Fitbit OS 4.2.2 - Ionic Firmware Release (72.1.15)

[FitbitCommunity]

We’re excited to announce that a firmware update for Ionic will be available soon!  Some of you may already have this update available - if you installed it, let us know what you think!

If you don’t see the update yet, that’s expected. Check the Fitbit app in a few days, and you’ll see a message when you can install the update. We expect everyone to receive the update in the coming weeks. We appreciate your patience while we get this update to all of our customers. 

Did you know that we gradually release our updates? We do this to make sure everything is working just right for you. Sometimes we find an issue and it might take a little longer than expected for everyone to get the update. While you might see suggestions on how to “force” an update, we ask that you don’t try any of these workarounds. Most of the time the update won’t be available and you can lose data or encounter other difficulties. The best way to get the update is to be patient and wait for the update banner to appear in the Fitbit app. 

WHAT’S NEW AND FIXED

You can find release notes here.  New Ionic version is 27.72.1.15. 

HOW DO I UPDATE?

You can find step-by-step instructions for updating your Ionic here.

If you run into difficulty please review these troubleshooting tips. 

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.

[SunsetRunner]

I did NOT have any issues before the update. I have restarted it several times, clean the battery, etc.. It will work for maybe a few hours or 10 minutes and then go into the flipping screens, vibrating continuously which drains the battery. I have done all the reset except the factory reset, which your board say not to do the latter. At any rate, I tried. At the end of it, if there isn’t a new firmware to update the update, I am moving on. Thanks.

[Ewald12]

Reading all these messages about the severe problems that various Ioniq users experienced, I seems to be a lucky exception as the update went smooth and my Ioniq works fine. I however did not note so far any changes.

My Ioniq is from mid 2018, and over time the battery life has shortened from over a week to now about 3 full days. This is still acceptable to me, but I have to mention that I do not frequently use the gps function.

For all who experienced problems, I hope that Fitbit can soon offer you a software fix, or alternatively arrange for reinstalling of the previous software version!

[Jdsenter]

I tried to update, but now it says I am up to date at 72.1.9... Have to swap devices Sense to Ionic, then click help support and it says my device is up to date... Guess I will keep trying... 

[tcornsimp]

There are clearly bugs in this update- and it bricked my Ionic--- I synced it right before update so they know it was working fine--- now it's a fancy paper weight with a black screen.  No hard resets work.  

[Rubbertrucker]

Hi, After latest firmware update over bluetooth no sensors are working and there was no option to calibrate sensors. how can this issue be solved.

Thanks gerry g..............

Moderator Edit: Formatting

[rharper]

Mine was a faulty Bluetooth

will have to purchase a new device

Fitbit have given me some discount which is good 👍 

[Adamfm]

Recently upgraded both the watch firmware and the iOS app and had multiple issues.

1. The watch has stopped vibrating, I have terrible feeling the update has some how burned out the motor. 

2. The Calories burn rate. My average calories burned has drastically changed. It's almost 500/750 lower on average per day since the update/recalibration. And there has been no drastic change in my behavior or activity. 

3. The change in calories burned graph. There used to be more detailed Information. Why was this taken away? Seems a bit silly. Possibly a underhanded tactic to increase the number of subscribers on the premium Fitbit account. 

[Geerinp]

So, your firmware update has ruined my ionic and you offer me a 35% discount on a new fitbit, I don’t want a new fitbit, I want my old one not to be ruined by your incompetence and lack of interest in your customers.

how is this acceptable and why on earth would I stay with you as a customer?

[YojanaFitbit]

Hi everyone. Thanks for the details provided in your posts and for your efforts in trying to troubleshoot the issues you started having with your watches after the update. I understand how you must be feeling. We‘re taking into consideration your comments and sentiments in regards to our products and services.

As a first approach, I'd like to reinforce the fact that we do not recommend performing a factory reset on your own unless it has suggested directly from our Support Team. Performing a factory reset might damage your watch permanently if it's done incorrectly.

• If you run into any trouble updating your watch and it looks stuck, review these troubleshooting tips. 
• If you're having any other issue with your device, please check our help site, before getting in touch with our team. Click here to get connected.

For the ones who got in touch with our team before or after posting here, please feel free to update your support case if you still have inquiries or need further help, so our team can continue assisting you. For more information about our warranty, see fitbit.com/legal/returns-and-warranty.

Hope this helps. 

[SajithS]

I am really disappointed as this firmware update made my ionic useless. Before the software update, my ionic used to give me 4~5 days of battery life. Post firmware update my Fitbit ionic device became useless as the battery exhausts in 4~6 hours. 

I think this is a deliberate eviction from Fitbit to force device upgrade 😡This firmware upgrade is a trap to force a device upgrade. I will not be upgrading to Fitbit for sure, even though I like Fitbit featueres. 

[YojanaFitbit]

Hi there @SajithS. We‘re taking into consideration your comments and sentiments with regards to our products and services. Thank you so much for your feedback and sharing this information. We've passed your feedback on to the team.

Our limited warranty provides repair or replacement of products that have a defect while still in the warranty period. Your device is out of the warranty period, and therefore is not eligible for repair or replacement, but we want to offer you a discount to thank you for your loyalty to Fitbit. For more information about our warranty, see fitbit.com/legal/returns-and-warranty.

Thank you for your understanding.

[SunsetRunner]

totally agree! My is tracking my steps, receiving notifications, but is not reacting to any commands! It has tracked my steps.

I went ahead and updated today! Just not to FitBit unfortunately. Can’t deal anymore. 🥲🥲

Moderator Edit: Formatting

[SheriSparkles]

I agree too!. This seems very clearly a plan by FitBit to get some new sales by eliminating some of their current devices.  Well it worked on me too.  I have updated, just not with FitBit!  And, never again.

[YojanaFitbit]

@SunsetRunner and @SheriSparklesThank you for the feedback you've provided towards our product. Rest assured that our engineers and product development team use this information to further improve our services.

Please know that we provide feedback to our team based on community posts and we are always working on improving our devices and overall environment based on that feedback. At this point, we are taking care of each case individually. As mentioned before, our team is working with each user to give the best resolution according to each case. 

Your patience and understanding is truly appreciated.

[Rogue3one3]

I processed the firmware update to 72.1.15 a couple days ago on my fitbit ionic. This morning I woke up and the screen no longer works. It was working fine for a long while before this update, but I think the update crashed my device. Is there any way to roll back to a previous firmware version? 

If i'm able to see any of the display, it shrunk very small and shifted to the top of the visible area and flashes then disappears. when I reset the device, the screen lights up, but no fitbit symbol is visible. tried both soft and factory resets.  

The device is charging currently, but the watch itself is doesn't display anything. Also got a notification that it lost bluetooth pairing. Changing the clockface via the app doesn't do anything. 

Any help is appreciated. 

[YojanaFitbit]

Hi there, @Rogue3one3. Welcome to the Community Forums. I'm sorry to hear about your Versa 2's screen. Thank you for trying all those steps, you did a great job finding the correct ones.

In this case, please contact our Support Team. They will be glad to give you a hand with this, remember to mention all steps you've already tried with your Ionic. About your inquiry, there is no option to get back to a previous update. 

See you around in the forums.

[gharris9999]

Well, this update attempt bricked my Ionic.  I've had it since 2018, so it's long out of warrantee, of course.  After attempting the update, the Ionic continually restarts every 20 seconds, i.e. it never fully completes start up.

Yes, I've tried both a soft (two button press) & hard (three button press) reset.  Nothing seems to work.

I have to say, I've *never* owned another product whose update process was so fraught and difficult. Given the many, many reports by other users of their Ionics getting bricked by previous updates, I supposed I should feel lucky having dodged the bullet thus far.

I sincerely hope that Google's ownership now brings some discipline and quality control to this product line.  I love my Pixel phone.  I love my Nest thermostats.  Neither of those has given me a fraction of the grief the various Fitbits I've owned since 2011 have.

[tcornsimp]

There are clearly bugs in this update- and it bricked my Ionic--- I synced it right before update so they know it was working fine--- now it's a fancy paper weight with a black screen. No hard resets work. " "What a nightmare and tech support doesn't help. 

[YojanaFitbit]

@gharris9999 Nice to see you around. Thank you for trying those steps with your Ionic and sharing your comments with us. At this point, it's best to get in touch with our support team. Click here to get connected. They are reviewing each case and confirming with users what happened during the update. 

@tcornsimp Sorry to hear that your Ionic is not responding. We've passed your feedback on to the team. If you have any other inquiry about your case, please get back in touch with our Support Team. Since they have all details of your case.

See you around.

[brownrice]

I am also facing multiple issues after update. My Fitbit Ionic device touch screen is acting wired(unresponsive most of the time) also buttons stopped working after software update. Some how after 2 days buttons start working by itself but touchscreen is still intermittent and most of the time unresponsive on touch.

This is frustrating but more frustrating is when phone/chat support team tells you that according to there system i already got the replacement device(right after you bought) but unfortunately because of company policy we can't revile to whom we send that device(Is that a joke, i never requested for device). With further investigation(3-4 calls and escalating to supervisor) with tech team, i got to know that my account was “likely”(seriously-you don’t know for sure😡) accessed in an attempt for an attacker to obtain a fraudulent warranty replacement but still its not clear how and who got the replacement device without proper authentication and without my permission.

Now as a customer who is facing problem with second device(1st Charge-2-stop working around 2yr) instead of providing solution or replacement of device(but they are ok to send replacement to hacker) they are keep pushing me to different fitbit department/team. I don't understand why they can't understand that for us(customer) they all are fitbit support team, we don't care if you are "Michael John B. and the Fitbit Team", "Chantal and the Fitbit Team" , "Bryan", "Johna" and so on, you need to resolve these issue among yourself. Why I need to follow up calls and ask for solution everytime after that they are escalating to other team.

Moreover If multiple customers are complaining about software update then at-least raise an issue for tech team(instead of saying nobody reported issue after software update) so that they can take a look.

I can see multiple people/customer are facing issue after software update. Still waiting for warrant team to get back to me.