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. 

[Hullcity2324]

My Firmwear Version on my phone says " 27.331.30" I am assuming this is not the correct version?

It just updated to this today? Does that make any sense?

[M.O.M]

I had an update on my Ionic about a week and a half ago.  Ever since then my watch has been losing time.  One day I had to sync it several times. It is very frustrating to have a watch and not know if the time is correct.  I have tried doing the  "press and hold the back and bottom buttons until you see the Fitbit logo on the screen" a number of times and it keeps losing time.  I also have done the "turn it off and turn it back on" procedure that is recommended.  It continues to lose time.  I called customer support yesterday and the associate told me many things that I found dubious including that because it is a digital device it cannot keep time on its own and it needs to be syncing with the app on a regular basis in order to keep time correctly.  I wish I had recorded the conversation.  He told me that the problem was that I did not have automatic time zone on.  So I put it on.  I woke up this morning and my watch was approximately 7 minutes behind the time on my phone.  So much for it being the automatic time zone setting.  What gives?  I have had this watch for several years and while it has had a few issues I do not recall it ever having the wrong time.  Please give me accurate information to correct the problem

[huy83]

I bought this fitbit Ionic in Aug 2019. It had been working great until I got this firmware upgrade 27.70.1.14 and my world is changing. The battery drains much quicker than it used to be. My watch used to go from 4 to days on battery life without recorded activities. Now, I spent 1 hr recorded activity after full charge, then the next day my watch couldn't turn on because the battery is at 0%.This is driving me crazy. I don't know if anyone else is having the same issue or not. I don't know if there is fix for this or not. This is not normal. Hopefully, someone from tech support see my message. If not, I will call in to file the complaint

[Semmyconcious]

@M.O.M 

Mine did this. Ended up getting a replacement. The replacement was a faulty “refurbished” Ionic. This has now been replaced with a “new” replacement.

Check the product code when you get a replacement
FBR..... = refurbished

FBN......= new

[Patrick_Bateman]

My device is at this level but I still get constant notifications that a new firmware update is available and will actually take the 30 minutes to "install" but at the end I'm still at rhe same firmware. How do I get rid of this false notification? 

[Patrick_Bateman]

My device is at this level but I still get constant notifications that a new firmware update is available and will actually take the 30 minutes to "install" but at the end I'm still at the same firmware. How do I get rid of this false notification? 

[paulameehan]

So after many days of decreasing battery life in my Ionic, my watch died completely yesterday..  thankfully we had kept our receipt and discovered that thankfully my husband had purchased an extended warranty through the vendor he had bought it..  so I guess I will be making a visit to them to see what they are going to do..  I am hesitant to get another Ionic though due to this issue that has been so prevalent for so many people...

[M.O.M]

Just for the record, my fitbit has continued to lose time over the last couple of days.  I managed to get it to sync yesterday morning and later in the day it was losing time again.  I tired syncing quite a few times and it failed.  There was an indication it could not find my device.  I tried doing the back key process several times to no avail.  I tired the shutdown multiple times it still would not snyc.  I uninstalled and reinstalled the app on the phone.  After which it circled for several minutes and failed to find my watch.  FITBIT please provide me with a response that will enable my fitbit to sync.  I did not have this problem until the update and if I knew that going back to the previous version would fix the problem I would but all I want is to have a watch that has the correct time.  Is that really asking too much?  Did I really pay $250.00 for a watch that cannot tell the time?  I realize I bought this a few  years ago but I had not expectation that it would stop working. So I averaged out at paying  approximately $80.00 a year.  That sounds like a really poor return on investing for a product like this.  

[Bartimus]

When will this be fixed? Can we use old application? That wasn’t good but it didn’t make my Ionic ave to force restart. 

[YojanaFitbit]

Hi everybody thank you for sharing this information with us and for taking to time to get help from our retailers and support team. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. 

If you're having syncing issues with your Ionic please try the troubleshooting steps that are specified in this article: Why won't my Fitbit device sync? You can also check the instructions to reconnect your notifications here:  Why are notifications delayed or missing?

I'd like to mention that if your phone or tablet is not listed here Which phones and tablets can I use with my Fitbit watch or tracker? Our best recommendation is trying to sync via computer, laptop, or any other compatible device. We're currently receiving feedback about different devices that are not in the list and our team is working hard to add more devices to the list. If you've tried the above and your're still having syncing issues let me know so we can check with our team.

@huy83 I've requested a case on your behalf. They will get in touch with you shortly.

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 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. 

I'll be around in case that you need anything else.

[JulieRainey]

Hi - this update has caused a recurrence of previous issues with activity tracking - e.g. run tracker switching off during a run and then only intermittently tracking activity, and activity tracking on a 1:14 run only recording 16 minutes. Really frustrating. This happened before but the last update sorted it out. Any chance you could let us know when your next update might sort this out?

[kluss0]

I tried another reset, and my ionic is now dead. Good thing I bought the extended warranty....

[PM31]

Hi,
I live in Toulouse in France. I bought my ionic watch one year ago. I use a Nokia 735 as companion with Microsoft phone 10 newest release (10.0.15254.600). My ionic firmware is currently 27.33.1.30.
I haven’t got any message to update my watch to 70.7.14 even after a factory reset?
Did you plan this update in France?
Thanks for your help.
Regards

[tantalum]

Late to the update party but I updated my Ionic last night.

First annoying thing is it put all the default apps back on that I had previously removed.  That's a minor annoyance but it really shouldn't happen.

I now all of a sudden get a power source charging error no matter what charger (charging station, ionic cord), charger adapter, USB port etc I use.  And it's not the ionic unless we have a huge case of coincidence.  I out my ionic on to charge last night and it was charging happily.  I noticed the update and started the update.  It was quick and seemed to go fine but immediately on finishing no power source has enough power to charge.  Yet it is actually charging just fine.  This was an issue on a past firmware update that it really shouldn't have happened again.

It's only been a night but battery life also seems to be shortened.

The problem is that the firmware update released nearly a month ago at this point and these issues were immediately brought up based on my scanning of this thread. And they don't appear to have been dealt with yet.  Fitbit isn't quite apple itunes in terms of update annoyances but it's getting there and will cause me to seriously think about changing environments once this ionic dies.

[M.O.M]

The problem with my fitbit is not just that it is not syncing it is that
it is losing time.  Since the update my watch has been off and even when
I am able to sync it, which is problematic but the last two days I have
been able to sync it using my computer although that process is also not
working 100% and it seems absurd that I have to use my computer to do
something that I have used my phone to do for years, my watch will start
to be off within an hour or two.  Last night over the period of
approximately 7 hours it lost 22 minutes!  When I called the help desk
the associate told me a number of things that I found dubious.  One was
that digital watches could not keep the time without having a device
with which to sync.  The associate also told me the problem was that I
did not have the automatic time zone setting on.  I turned it on and my
watch still does not keep the correct time.

[RGRBobaFett]

My Ionic still hasn't updated since version 27.33.1.30 and says there is no updates at this time.

[Bartimus]

This is for an iPhone. It works better with android. From a former Android
guy.

[PM31]

Hi,
Thanks all (@tantalum, @M.O.M, @RGRBobaFett, @Bartimus, @RGRBobaFett) for your answers
@RGRBobaFett: I have exactly your problem: since version 27.33.1.30 no update at this time. But we seem lucky to miss the current problem list !

I chose Fitbit as Fitbit was alone to work with Windows phone, allow firmware update and allow personal development with their ionic SDK platform.
Today Windows phone is dead, and Fitbit Ionic not up to date, wrong choice !

Regards.

[jmattwood]

@tantalum I'm seeing exactly the same wrt the charging warning.

[youhippy]

Had a replacement Ionic sent out to me a month ago and already the battery is already causing issues. My Ionic is only lasting 3 days and it's only tracking steps and sleep.

Before this update, on my older device, I could use my watch for steps, sleep, multiple hour long sessions of yoga, pilates, swim, boot camp and bike rides. (Just the auto enabled bike ride, not the GPS one.) That would get me through Monday - Friday at least. 

Not happy.