Water damage first time Charge 5

[LM2022]

Hi

I only brought my Fitbit Charge 5 in January 2022 and have always been very careful around water with it. I tried to use it the first time when swimming and it seems to have got damaged. I was only in the water for a very short period of time and the watch wasn't submerged more than a few feet. It now won't turn on, charge and just has a black screen. I have tried leaving it in rice too. Is this covered in the warranty as I have had it less than a year ? 

Moderator edit: subject updated for clarity

[FarmersWife74]

Thank you for your mail.If what you say is correct then my water lock
didn't come on.and Fitbit said I shouldn't have gone in the jacuzzi with
it on.

[Podunk]

I was interested to see the difference between waterproof watches and water resistant watches. On one of the websites I looked at it said there was really no such thing as a waterproof watch just water resistant to different deaths. It stated that if your watch was rated to 50 m it was safe to use Under a shower, and from what I have read, Fitbit does not recommend using it in the shower because of the chemicals and soap that might cause the seal that protects the inside of the Fitbit from deteriorating. It stated that a watch rated for 100 m was good for swimming but not for diving. It appears that prolonged immersion of a device rated for 50 m would not be recommended. Based on what I have read, I would not deliberately placed my Fitbit in the water for fear that it might fail, and I would be throwing away good money,

[mchcpa]

I too have had the same experience as Evisbr.  Help.

[bruce1111]

Bingo!  I went into the pool yesterday as I always do wearing my charge5. Never had a problem in the past but this time it went black bc the battery was dead. Charged it to 99%. Depleted within an hour. Then X with a red circle.  Then I realized that the red light in the back of the device stays on and that is why the battery dies. I also deleted the device and reinstalled a new one.  Same problem. Out of warranty and offered a 35% discount. Don’t know that I’m going to replace it.  According to the Fitbit specifications the device should be water resistant.  It obviously is defective if water can get into it. 

[FarmersWife74]

Fitbit customer service gave me very good service when it happened to
me.They provided me with a replacement which they didn't need to as it was
out of warranty.

I just told them exactly what happened.

[Gamurr]

I've got the same issue as the OP. I've worn my Charge 5 daily for nearly six months since new with no problems. Yesterday I wore it in a swimming pool for the first time, only in the water for about 15 minutes, and it hasn't worked since. The water seems to have killed the battery and/or the charging function. The last sync reported 'battery empty'. When I plug in the charging cable the device vibrates and displays the Fitbit logo briefly but won't do anything else. The reset procedure using the button on the charging cable does nothing. As others have said, this is hopeless for a device supposedly designed to track swimming activity. I need a fix or a replacement, please.

[mchcpa]

SEE YA FITBIT!  Offered me a 35% discount as a customer since 11/2014 and owning my charge 5 only 1 year, 5 months!  Millions of posts on the same issue.  Obviously there's a problem.  Good luck everyone 🤔😪🙃

[Podunk]

If you lived in one of the European Union countries, your warranty would’ve been two years, but in the United States and other countries, they only warrantee for one year. You would think they would be able to be able and willing to provide the same warrantee to people all over the world. When When I asked, they told me that the same Fitbit we bought in the United States, was the same as those sold in the European Union.

Sent from my iPhone

[FarmersWife74]

Oh dear, wish I hadn't shared now.

[PCHorn]

I've now had (2) Charge 5's die after their 1st entry into swimming pool.  First time I knew I was taking it in, 2nd time was an accident/forgot about it.   Both times,  same result. ... screen black, might charge but discharges rapidly.  A fried device.

[Lujame79]

Had my Charge 5 for just over 12 months and took it swimming for the first time on the weekend. Got out of the pool and it wasn't working. Put it in rice for 3 days, nothing happening. Contacted Fitbit support and got the run around and their response was a 35% discount on another device. Never been in the shower, never near the water but thought I would try it for lap swimming. Not happy at all. Won't be purchasing anything Fitbit related if that's how they treat their customers.

[DG59]

It is unbelievably frustrating to hear how many people have this experience. And Fitbit still only offers the 35% discount as they did to me. So many people are reporting this problem! Why do they keep saying that it’s OK to use in the water? Is anyone from Fitbit on this thread?

Sent from my iPhone