Fitbit OS 4.1.2 Firmware Update (70.7.27)

[MattFitbit]

Hello Ionic family!

We’re excited to announce the release of Fitbit OS 4.1.2.

We started releasing this new update to customers. This is a progressive rollout which means everyone will receive it at different stages until it has been completely released to all users. We roll out releases in phases as a cautionary measure so that we can monitor performance closely and make adjustments if needed. 

*Firmware releases aren’t distributed based on region or location and can reach anyone no matter where you reside.

WHAT’S NEW AND FIXED

Read our help article for the latest updates.

HOW DO I UPDATE?

Find step-by-step instructions for updating Ionic here. 

If you run into any trouble updating Ionic, review these troubleshooting tips.

We appreciate your patience while we work to roll this out to everyone. Looking forward to hearing everyone's feedback in the comments below. 🤖

[Iain_K]

@SilviaFitbit 

I have a question, seeing as you did ask.  I wonder though if you will actually answer it.

Why, when so many people have asked SPECIFICALLY what this update addresses, do you persist in replying  "In regards to the firmware update, you may want to check this article to learn more about what's changed in the latest Fitbit OS update? "

I checked the link, the page it links to says, in its entirety, this, regarding the Ionic:

"This release includes bug fixes and improvements." 

This does not even begin to tell people what the update does.  Especially when so many people are reporting the exact opposite, "this release contain bugs and might kill your device."

I don't wish to appear facetious, but  this is really frustrating for anyone wishing to make an informed choice, so please, answer the question you are asked or ask a developer or project manager what EXACTLY is this firmware update supposed to do.

Also, for what its worth there are enough people posting in this thread who received out of warranty replacements for update bricked devices to know that that line,"Our Support team offers options based in the Fitbit Warranty." is not universally true, so perhaps you could encourage Fitbit to make things right for ALL the customers affected by this faulty update. 

Sincerely

[Gmshaw]

Just wait to you get to play with their software if you think fit bits was bad Garmin takes the cake.

I switched from Garman and Intel’s product before it burned my wrist they replace that and actually gave me money on top of it before they abandoned the product altogether. Don’t throw away your packaging for your Garman until you’re sure that it’s right for you there’s a lot of competition out there Fitbit really does have the best overall integrated product but this brick thing is a nightmare.

I actually went out and bought a new one and if I’m lucky enough to get the other one going to gift it until update it’s the best watch I’ve ever owned for tracking Other than Polar  products.

[DucceMicke]

Dear @Carriehappyfeet , you’re totalt right, breakdown is the worst case.
And I never had any “update breakdowns” with either of my 8 Fitbit watches during the years, or my 6 Garmin devices, or my 25+ Apple devices. 
But my biggest software problems has been with Garmin devices, not Fitbit. And if you expect the G support to be better, faster, etc, you’ll probably be very disappointed. So all in all, I would not choose Garmin over Fitbit today. I would not choose Apple Watch over Fitbit today.

Fitbit is not flawless, but my experience is that neither are the other ones.

This opinion is however built on no upgrade breakdowns and historically generous warranties from Fitbit (two replacements out of warranty).

[SilviaFitbit]

Hey there!

Thank you for getting back to me. I appreciate that you shared the option you were given by our Support team, each case is reviewed individually and the option provided is based in the Fitbit Warranty. Be sure that your feedback hasn't been unnoticed. 

@2020andBeyond Welcome to the Community. Thanks for your feedback. You may want to vote for this idea, these are reviewed by our team and the status changes based in Fitbit's plans. 

@ben911 Thanks for getting in touch. I've shared your post with our Support team and they've mentioned you already have a case with them, please continue the communication through email, they will provide further options. 

@LisaH1968 I've taken the liberty to share your post with our Support team, they will continue assisting you through email. Due to recent events affecting our operations, we may need more than 7 business days to respond. 

@gphionic and @Nickd1984 Thanks for the details mentioned. In this case, I would like you to follow these tips to extend your battery life and continue monitoring it. 

Catch you later! 

[2020andBeyond]

I appreciate you linking me to a locked topic whose status was changed to Not Planned, in which the text said that you were not planning on implementing the feature.  There is no new feature to implement.  We are asking to have the option to enable or disable the existing feature.  Giving us a toggle on/off should not be difficult to do.

Also, I like the convenience of scripts, but it would have been nice to have gotten a scripted answer that actually addressed my issue.

[BeKuhl]

 This update killed my Ionic. Since the update, the calibration request has been on. I have tried numerous times (face down and on the side) with no success. It drains the battery. I have soft reset it and factory reset it with the same issue. 

[LMAOUDFB]

@Iain_K, How'd you like your answer?

@2020andBeyond, Typical, dont take it personally.

@BeKuhl, If your talking about the calibration like the one you normally have to do when you first connect it to your phone, normally that calibration needs to be done while its on the charger before you hit start. The only reason I mention it is because I didnt see you mention you did that, If you did my apologies.

[BeKuhl]

@LMAOUDFB It dies within an hour if I don't have it on the charger because of the calibration, so it is definitely on there. I've had multiple Fitbits, but thank you for thinking about that.

[dlucas7]

For those of you who are experiencing a blank screen - although I have not applied the latest firmware update my Ionic had a blank screen when I woke up this morning even though it was working ok the night before. In the poor light I could see that the screen was still active but just not showing anything. I tried shutting the Ionic down by pressing the left button and bottom right button until the screen shut off. I then held the buttons again until the Fitbit logo appeared and my Ionic then ran normally. If you’re going to try this, just ensure you are in a dark room so that you can distinguish between an active but blank screen and a screen that is off.

Also, for those having battery issues (less then 24hrs usage) have you checked that the GPS was not activated during the firmware update as this will run the battery down quickly?

Worth a try. Let us know how you get on.
David

[ComputerGardian]

@BeKuhltry this, its from another thread on here:

Hold all three buttons for about twelve seconds. This triggers the 2-button hardware reboot after about eight seconds.

When the static logo appears, then disappears, release the bottom right button, then continue holding the left and top right buttons until you feel a strong vibration.

If that doesn't work you could always try downgrading the firmware. Unfortunately the only one that exists is version 27.33.1.30, because I have tried to go back to 27.70.7.14 but it doesn't exist anymore.

[ComputerGardian]

Hold all three buttons for about twelve seconds. This triggers the 2-button hardware reboot after about eight seconds.

When the static logo appears, then disappears, release the bottom right button, then continue holding the left and top right buttons until you feel a strong vibration.

If that doesn't work you could always try downgrading the firmware. Unfortunately the only one that exists is version 27.33.1.30, because I have tried to go back to 27.70.7.14 but it doesn't exist anymore.

[sytzeng]

Thanks for the advice.I am thinking to get a Amazfit X now.As a 7 years loyal user, fitbit really let me down.

傳送自 Yahoo奇摩電子信箱 Android 版

[BeKuhl]

@ComputerGardian I almost had my Hope's up. When I tried what you suggested it just gave me the red "x" and to sync my fitbit. Go to sync it and immediately wants to do the update. I have an Adidas Ionic and I hope that isn't part of the problem. 

[sdsjr03]

Much like everyone else, this update has killed my IONIC.  To say I'm disappointed would be understated.  My wife and I BOTH have IONICs and I'm nervous about doing the update on hers now, obviously.  I have opened a case already, but now...while in the middle of a pandemic where all we can do is hike and exercise we can't track it.  Never expected this.  Frustrated, angry, disappointed.  UGH

[Kyle_w_h]

@ComputerGardian How do you downgrade the firmware? The only thing I can think is a factory reset. Problem is, when I do that, during the setup, it automatically updates to the most current firmware.

Thanks!

[lucaiuli]

Hi, @sdsjr03 

And all that have issues with this update on your Ionics: I feel you!

But I also have a question for you: did you update to the previous firmware version? That went without any issues?

I am asking that because the previous update briked my first Ionic and I was mad! Fitbit Support sent me a replacement as a new Ionic device (just the body). After receiving it I had to update to that firmware version in order to set it up. The update worked without any issues and from that moment on my “replacement” Ionic works as my first Ionic did before.

So, I am asking you the one with issues after this latest update, to know if you are on the first update or the second. 

1) If you are on the second and it worked after the previous update, then it is something very wrong with Fitbit Ionic firmware.

2) If you have the issues after this latest update, then, I guess, your Fitbit Ionic is part of a old hardware batch that do not support new firmware updates. That was the case with my first Ionic, too.

Also, the Fitbit devices are bound to Fitbit cloud, they are “calling home” every time we sync them using the mobile apps. Each time, our Fitbit Ionic data is sent to Fitbit servers. They know everything about our watches. They know that the update will brick them, but this is a risk they need to take.

I understand the replies coming from Fitbit Support here, they can’t say anything more even thou it is very frustrated. Many of you have been already contacted by their support by email, so, you’ll need to continue with them behind close doors. Hope for the better.

In my case, I will not update to this version EVER. I am afraid. But also afraid that if I didn’t do that, the mobile app will not work in the future. I will also not update the mobile app. 

Right now I have everything I need from this watch. I don’t need anything else, leave it be!

Julian

[ComputerGardian]

@BeKuhl 

Yes that was the point to force it to do a clean update again, sometimes the update doesnt install properly and this forces it to do the update again, I have had success doing this in the past.

@Kyle_w_h 

I wont give you that answer in public, Msg me and I will explain.

[Iain_K]

@LMAOUDFB 

@SilviaFitbit 

The response? Sadly its exactly what I expected.  😣

I can only hope that things at Fitibit improve once the acquisition by Google is complete, but I'm not holding my breath and certainly no longer recommend Fitbits products to family or friends largely because of the response.

As I said earlier, with complex devices things will go wrong from time to time, but to continue to repeat the same errors over and over is entirely unacceptable.

[ComputerGardian]

@lucaiuli 

I wish they would leave it alone, I just had a replacement 34 days ago from the last update that bricked my ionic, and now here we go again. Oddly mine started before I updated the firmware, but the app updated 2x since getting the replacement. I am going to be changing my play settings to manual update instead of auto because of the fitbit app. And I know for a FACT its Fitbit thats messing up the watches. I believe your right also and that its happening when the fitbit is calling home. And oddly enough I have proof sort of that it is them and not the watches. Cant explain how I figured this out as they would probably edit my post for saying too much.

[ComputerGardian]

@Iain_K 

Sadly I dont know if I can wait that long, its truly sad that you come here for answers or help and you get nothing except scripted answers. But again I said too much I expect the magic wand to come and wipe away what I said, because its negative energy! Let me run back behind the darkness as not to be found.

::scurries back into the darkness looking around making sure not to be seen::

[Jessiemel82]

This last update ruined my Ionic. Moments after the update my screen started to show lines and became very pixelated, battery drained. The next day my Ionic totally died. Screen will not come on, will not stay charged! Any suggestions?