Fitbit OS 4.1 - Firmware Release (70.7.14)

[MattFitbit]

Fitbit Update: 12/5

Hi everyone!

We’re excited to announce the release of Fitbit OS 4.1 (Firmware Version: 70.7.14). 

We've begun releasing this new firmware 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 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

The update includes a variety of new features and enhancements, including: 

• Smart wake: Smart wake will gently begin to wake you with subtle vibrations during the optimal part of your sleep cycle (during light or REM) within a 30-minute window prior to your pre-set alarm. This allows you to wake up feeling refreshed. 

• Clock face switcher: You will now be able to store up to five clock faces right on your device and quickly change from one to the other using the new clock face switcher.

• On-wrist Sleep Score: The score will now be available in the on-device dashboard that can be accessed by swiping up from the clock face. You can still see it alongside your sleep data within the Fitbit app after you sync.

• Exercise app improvements: The redesigned Exercise app will now display all 20 workouts in a new streamlined list on your wrist. 

• Battery notification: When your battery is running low, a new feature will automatically disable notification vibrations

• Agenda app: A new Agenda app allows you to see your calendar right on your wrist. 

For more information on the new features included in Fitbit OS 4.1 check out this article. You can also check out our press release. 

HOW DO I UPDATE?

Step by step instructions for updating your Ionic can be found here. 

If you run into any trouble updating your Ionic, I recommend reviewing these troubleshooting tips. 

We appreciate your patience while we work to roll this out to everyone. 

[lucaiuli]

My Fitbit just died yesterday after days of battery drain. Now I cannot open it with any button press. Just died.My replcement is due to arrive, it is not here yet. Right now I am counting my steps with the iOS Fitbit app, but there is no HR or stairs count inside the app.I just wish that the firmware update would be pulled out so I can set up the replacement I’ll get and stick with the old firmware - hopefully it is not updated to the latest one...But, as I remember, you cannot skip the Firmware OS update when you want to setup the Ionic from scratch and that’s a bummer...
@Fitbit - please give us a pertinent answer - did this OS update is bad, or this update affects only 1% of the watches and that’s your risk to take? We need a simply answer that you are aware of this issues caused by the latest FW update.If we are on those 1% of the Ionic users that their watches will be affected (ruined) by the firmware update we’ll need to know.
Thank you!Julian

[Ericws]

These are he exact problems I am having.  When I have powered down I need to press left and lower right to power back on, and when I get my Ionic on again, it will have lost 50% of its power from the night before.

the Fitbit support suggestion was to experiment with running the battery to zero. Sounds too scary to try that, when it is otherwise working.  As you said, if I leave it on it only loses 5% and it otherwise seems good.

should be an easy patch?

[tleon]

I used to be able to do 4-5 days per charge before the firmware upgrade and like many others the watch died within a day after the upgrade. 

No matter how long I charged the watch for, it always display 0% on the screen so I wasn't even able to "boot up" the watch to perform a factory reset.

I noticed though that if the watch battery is fully depleted, the watch will not show 0% but just a blank screen. And only when you charge the watch when the battery is fully depleted, will the watch then perform a proper boot up and show the Fitbit logo where you can then perform a factory reset.

Hopefully this may help others who are encountering the same problem (constant 0% screen) that I had encountered earlier on.

While my watch can now boot up and sync properly with my phone after the factory reset, it no longer tracks HR and steps count and am still working with the support to see how I can get the issues fixed.

I'll strongly suggest the rest who have not upgraded the firmware to refrain from doing so until all the problems are resolved..

[Srh4jc]

Same here! Battery drainage is high! Developers need to pay attention to this!

Sent from my iPad

[Srh4jc]

Same here! It’s frustrating and not productive! I hope they come out with affects very very soon!

[paulameehan]

Fitbit response to my “help” ticket is completely unacceptable!  Basically as my Ionic was purchased for my birthday in November 2018, we are outside of the warranty period.  So the solution they are offering be as use of an issue they caused to a perfectly working tracker... 25% off a new tracker...  unfreaking believable.  This solution is completely unacceptable.  Think I’ll be making a FB post..  and start looking for a different brand.

oh and if I did want to buy a new Fitbit, based on the website prices and current sales at either Best Buy or SportChek, I could get cheaper from them even with the Fitbit “offer”

[PBRinAus]

I just attempted to update the firmware on my 12-month old ionic. Full battery, strong wifi, next to phone etc... and it has gone dead. Completely, utterly and totally dead. I can see the last sync was 28 minutes ago with a full batter life and now it's a black screen and the phone can't see the watch at all. Has anyone else had this problem or know what to do? I am trying to get onto the fitbit online chat program but being boxing day... I'm assuming it's not operational. Pretty devastated because I have a new band on order from Amazon 😞 

[PBRinAus]

OMG this exact thing.

[SilviaFitbit]

Hey everyone. Sorry for the delayed reply. 

Just a reminder, please make sure you're following this procedure to update your Ionic's firmware and if you find any issue follow this troubleshooting. 

@youhippy Hey there. Thanks for letting me know that your Ionic was replaced. 

@Me201701 Thanks for getting back. I'm glad to hear that you continue the communication with our Support team and they are helping you. As soon as there are news about this firmware update, it will be posted in this thread. 

@santich Welcome to the Community. Thanks for the details mentioned and the troubleshooting tried. In this case, I've shared your post with our Support team, they will continue assisting you. 

@SunsetRunner It's nice to see you around. Thanks for your feedback and comments, we're always striving to improve. 

@Ericws It's nice to see you around. Thanks for the details mentioned. Since you already have a case with our Support team, please continue the communication through email, they will continue assisting you. 

@Srh4jc It's nice to see you around. I would like you to confirm you've updated your firmware version. If you have updated it but you're still experiencing the same, please try the tips in this article to extend your Fitbit Ionic's battery life. 

@PBRinAus It's nice to see you on the Community. Thanks for letting me know that you just updated your Fitbit Ionic. Sorry to hear that you're experiencing this with your watch. I appreciate the time you took to try to contact our Support team. 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. 

I'll be around if you have any additional questions. 

[Corvin1956]

Like a few others, I had an Ionic which was only 5 months old, which had always worked fine. I carried out the update on Firmware overnight Christmas Eve, it worked throughout the next day. However, as usual I shut my Ionic down when I went to sleep, as I don't like wearing it overnight. Come yesterday morning, it was absolutely dead, blank screen, no way to bring it back to life.

Today I took it back to the seller who honoured the warranty with no quibbles, and allowed me a credit to spend in store. They said they were aware of a few other Ionics that the latest Firmware update had "killed", hence not arguing at all about a full credit. From a cynic's perspective I can only hazard a guess, the developers were in a rush to release it before their Christmas partying, and insufficient testing took place.

I've now opted for an Inspire HR which has all the functionality I need, and due to its much smaller size it will be worn on my dominant wrist, allowing me to wear a decent watch again should I wish.

[okoyl3]

Hey,
I cannot sync my ionic, at all.

I can only factory reset it, and syncing is working for a few minutes after initial setup. but then there is no syncing at all!

I tried 3 different android devices, same result. 

[Jman25]

Update to Fitbit OS 4.1 went fine.  Seems to be working fine however the total amount of Miles walked during the day appears to be 50% of what would normally show in the past. If I look at the amount of steps in a day and compared to the miles it is about 50%. This started after the update to Fitbit OS 4.1.

I checked the stride length in the app and they appear to be fine is there something else I should check?

[Abbyrichardson]

I have updated but it will no longer sync. I shutdown the watch and now it wont turn back on.

[lcasarin]

Mi ionic has been in firmware 27.33.1.30 forever

I tried to factory reset it and got an update message, I updated it to 27.33.1.30

So what should I do to get the new firmware?

[lcasarin]

What would you know

5 minutes after my last post got the update

So far so good

[kluss0]

I got the update pretty early on. After the update, the first thing I noticed was that notifications for text and calls stopped working. Vibration in general has completely stopped. I no longer get a vibration for X steps left in the hour or timers. I had to do a factory reset because the watch face became completely unresponsive at one point. 

I have disabled notifications, re-enabled them, restarted my phone, removed the app, re-installed it, restarted the watch, factory reset the watch, changed watch faces, etc.... Basically, I have done every troubleshooting tip out there. Maybe there will be an update to fix the update? Or maybe this experience is just to encourage people to buy Google's smart watch when it is released.....

[TomDuke]

The firmware updates are hit or miss.  I had no trouble loading this on my 2 year old Ionic and everything seems to be working OK, step count might be a bit generous and HR sensitivity sometimes appears to have difficulty reading my pulse.  I don't like the pull down menu for music, wallet, and quick settings, I never use it and it always pops up when I get a notification so it blocks the text.  Good luck to all, this device has come back from the dead for me three times so far...there's hope.

[theGekkoST]

All I can say is that the 27.70.7.14 update seemed to destroy my Ionic.  About a day after updating it, the light on the back went from green to red.  I thought cool; new feature that changes it to red when the battery is low.  Nope, just the heartbeat sensor not working.  This was bright red too, like my arm glowed from how bright the light was.  This was also draining my battery to the point where I could watch the percentage go down. 

I managed to get it back to green after doing a factory reset.  The reset took almost 2 hours for some reason too.  It came up red at first, but after syncing, it turned back to green.  The screen was really wonky after the reset though, like the touch's wouldn't always register.  Now the screen doesn't even have pixel's i.e. it is just a black screen.  I can see the backlight is on, but it is just a blank screen.  The footsteps, and heart rater are still working for now, but we'll see.

I've had this since 2017, so way out of warranty.  But Fitbit should still replace any device they break with a firmware update even if its out of warranty.  Or at least provide a way for people to downgrade to the previous firmware.

[Ebojager]

Personally I would not update, but it seems like I may have been too late. After reading all the posts in this thread I have chosen never to update my Ionic.

[MattJ71]

So strange how some people have issues and others don't.  I upgraded without issue, everything works perfectly, and battery life is still a solid 4 to 5 days.