Display and battery issues with Charge 5

[kathleenjames]

Suddenly many people are dealing with sudden loss of battery and black screen with no possible way to fix it. Could this have anything to do with the update? It seems not so coincidental it's all happening at the same time.

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[lquat]

I had a similar experience to many others in this thread, and my Charge 5 has been bricked for about 2 months now. It was slow death at first. It started on June 6th, when it started displaying a red circle with white X. I performed the reset procedure with the charging cable, and it seemed to work fine for a while, until a few days later when the screen randomly starting flashing all-white throughout the day and in the middle of the night (even when I was not wearing the device). Shortly after that, the green sensor light was stuck on, and I was experiencing severe battery drain. After a few days of this and multiple restarts/charge cycles, I stopped wearing the device, as the heart rate detection and sleep detection was non-functional, and the always-on sensor light was causing the device to heat up.

Clearly, this is a systematic problem with the device and/or the firmware. FitBit should issue a recall and offer a fix or refund for out-of-warranty customers.

[Disgruntled75]

I just wish Fitbit would come out and address this issue before I jump ship to Garmin. Unless they compensate those of us outside of warranty with a replacement, I refuse to spend another dollar with their company. A shame, since I had such high hopes for my Charge 5. I guess my kids won’t be getting that Fitbit they wanted for their birthday.

[Noddylyn]

Same here fed up with Fitbit 15 months old charge 5 and all I get is add card. Spoke to Fitbit customer help chat waste of time  battery goes down so quickly. One day working fine next gone must be update nothing I have done expensive new device didn’t last as long as old one waste of money

[SweeTea]

My old charge 2 still works but does not have all the same features.

[DaVinciUA]

I am so disappointed in the Charge 5, I just bought a Inspire 3

Based on this forum, there is no issue with firmware updates on the Inspire 3 and it is similar to the Charge 5

[Biguns3388]

That is great but I have only had my device for six months. This is actually my second device that did not lastv1 year. I don't want to or should have to continue to buy device after device every few months. That is a lot of money being taken.

[Katells71]

Hi,

I rang them and as my device was still in warranty they replaced straight
away.
This is the 3rd one!!!

Good luck!

[xG4x]

FYI, I received my warranty replacement on Saturday (so within the 3-5 working days stated). It is also (now) on same firmware. Sincerely hoping it will not develop the same issues. I did look at getting an alternative product (via option instead for 50% off that was offered); I looked at the Sense 2, but decided to stick with the Charge 5 (which I liked until it stopped working, and has a slimmer form factor). I hope I don't regret this...

[GaetanoVB]

Which firmware? The 194.61?

[Noddylyn]

No still on 188.58
But last night it worked for about 20 mins then nothing again I didn’t touch a thing so it’s fit bit doing something
But now just front screen won’t swipe up or across and keep getting add card then blank screen and battery drops in hours but that proves it that my charger 5 can work but something going in to block it Google want you to buy another. Not me never again

Sent from my iPhone

[AnGard]

Yep. My fitbit freaked out and went black, too. This happened the last time there was an update and this is the replacement for that fitbit. Kind of screwed now as out of warranty of original. Ive tried all the fixes like the first time and nada. No more fitbits for me. I've been using fitbits for years but guess its time to get another tracker.

[Centuryp]

My Fitbit charge 5 has been playing up too.. It  switched itself off after about 10 minutes even after a full charge.. I've deleted the ECG app and it's been working ok for the last 24 hours... I think the ECG app is the main problem on the Fitbit charge 5

[Mrsdrs54]

Mine did the exact same thing…Blank screen after update. Purchased new on 9/24/21 so out of warranty. Worked flawlessly until update. I tried all the “fixes” and nothing works. I can sync it to phone but cannot enter the 4 digit code because…SCREEN IS BLANK! The green light on underside of it lights up and it still vibrates but it is useless without screen. They sent me a 35% discount code to buy another one (which I reluctantly did). Said ship date would be 8/11/23. To date, it still has not shipped. To add salt to my wound, they lowered the price of the Charge 5 by $30 just a few days after I ordered my new one and they said I cannot change my order to get the lower price! So, basically, I’m getting my replacement for only $16 less than anyone else who orders at the sale price now. (Even though they are currently all backordered until God knows when.) I am not happy with Fitbit🤬  They should be doing a recall on all the bricked Charge 5’s that their update ruined. There are many of these reports on the internet now…https://gadgetsandwearables.com/2023/07/08/fitbit-charge-5-bricked-device-firmware-update/

https://www.techtimes.com/articles/293605/20230710/users-demand-fix-fitbit-charge-5-update-sparks-ba...

[dex_tab]

The firmware update showed on my phone and my Charge 5 immediately went to a black screen. The dashboard keeps saying it has 0% battery so cannot update but it’s been on charge for over 36 hours. Total black screen. Unable to do anything. Charge 5 is less than 18 months old so I would expect a bit more longevity than this 

You cannot update the firmware when the charge 5 will not charge. It’s working because it’s still synching with my phone. But I cannot use it or update it 

[DaVinciUA]

My wife's Charge 5 was still on firmware 188.58

This morning at first it showed only the fitbit logo, then it went black and can not be recovered. It vibrates when hooking up to the charger or pressing the button on the USB charger but still only a black screen.

This means also Fitbit's Charge 5 that had no Firmware update are affected.

[dex_tab]

I have same issue 

[xG4x]

I, and many others also had the firmware 188.58 installed when the problems started occurring. They didn't happen right away for me. I've seen some mention of newer firmware updates, but they have never popped up as being available for me.

[Katells71]

Good luck! Hope your new 1 os OK!

[jezusjannemieke]

My Charge 5 was still running on the old firmware 188.58 when it got ill, about 10 days ago. Black screen, not responding. I was so lucky when I got it working again after resetting through the 3-clicks-on-the-charger-button. Couple of days later the same problem occurred; black screen. This time the 3-clicks-solution did not work. But the watch was still functioning, as I could see in the app; it was just the screen that was black and not responding. So I kept wearing it, to track my steps and work-out. Weird thing: about 7 hours later all of a sudden the screen came back to life! While I was still wearing it. Happy but a little worried because of the strange behaviour.. And as I feared it seems like its really dying right now.. or maybe already passed away. Yesterday screen turned black again. Can't reset it, can't sync it with the app, no green light flickering on the back, nothing. The only thing that happened was the buzzes after the 3-clicks-"solution". Today, even that's not happening anymore. Just one single buzz when I connect it to the charger. Andd.... WOW!! While I'm writing this the green light on the back lit up a couple of times!! The last breath..? I'm not very hopeful for recovery. Btw, it's 18 months old and I payed 180 Euros for it (about 200 dollars i presume). 

Update 1 day later: after the green lights my watch slowly came back to life again. After a while I could even sync it again and was fully functioning, EXCEPT for the screen, which is still black. And indeed, the battery is draining superfast since 2 weeks. What I cannot do, is install the new firmware (2 days ago I first got the notification it's available! What a coincidence...?). 

[soistheman]

Same here.  Mine is on 188.58 and working fine, until couple of days ago.  It went totally dark.  Black screen, and no vibration regardless of battery.  3 click reboot trick only works randomly if I try like 50 times over hours.  Even when it works, my device might stay alive for a while or goes back to dead after few minutes of use.  Even when it stay alive the battery drains so fast it consumes 50% in one hour.  I have uninstalled every apps possible, I have turned off HR, and GPS.  I have unpaired and re-paired to phone.  I tried change clock face trick as well.  Nothing fixes the issue.  Phone app can change Charge's settings like I mentioned, but heath status are not syncing.