Fitbit Charge 5 battery problems since update

[DC..]

How many of you are experiencing battery problems since the update?

Could anyone who's experienced problems with the charge 5 battery please post once on this thread so it's easy to count and present to show it's not a warranty problem and is a result if the update.

I obviously have battery problems. Had to charge it twice yesterday and uninstalled the SpO2 app to try to make the battery last through the night. Managed to wake up to 50% battery instead of it being dead by morning, even though fully charged before bed.

Moderator Edit: Formatting and clarified subject

[Kpepper72]

I share your discouragement. I was on my 3rd FitBit as well, the Charge 3,
and really liked it. Google offering discounts of varying amounts says
nothing positive about them. It's a meaningless, token gesture.

My FB works sporadically, without rhyme nor reason. While I thought I had
found a suitable replacement, the Vital, I changed my mind when I looked at
all the permissions their app demanded, it was ridiculous.

I, too, would like to know what others are going to.

[LadyMk199]

My battery is not even lasting 8 hours..  just over a year old.. therefore no warranty.. grr

[RachJackson]

Yes, I'm having the exact same issues! Glad it's not just me but also sorry it's happening to so many others!

[LadyMk199]

Yes I think I am done with purchasing fitbit products.. they last just over a year and die.

It's unfortunate but there are other products out there now

[jwilliamsr9]

Well I forgot that a friend had given me a charge 5 since he upgraded.  I found it and charged it up... It was working normal. battery lasted over 5 days. .. so it came time to charge it again., I didn't like the clock he had on it so I took a chance and  let connect to the app long enough to set time and change clock face. well it charge up fine .. the next day I looked and it was 49% already,  and later that morn it buzzed letting me know it needed to be charged.. it had dropped to 3% in just a few hours...  today I charged it up to 100% in 12 hours i've already lost 50% .  So just that short time connected to the app was long enough to screw up this tracker.  I even uninstalled the app so it couldn't reconnect to app after I changed face and set time. ugh.. and they say its nothing they have done,... 

Moderator Edit: Formatting.

[Hipphipp]

I have had my Fitbit charge 5 for a year. It was a guarantee-replacement for my last one which I had for almost two years. I have always charged once a week. Now all of a sudden the battery only lasts a few hours. I’m really sad about this. 

[Ghost1573]

Well you can add another dissatisfied customer to the list.  I purchsed the Charge 5 for the ECG app and it worked fine until the update earlier this year (seemed like it really starting happening when the Charge 6 came out, imagine that!).  Since then it may work for a while and then battery life goes to crap again, the ECG may or may not work.  I finally found a solution to my problem, I bought a Kardiamoble 6L to replace the Charge 5 ECG app and a different brand tracker all together and everything works great now. 

I've owned Fitbit trackers for over 6 years and was concerned when Google took over operations.  My concerns were justified, Google has the reputation of using updates to adversely affect performance of older products, forcing customers to purchase their new and improved models.  I've seen it on Google's phones that have been owned by many friends.  So my recommendation, avoid the entire Google Fitbit product line moving forward, unless you like having to replace them every year or two.  Just my thoughts.

[Kpepper72]

What tracker did you end up getting? Google is also pushing its Pixel brand
and that didn't help matters.

[clwhitt]

  I've answered the question a couple of times of what I replaced my failing Charge 5 with, but the moderator removes those replies as "not relevant to the discussion". I think the consensus is that those of us who struggled with getting Google to admit there was a problem with their software in the Charge 5 arena were not going to reward their blindness to problems they created by being equally blind in purchasing another Google product. I liked my Charge 5, particularly for it's form and function, and had its life ended in a more normal way, just getting worn out, I would have been easily convinced to stick with the line. But Google doesn't care, and I'd be a fool to give them another chance. I didn't. I found the form and function that suits me, very similar to the Charge, and that's what I wear on my wrist now.

[Kpepper72]

Thanks for the reply. I really liked the Charge 5 too. If this reaches you,
I'd love to know what you're sporting on your wrist. I use their mail.
Kpepper72

[TwinComander45]

Hello everyone, the wife and I got our charge fives for Christmas and have had problems since she at first with the sleep functions and I’ve just started having problems since the software upgrade. It’s been eight months so I now have become a custom to using the Fitbit. And I really miss it the last couple days. From reading this blog can anyone suggest a good watch less than $300 for bicycling and water aerobics. Can’t afford a Garmin. I’m not getting another Fitbit! I’ve tried the suggestions and watched the videos now it’s just a black screen and I get a red light on the back when I connect the power cord base to the back of the watch. Does anyone know if I cancel my Fitbit premium plan? Will Google/Fitbit pro rate me a refund? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated and everybody stay safe out there on the roads!
Thanks 🙏 

[TwinComander45]

Thank you for the information. I’ll research that watch. I just don’t like the fact that I have to learn a whole new system over. I’m just glad that my wife and her doctors figured out her sleep patterns.

[aed82]

@LadyMk199 they will not offer a software patch. I requested this also in my discussions with customer support. Awful experience. 

[heyullama]

I have been having the same issue for the last month.  It has to be charged more and more frequently and now will not hold a charge for 24 hours.  I have tried all the things.  Basically turned it into a glorified watch since I turned off all the great features to save battery and nothing has worked.  I think I may just move on to a samsung watch since i have to replace my fitbit every 2 years. 

[GolferWayne]

I've been having problems both holding a charge (90% to 50% drain overnight) and Charge 5 going dead, needing a restart with requires power cord attached (does not work well when on the go like at the golf course).   I've had to take to the following protocol:

• Check batter every evening (via App and phone display)
• if less than 50%, charge the tracker.
• when charging tracker, perform a restart.

Not a good situation and a real turn off for FitBit and Google.  At least Google does a credible job with system/firmware updates for the Pixel phones.  Why not bring something close to that to Fitbit?

[AlfonsoEB]

Same happened to me 2 days ago. Battery suddenly draining out in 2hours. Definitely it's something related to software/firmware update.

Funny thing. My wife has the same exactly model of Fitbit Charge 5, with the same firmware version, but hers it's still under warranty and... surprise. Her battery is working properly.

Fitbit no more, ever.

[TwinComander45]

ok, the 3 -1 second hold started last night and after constantly running
that drill, finally the face lit up, however it took one vibration at a
time over several tries. Still only holds a charge for about 2 hours or
so. I'll keep F'in with it but I really don't have the time. This
Sucks! Thanks everyone for helping! TC45

[Kpepper72]

Thanks for tip! Will check it out.

[Midas123]

Same problem here. Will not hold a charge at all now.

Less than two years old. Just died right after the update.

Will try uninstalling the update.

Thanks

[Hendrik55]

After more than 600 complaints, still no response from Google/Fitbit nor any solution in the form of new firmware or something.

Users are left to their fate.

... And in the meantime, the Google Pixel Watch 3 has been launched ...

I wonder how long it will last because Google has the know-how to kill the battery with a firmware update.
And then the game starts all over again and with any luck you will get a discount on the purchase of a new or next version.