Is it safe to install the new firmware version?

[Yogas]

Guys,

Is the new software/firmware update safe? Mine is a motog 6 Android phone.

This is already my third ionic in the warranty period (definitely not buying another Fitbit again).

I don't want another crash and dead Fitbit.

Any advice is appreciated.

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[Rich_Laue]

Hi @Yogas are you asking about the Android app or the Ionic firmware.

An update to the Fitbit app can not hurt the ionic.

[Yogas]

It's about ionic firmware update.

If I leave it at that, next question would be, what cell phone, what OS, etc. Therefore I mentioned my phone and that it is Android.

[Yogas]

Any info if installing new firmware update is safe or not? 

I've read reports that ionics are going dead with the new update.

That's why

[RicardoFitbit]

Hi @Yogas, welcome to the Community Forums!

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. Let me share with you that we always recommend our users to keep everything up to date, from the Android version of your phone to the firmware version of your Fitbit device to avoid any difficulties with the connection between such devices. That said, I recommend you to update the firmware version of your Ionic, it's not necessary but you can experience some connection difficulties in the future if you don't.

On the other hand, if you experience an issue with your device after updating its firmware, don't hesitate to contact us back so we can further investigate and provide you assistance.

@Rich_Laue Your support is appreciated. 

Let me know if you have any additional questions.

[Yogas]

If the update screws it up right after warranty period, would Fitbit replace it for free? 

[RicardoFitbit]

Your reply is appreciated @Yogas.

Thanks for your post. As a Community Forums moderator I can't assure you that, however, if you have any questions about how our warranty policy works, I recommend you to learn more about it here: Terms of Sale

I'll be around if you need anything else.

[badass76ta]

No. They offer 25% off a new device

[RicardoFitbit]

Hi @badass76ta, it's nice to see you again participating here in the Community Forums!

Thanks for taking the time to share your personal experience. For a better understanding of the information that our Customer Support team provided to you, I recommend you to check our warranty policies here.

Let me know if you have any additional questions. 

[SRogersCaptA]

@Yogas Many of us with OLD Ionics have been waiting for Fitbit to confirm that the firmware issues have been resolved before we'll go ahead with this update. Based on the number of problems being reported, I'm not sure if that has been announced yet though, but maybe @RicardoFitbit can confirm first? I'm waiting to install it but am afraid it will get bricked, then I have no recourse but to buy another one for 75% the cost... 

[Iain_K]

@Yogas 

Regarding warranty, they have been known sometimes to replace outside of warranty, but usually they do not.   If you update and the worst happens, all may not be lost. If you bought the device with a major credit card, quite often one of the perks is you get an extra year of warranty coverage via the card, if you can produce a receipts and card statement.

That said, my attitude with any firmware upgrades on my out of all warranty Ionic is "If it works, dont fix it".  I just wish there was a way to turn off the constant notifications.

[Dietsch]

no, Fitbit most likely won´t replace it, if  it`s out of warranty. Maybe you`ll get 25% discount to buy a new one.

If you bought it from an "unauthorized seller", e.g. a used one from a private seller through eBay, - no replacing no discount!

[SRogersCaptA]

Where's the changelog listing the updates in this firmware version? 

[Runner3364]

Has anyone tried getting a FB support tech on the phone while a firmware update is happening - so they can experience the issues first-hand?

[Musclecat]

If you have a functioning Ionic, I wouldn’t update it. I think the numerous posts here regarding bricked Ionics speak for themselves.

[Stig55]

I will like to know how I can avoid (!) further updates now and in the future?? I can't see any place to shut down this function!??

[SunsetRunner]

You cannot shut off the facility to receive firmware updates.  Although there are a number of people posting on here about issues, there are thousands more who don't have issues and their Fitbits work just fine.

[Runner3364]

"Thousands"??? Is that fact or presumption? We've been asking for metrics and telemetry..."95% of devices have reported back as upgrading successfully" but still no word on how "bad" this upgrade actually rolled out. And if it was only a handful, you'd think they would replace every device THEY bricked, not just offer up some "coupon" to have you buy yet another? C'mon, call it out like it really is, not gloss over it like it's no big deal. 

[SunsetRunner]

Just that out of how many are sold, how many actually get bricked?  I'm not glossing over anything, I've had two Ionics get bricked by firmware updates so am well aware of the issues faced.  When you consider that last year Fitbit sold close to 16million devices, source it's fair to say several thousand at least are Ionics and if only a few hundred complain on here how many are satisfied?

[Amadeo84]

I mean mine updated successfully, but now I can't get a GPS connection.  So I'm sure they're counting that as a "successful" update.  Pretty much every firmware update has had major bugs in it, so as a rule I wait at least 6 months before applying them.  In this case I wanted the new COVID features, and they also fixed that super annoying double menu pull down that happened every time you open your notifications.  Was that worth a nonfunctional GPS?  For the moment, maybe since I'm not going out much right now.  I'm still within my warranty period so if they don't release a fix before that expires I'll be exchanging it for a new one.