback and comments about this inconvenience.

[SunsetRunner]

Thank you for getting back to me.
Unfortunately this information isn’t helpful at all. I have tried everything you suggest. It has taken weeks for someone to finally respond to me. And still no solution! I have been a Fitbit user since 2013. The lack of response on this issue which I am not the only one affected has made me decide to get rid of my Fitbit. It’s truly too bad!

Sent from my iPhone

[Sftang]

Hi David, my Fitbit charge 5 is having the same issue. My fully charged Fitbit becomes completely flat within an hour. Did check the connection points and checked the settings of the Fitbit, but the issue still persist. I just bought my Fitbit in September this year and this issue happens now. Why is this happening? What more can I do to help resolve this? 

[JBD2000]

Having the same problem can’t hold a charge

[Caroflute]

This is exactly my issue!  It’s time to make a change to Apple Watch.

I’ve tried all these “fixes” and they don’t work. This Fitbit has lasted almost 5 months—sad.

[vegitot]

Yeah. Those solution don't work and it feels like a robot replying us. 

My Charge 5 worked normally but suddenly one week ago, it drained battery at light speed. At first it can not last more than 4 hours but today it lasts more though.

[DavideFitbit]

Hi everyone, thanks for confirming that you're still having this problem or that you already contacted the Support team. 

If you already tried all the steps shared in the forums, please make sure to get in touch with the Customer Support team and continue the communication with them so they can provide you with the next steps. You can click here to get connected and with them or to call them directly for further assistance. 

I'm sorry to see this issue is still unresolved for many of you. I appreciate all the feedback and comments provided so far.