Ionic- Fitbit OS 4.2 Firmware Update (71.6.19)

[KateFitbit]

Update 9/3/2020: This update should now be available to all customers. If you have any difficulty updating, make sure you are following the directions in this article, and then provide as many specific details as possible in your post so that we can assist.

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We've started rolling out Fitbit OS 4.2 Firmware Update (71.6.19) for Ionic. 

We release firmware updates to all customers in phases. The update will be available to everyone soon, and a banner will appear in the app when you can install the update. If you don’t see the banner yet, check the app again later.

*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

Release notes can be found here.

HOW DO I UPDATE?

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

We recommend updating your Ionic over a home Wi-Fi network as this can greatly reduce the time it can take to get set up. For more information on connecting your Ionic to Wi-Fi, check out this article. 

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

[amithcd]

My Fitbit Ionic stopped working after the update. I have left it to charge for more than 12 hours, I am not able to get the screen up and I have tried restarting by pressing the Back button - Ionic is not restarting.

[PaulMe]

Moderators,

Ricardo, Sylvia and Yojana,

Any information from your firmware development team on what's going on?

After the issues with fw 27.80.8.0, we were hopeful this release was going to be a much improved and fairly smooth update. 

I really can't risk my  ~5 month old almost perfectly running Ionic. I have no warranty as it was second hand - but brand new - unused with no purchase receipt.

Hopefully I won't receive an update banner to tempt me!

[dragonitte2005]

Somethings wrong with the system. 
1. each time The watch is fully charged, the settings is gone. That means I have to reconnect the WiFi to be able to sync to my phone. Today I had to unlink the watch and link again to get it working despite resetting the watch and restarting the network. 

2. I wish I can upload the screen shot but nevermind, I’ll mention it here. It’s recorded 16086 steps but time Recorded  is 10 mins... is that the app issue or watch issue? 

[FitmanFit]

@dragonitte2005 

I've read somewhere that counting steps can be inaccurate after a firmware update for about a day.

Sadly, I cannot find the page anymore, but I think your issue #2 might go away after 24h.

Please keep us updated regarding issue #1.

[FitmanFit]

I have a number of questions regarding the OS 4.2 firmware update:

1. Can you confirm that there is a new "find phone" feature (as mentioned by @Samirspatil) even though the release notes do not mention any such feature? No offence to @Samirspatil but if the feature is just a feature of a particular watch face then I'm probably not interested, as I'd like to keep my current watch face.
   
   
2. Will I be able to cancel the update, should the offered firmware update not be version 71.6.19? I have a "firmware update notification" but since I've skipped many updates because I didn't like how the the control panel was handled after 27.33.1.30, I'm not sure what firmware version I'll be offered.
   
   
3. What is the likelihood of the update bricking my Ionic? Several users have reported non-functioning Ionic devices after performing the update. This is not the first time users have had trouble with bricked devices. Will an Ionic under warranty still be replaced, if it does not survive a firmware update? Do you know what causes these failures? Is it just batteries nearing end of life that are strained too much during an update?
   
   
4. Will my current watch face (Minimal Style by Lee Doel) continue to work under version 71.6.19?
   
   
5. Will the Ionic still sync with my Huawei Mate 20 (running 9.1.0.358, or optionally 10.0.0.180)? Currently my Mate 20 and Ionic are working perfectly together and I'd like reassurance that I won't risk losing notifications. The Mate 20 is one of the supported phones, but I don't know whether that still holds true for 71.6.19.
   
   
6. Is the new approach to accessing the control panel working well? Wouldn't it be great if Fitbit released a video demonstrating the changes that an OS upgrade entails?

[vipergts46]

Hi,

I updated my Ionic last night at around midnight. I had to attach to a charger for sensor recalibration. After that finished I was able to start using features on the watch. Great, I go to sleep.

Wake up 6 hours later, my watch is one hour off and will not synch with my phone. I reboot the watch, reboot the phone. Still unable to synch. I attached the charging cable to my mac and log into the fitbit website to make setting changes. Synch works.

4 hours later, I go to check the time. I see the fitbit logo on my ionic. I attempt a hard restart again and hold the buttons down. Now it won't come back on. Charger cable isn't working, holding or pressing buttons are not working. 

Edit - I let the Ionic sit for a while then attempted a hard reboot again by holding down the two buttons. Now my ionic sits at the fitbit screen then reboots and just repeats this cycle.

Edit2 - Just went through the support chat. FitBit is sending a replacement because my Ionic is borked.

[KateFitbit]

@Rhwisty sorry to hear this and appreciate your feedback, a member of our team created a case for you. 

@SunsetRunner strange I'm not able to see that you are on the new firmware. I passed this feedback to the team. If you are still experiencing issues I do recommend contacting Customer Support.

@amithcd this is a progressive FW rollout that started over the last few days. Once the FW update is available to you, you will notice a banner in your app. If you are issues I do recommend contacting Customer Support.

@vipergts46 I'm sorry to hear this. Thanks for reaching out to customer support. I have let our team know about your experience. 

[Camatkev]

I'm having the same problem. Only thing that works on the watch is clock (so I can see the time) and notifications are still coming through, until the battery dies which is less than a day

[SunsetRunner]

Sorry... I've gone to a Garmin Swim2!

Bye!

[robbijay]

Hi @KateFitbit , 

I did the update a few days ago and was REALLY happy that the bug with the quick menu pulling down is fixed. 
However, I went to do exercise (cycling) today and discovered that my GPS is no longer working. I’ve also rebooted and tested with walking too but I don’t get anything. This is really important as I use the Fitbit to sync ALL my exercise to Strava in order to log my miles for bike servicing etc. 

[Amadeo84]

Just updated and I am having the same issue where my GPS no longer connects.  This is a serious issue.  Thank you very much for fixing the notification menu as that was a pain in the backside, but if the cost is a nonfunctional GPS that is a non-starter.  Please get a fix for this out ASAP or I will need to send this back under warranty (again).  Thank you.

[Boolay60]

Evening 

i have posted on here but would like help 

I have just done this update on my Fitbit Ionic and now it is not working at all 

my screen is blank and I have done all the checks as stated and it still doesn’t work since this update happen this evening 

help needed 

I even removed the Fitbit off my phone and now I can’t get it back on as when it asks me to put a code the 4 number code in , I can’t because I can’t see it as screen as gone blank 

[jslittle]

Would this affect the overall function of my Ionic? It is completely dead and the support person had me try three troubleshooting options. When those didn't work, the person told me there was nothing else he could do, but I could buy a new one. My Fitbit isn't even two years old. I paid $300 for it, it should last longer than 2 years. Perhaps someone here has a suggestion?!

[blacque]

Does this fix the choppy bluetooth connection?this issue is older than all issues reported .

[PaulMe]

Unfortunately, even after repeated requests Fitbit don't and won't provide a list of what has been fixed. They only post "what's new and what's changed" and the generically useless "This release includes bug fixes and improvements."

Industry standard is that most software developers post fixes applied, so their userbase knows what's going on, and can track bug fixes.

[blacque]

Not sure what if you people over at fitbit  know what you're doing ,yoibe gone and broken the most important feature of this device.gps is now dead.i run ,I cycle,for that I need GPS!

Your bluetooth connection has never been attended to!

[robbijay]

I’ve just been on Twitter support this morning. Said it was a signal issue til I proved my phone picked signal fine to record my cycling. Talked me through a factory reset. Still doesn’t work. Unsurprisingly. The ionic on my wrist is currently close to pointless. I may as well have a charge HR. Except you know, they broke too, which is how I got a half price ionic in the first place ....

[blacque]

They always muck up something with their Itty bitty updates and so called bug fixes which never actually fix anything we users want. Bluetooth, which is something that's very important, they haven't fixed. Here in south Africa they only support FNB bank as if it's the only financial institution . Where is that VO2 they lied to us about to steal out money. Fitbit is just the worst. If this piece of terrible hardware and software known as the ionic dies I'm never investing in their terrible service and software and I'll never advise anyone to waste their hard earned money on this joke of a company. I wanted to run this afternoon and see my progress, link it with strava.. Can't now... 

[robbijay]

Thankfully I’ve just got a cycle computer with HR sensor this week, so after any exercise today I won’t ‘need’ the GPS/Strava integration other than for a back up or walking. Still, it’s not the functions we paid for and if they don’t fix it I’ll just get an Apple Watch next time instead.

BTW what’s the Bluetooth issue? I’ve not had any problems until now, other than battery drain halfway through a ride (which is why I got the Wahoo!) 

[Amadeo84]

There *was* a Bluetooth issue that got fixed 3 updates ago.  It wouldn't connect to music no matter what you did.  Ever since then though it's actually worked better than it did originally.  If anyone's still having issues with it I'd recommend unpairing and repairing to see if that gets it going again.  And of course make sure Bluetooth is turned on in the Ionic.  Note: I use Bluetooth Classic to control my music, haven't tried the regular BT.