Inspire 3 Firmware Update 210.26

[LizzyFitbit]

We’re excited to announce that a firmware update version 210.26 for Inspire 3 has been released to all our members. 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.

*Firmware releases are not distributed based on region or location and can reach anyone no matter where you reside. We do not recommend performing a factory reset to force the update to your device as your data will be lost and you may not get the update. Please be patient and wait until you see the update banner inside of the Fitbit app to begin the firmware download.

WHAT’S NEW AND FIXED

• You can now easily check the time while in exercise mode.
• Your device can now auto-recognize 6 workout types: running, walking, biking, elliptical, rowing, and spinning.
  
• All exercise modes are now available in the Exercise app, and your most recently used modes appear at the top. For more information, go to How do I track my workouts with my Fitbit device?
• We changed the names of the heart-rate zones for clarity. For more information, see How do I track heart rate with my Fitbit device?
• Thanks to advanced Google ML, heart rate tracking accuracy during exercise has been improved to provide you with more precise info on important metrics.
• This release includes bug fixes and improvements.

Full release notes can be found here.

HOW DO I UPDATE?
See How do I update my Fitbit device? for step by step instructions for updating your Inspire 3. If you run into difficulty updating, review these 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.

[PattyCakes1986]

Ever since the most recent update, I am unable to manually edit exercise in the app.  If I forget to stop my exercise on my Fitbit, I change the end time in the app, but the total time does not register the edit.  This update is extremely disappointing.

[gina15]

Since the app forced me to update the watch, my Inspire 3 battery drain like crazy. Before the update, it use up 7-8% one day. Now, one night more than 15% of battery power was lost. How to downgrade my Inspire 3?

[Bill_209]

Reverting back to previous FW versions is not possible, so you'll have to experiment a bit to see if this is a less efficient FW implementation or just a settings issue.

Try Restarting your Inspire 3 device first, because that often times resolves unexpected device behaviors.

Then, read through this Google Help note on ways to extend your battery life, which should help to identify the settings that have the largest impact on battery life.

https://support.google.com/fitbit/answer/14226518?hl=en&sjid=16099943871548467474-NC#zippy=

Be sure to take a close look at all the new Exercise options on the Inspire 3, because they changed quite a bit.  As an example, GPS must now be explicitly turned on for every excercise that uses it, before it will work to better calculate distances and generate maps.

[Imalobster]

Now my steps aren't being tracked, and Fitbit is worthless. Can't trust anything it says thanks for the **ahem**.

[Lizzurich]

Since the update my Inspire 3 no longer doubles the time when calculating zone minutes for a particular exercise session. It will when calculating total zone minutes for the day but not within the frame for a particular workout 

[SkinnyNana]

Is Google Fitbit planning on fixing these HR issues on the new firmware?  Please let us know so we can move on to something else or wait for a fix. This is absolutely ridiculous!

[nms1]

I'm so glad I found this thread. I thought it was just me. This morning when I walked the dog which will usually be 99% in the active zone, I lost about 10 minutes out of an hour. Later I did a brisk 10 mins walk to the gym during which time my heart rate supposedly ranged from 95 to 172 but I was only "active" for 4 mins.

[Luciluu]

My issue has to do with recording calories. When I add them, it shows the running total when looking at "Today" but the weekly graph shows I added them to the next day. This morning's breakfast for Friday, shows as a overage for tomorrow (Saturday). extremely annoying.

[mforrest]

I first posted the complaint below a number of weeks ago.  Still no response from Fitbit. And the complaints from others keep growing. Is Google trying to destroy Fitbit so people will buy the Google activity tracker instead??  I will NOT be buying one.  I want my functional Fitbit product back, or I will move my loyalty to a differently company.

“Ever since the latest mid-August firmware update my Inspire 3 does not record any active minutes during exercise. It still records active minutes correctly while I’m active around the house or in the yard, but as soon as it determines that I am off on a walk it doesn’t record any active minutes. My weekly recorded active minutes have plummeted by 80% even though my activity level has not changed. As others have said, my Fitbit is now just a pricey pedometer. I foolishly assumed this would be swiftly corrected with another update but it hasn’t occurred yet. 
As a bonus, when I try to log in to customer support it does nor recognize my login info. My only recourse was to post here and hope a technician reads this.

When will this disastrous update be fixed??”

[ostan]

Since this update, my Inspire 3 is almost useless. This is ridiculous. Google, please fix this or I am buying something else that actually works.

[nms1]

I'm involved in a back & forth with FitBit on X/Twitter regarding the upgrade. So far, they have referred me to help posts on factors that affect your HR reading and how FitBit calculates active minutes. I pointed out to them that I have been a user for 10 years, so I know how it works. They also suggested that it is because my body is used to my exercise routine so my HR has lowered. There is some truth in that in theory, but for it to suddenly happen in such an extreme manner after the update makes no sense. And it doesn't explain the erratic readings I have had. They also suggested that using non official accessory bands may be a problem. So before the upgrade it was OK, but now it's not?

[Bill_209]

Sounds like Google Customer Service have the art of 'deflection' down cold to me.

[Imalobster]

I had wondered the same thing about the decrease in HR  due to better fitness levels, but came to the same conclusion that that does not happen drastically overnight.

[nms1]

In my X/Twitter conversation with them, I have directed them to this thread twice to highlight that I am not the only one with issues.

[Bill_209]

The article says,

"Unfortunately, we also saw some sad news for Fitbit fans: the Pixel Watch 3’s announcement spelled the end for other Fitbit smartwatches. Google quietly confirmed that there would never be another Fitbit Sense or Versa model produced. From now on, Fitbit-branded devices will be relegated to Google’s best fitness trackers: the Fitbit Inspire, Luxe, and Charge ranges. The smartwatch form factor would be exclusively reserved for the Pixel Watch line."

Okay, that's just one of the many things that will happen after the acquisition of a competitor, but I am unaware of any other $100 USD fitness device on the market with the form-factor of the Inspire 3 that provides step count, heart rate measurements, the 5 heart metrics and sleep stage tracking, with historical data, with no Premium subscription.

That being said, I'd say that it's about time that Google puts some of their more experienced FW and SW developers on the Inspire 3 project to make this fitness device as good as it can be, or at least as good as it once was not too long ago.

[Rain99]

Hi, it seems like the update has caused more problems than it’s worth. I’m beginning to think the Fitbit company doesn’t care about their customers and want folks to buy a new Fitbit when watch fails to work after an update. Hope I’m wrong but history seems to be repeating itself. Unfortunately I’m speaking as someone who has just had their Inspire3 less than 2 yrs.

Update, I want to report my Fitbit woke up and my screen is back up and running after Update, about 4 hrs after downloading software , cleaning and plugging into charger. I wish Fitbit would tell customers the update will shutdown your Fitbit for about 4 hrs and you need to charge while Fitbit is downloading the update so folks don’t stress out with the screen going temporarily dark.

[TinaLucero]

The upgrade has ruined zone minutes. I get 5 zone minutes when I used to get 45 for the same workout. This in turn affects my John Hancock Vitality app that tracks zone minutes for rewards. Can we remove the upgrade?

[nms1]

OK - so I have now been advised to do a factory reset, which I have done. I will need to wait until tomorrow to try it out when I am walking my dog as that is when the reading are most erratic.

I have also sent them them the link to this thread.

If you are on X/Twitter, it's worth trying to send a message to @Fitbit. The Fitbit Support account seems to be inactive so don't use that. Maybe if they receive enough messages, they will wake up.

[MMJK]

I don't know. However, someone posted a message below about a factory reset. 

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Please tell us how to do the factory reset. 

[Bill_209]

Sync your device first to avoid losing data and then follow these directions to perform a Factory Reset.

https://support.google.com/fitbit/answer/14236515?hl=en&ref_topic=14237002