Introducing Charge 5 Firmware Release - Version 1.171.50

[FitbitCommunity]

We’re excited to announce that a firmware update for Charge 5. Some of you might already have this update available. If you installed it, let us know what you think!

We release updates to customers in phases. If you don’t see it, check the Fitbit app in a few days, and you’ll see a message when you can install the update. We appreciate your patience while we get this update to all of our customers. 

WHAT’S NEW AND FIXED

See What's changed in the latest Fitbit device update? for release notes.

HOW DO I UPDATE?

See How do I update my Fitbit device? for step-by-step instructions for updating your Charge 5. If you run into difficulty updating, see Why can't I update my Fitbit device?. 

We’re interested in hearing your feedback on this update! Let us know what you like! If you encounter unexpected behavior during or after your update, please post the details below.

[VballKitty]

If you want the new clock face,  you will need to go into the app on your phone and download it.  Once you select it and down load,  it will sync to your fit it.  Then,  you will see it 

The Runliner clockface isn't really useful because it doesn't have any numbers.  I also have no idea what the symbol with the 3 up facing arrows means.  Useless for me

[cfsFit]

Get in touch with Customer Support and let them know this.
Ask for a new Charge 5 asap as a medical necessity, and make sure that you don't install the firmware update on it - until / unless there is a new version that doesn't destroy the Charge 5.
Hope this helps.

[SunsetRunner]

3 arrows is zone minutes.

[Barryfla55]

This reply will probably be deleted. In the U.S. they either have to offer a full refund or replacement of exactly what you bought. If you bought a brand new watch and it is under warranty, then do not accept a reconditioned one as a replacement. 

[Devonian]

Thank you Barry.

Appreciated.

[Celtic_Babog]

My charge 5 is looking kevthis. It finds the charge 5, gives me the 4 digits pair number. Tries to pair but fails every time. Been like this for 3 days. Customer support was no help. Fitbit please help.

I unpaired my charge 5 from my phone 2 days ago and haven't been able to pair it since.

[wpqs]

Please give the firmware version. I know marketing don't care about version numbers, but users do.

[Celtic_Babog]

1.171.50

Fitbit went through all the steps to fix my issue but in the end offered me a call replacement.

"Thanks for troubleshooting this issue with us.

Before we proceed, please ship your product to our warehouse. After we receive your package, we’ll process your replacement. For details about processing and shipping times, see About Fitbit purchases and  shipping"

[SLW422]

@Devonian-- you were not foolish at all.  I daresay that most of us "assumed" we'd have watch faces similar to previous Charge versions that were stats-heavy.   (I know I did.)   I didn't realize how bad the choices were until I received my new Charge 5, but again I "assumed" there would be 3rd party choices that would work for me.   (Wrong again!)

I totally agree that we don't need to be lectured.   It gets harder to be a Fitbit fan with each passing day. 

[Talahthas]

@SLW422 You bought a product with given specs and features. Then, after your purchase, you blame the company for not fulfilling your wishes(!) concerning product improvement?!
I really don't get it ... 🙄

[Devonian]

Blimey. Do you work for the Fitbit PR department?

[Talahthas]

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@Devonian wrote:

Blimey. Do you work for the Fitbit PR department?

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Me?

[Devonian]

Yes

[Talahthas]

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@Devonian wrote:

Yes

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No. But during over 30 years of IT business I've learned to keep a clear head if something doesn't work as expected to be able to get to the bottom of the problem.
Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong criticizing anyone to blame a company for not implementing her/his wishes for additional functionality after release. That's not the way this business works. That's not the way any business works.

[Devonian]

Congratulations on your clarity of thinking,  doubtless stellar career in IT and impressive list of Fitbits owned.

Here’s another collection of dissatisfied people who would benefit from your sage advice:

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Feature-Suggestions/More-clock-faces-for-the-Charge-5/idi-p/4976617

[radesix]

I'm not sure what being in the IT business for 30 years has to do with a customer frustrated about feature regression.  It isn't about a clear head either.  The simple fact is many of us have been using Fitbits for years, over many models and iterations and we had better experiences and features from prior models.  From personal experience, previous Fitbits had faces that were much more usable/desirable than what we have today with the Charge 5.  

There has been an an open and active thread for about a year now about how horrible the faces for Charge 5 are and many many people asking for a stats heavy face, myself included.  I think I asked for this last October or so. 

So, I'm sure from your experience in IT you can understand its absolutely fair that a long time Fitbit user who has grown accustomed to certain features and functionality would assume that the next version or iteration of a product builds upon and is better than previous versions. Users generally don't expect to regress. Furthermore, If when a product IS released that has regressed and customers band together and verbalize the desire for old features or functionality to return... and after a year of being patient... a new update touts the very feature you requested but it turns out to NOT be what the community requested... its fair to complain and voice frustration regardless of what specification or picture may have been represented on a box or in marketing material. At this point, the company seems tone-deaf. Not just to feature requests.. but to acknowledging and communicating product issues as well.

Stated simply, older Fitbits had better screens for stats. Lots of users don't care about a clock/watch because a Fitbit isn't a clock or watch. Lots of people have been asking for a year now for at least one stats heavy face like we had available on previous devices. An update was announced and touted to have new faces. Instead the update offered ONE stats unusable face that nobody was requesting.   I'm not sure why you think people don't have a right to be frustrated by this.

[SteveCDN]

I think all most of us just want are the firmware updates suggested by Fitbit(Google) in a smooth and efficient manner. The fact that this isn’t happening is cause for concern. Too often users are used beta testers as it is too much trouble to roll out a well researched and relatively big free release.

The fact that many have problems with this install, the product loses data and functionality is hard to defend.

Shame on your industry!



Steve

Sent from my iPhone

[Talahthas]

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@Devonian wrote:

Congratulations on your clarity of thinking,  doubtless stellar career in IT and impressive list of Fitbits owned.

Here’s another collection of dissatisfied people who would benefit from your sage advice:

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Feature-Suggestions/More-clock-faces-for-the-Charge-5/idi-p/4976617

---

You don't understand the point: You CANNOT purchase a product with it's given specs, REQUEST any further features after your purchase and BLAME any company for not implementing your wish list. That's ridiculous.
Think about that! Without anger about a firmware update that went wrong for quite a few users. Calm down!

[Talahthas]

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@radesix wrote:

I'm not sure what being in the IT business for 30 years has to do with a customer frustrated about feature regression.  It isn't about a clear head either.  The simple fact is many of us have been using Fitbits for years, over many models and iterations and we had better experiences and features from prior models.  From personal experience, previous Fitbits had faces that were much more usable/desirable than what we have today with the Charge 5.  

There has been an an open and active thread for about a year now about how horrible the faces for Charge 5 are and many many people asking for a stats heavy face, myself included.  I think I asked for this last October or so. 

So, I'm sure from your experience in IT you can understand its absolutely fair that a long time Fitbit user who has grown accustomed to certain features and functionality would assume that the next version or iteration of a product builds upon and is better than previous versions. Users generally don't expect to regress. Furthermore, If when a product IS released that has regressed and customers band together and verbalize the desire for old features or functionality to return... and after a year of being patient... a new update touts the very feature you requested but it turns out to NOT be what the community requested... its fair to complain and voice frustration regardless of what specification or picture may have been represented on a box or in marketing material. 

Stated simply, older Fitbits had better screens for stats. Lots of users don't care about a clock/watch because a Fitbit isn't a clock or watch. Lots of people have been asking for a year now for at least one stats heavy face like we had available on previous devices. An update was announced and touted to have new faces. Instead the update offered ONE stats unusable face that nobody was requesting.   I'm not sure why you think people don't have a right to be frustrated by this.

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Everybody who made her/his purchase decision for the Charge 5 had many possibilities to get informered about it's features. If you haven't, it's your own fault. Oh, well, you could even have returned it in a given time if you weren't satisfied, to get a different model instead. No one URGED you to buy Charge 5.

[Talahthas]

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@SteveCDN wrote:
I think all most of us just want are the firmware updates suggested by Fitbit(Google) in a smooth and efficient manner. The fact that this isn’t happening is cause for concern. Too often users are used beta testers as it is too much trouble to roll out a well researched and relatively big free release.

The fact that many have problems with this install, the product loses data and functionality is hard to defend.

Shame on your industry!



Steve

Sent from my iPhone

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THAT'S what this thread is all about. 
Thanks 👍