Battery life has taken a dive since latest firmware update

[Dcwt2010]

As the title summarises, even since my Charge 2 was updated to the latest firmware, I've found my fitbit will only last up to 4 days max from 100% to 11% (it's been steadily declining since the update, I haven't kept detailed logs so can't be sure). Bear in mind I only sync every day or two for a few minutes and other times I don't really engage the display. Using it this way I was able to get consistent 6 to 7 day battery life for over two years...until a few weeks.

I'm guessing there's no way to revert the firmware but is there any chance of replacing the battery? Such a shame to get rid of a fully functional bit of kit but at this rate the battery will probably not last a day in a few weeks.

[Dcwt2010]

New update, it was fully charged at 100% at 10pm last night, has now dropped to 50% at 4pm today. 

What the hell did you guys do?

[AlvaroFitbit]

@Dcwt2010 Welcome! It's good that the community is growing!

Let me help you with your Charge 2 battery draining quickly. Try cleaning the contacts using cotton with rubbing alcohol then charge it by plugging it for a couple of hours directly to your computer's usb port (try different ports) or use an UL listed usb wall adapter. After this, restart your device and see how it behaves. You can also find additional suggestions here.

Let me know how it goes.

[Dcwt2010]

Hi there,

Thanks for your tips although I'm not sure how cleaning the contacts would help unless you think I'm shorting out the fitbit!
So far I'm still seeing reduced battery life; from 100 to 35% in 48 hour period, only one sync per day.

[Dcwt2010]

Charged it last night to 100%... it is now down to 55%. That firmware update has really hit it hard...

[LauraWell]

Hmmm, I’ve been having troubles with my battery life as well lately.

  I thought it was my charger, which I’ve had to work to assemble because it fell apart. If a while this summer it wasn’t making good contact endless I positioned it carefully.  But I’ve been successful for a while now of easily getting it charge.  I’ve always charged it fully to 100% charge and battery life is not lasting very long at all! Not quite as bad as yours but bad enough. 

Just an never thought it might be due to the update.   Going to check with both of my parents as they also have Charge 2s.

[summersun54]

My  charge 2 is now down to holding a charge for about 15 min. It was purchased last June and since it is a couple months past warranty the only thing they will do is give me 25% off on a new one even though their update could be causing this, You have to talk to someone in the global community so you get someone who doesn't speak good english and has no concept other than what is written in their manual. They tell me that it is time to update sorry your Fitbit is defective (and yes they admitted .in chat 0that it was defective) but you are out of your warranty. You cannot speak to someone in the U.S.A.  I decided to vent here. I am not sure either if the battery can be replaced they didn't seem to know that. I cannot see paying that kind of money (mine was the upgraded band and rose gold) for something that lasts a little over a year.

[Choppykid]

I am also having the same problem. I’ve charged on the USB, done a reset and cleaned all contacts with rubbing alcohol and it barely makes it through the day.  I sent an email which directed me to this forum.  Has anyone had any luck working it out yet.  Mine was also perfectly fine until the update.  

[TETjr]

Since the recent update my battery has taken a nose dive. I only refresh in the evening and I usually only use for walking step count. I've noticed that after I swipe and refresh, the app appears to keep going with the refreshing process. I think that is why the Fitbit battery is running low so fast. I turn off the Bluetooth and location buttons and it seems to help extend battery life to about five days tops, less if I leave them on.

[Choppykid]

I’ll try this tip thank you.  Having said that we should be able to use it as it’s meant to be used and not restricted. Very disappointing. 

[Dcwt2010]

Yeah, I usually leave the bluetooth off but honestly it is a joke that they haven't bother to test their firmware before release. It's not like they have that many models of devices to support and it's not like they give a choice on whether you want to update that firmware.

[LBarry]

Also having the same problem, in the last week I've had to charge it 4 times when prior to the update I would have only had to charge it once in 6/7 days. I last charged it 48 hours ago, but it didn't even see me to 44 hours use. I may have to have a look at my settings, but I generally only open the app once every day and a half or so if even. So not sure what effect the settings would have on it. 

I have also followed the "directions" on charging my Charge 2, which is in my estimation 20 months old (living in the EU, so have 2 yr warranty - not that I'd assume batteries/firmware issues are covered!!), but lets face it for it to get this far out from purchase I must be charging it right anyways!

It's frustrating that a software update can cause this kind of issues.... 

#disappointedfitbitowner

[TETjr]

You are absolutely right.

[Choppykid]

I contacted support and they got me to turn all draining features off and then we see how long it takes to drain.  So far overnight it’s gone from 100 percent to 65 percent so it won’t take long.  

[GJD1981]

I can't figure out how to create a new post...only "reply".   

I have the same issue.  Charge 2 working great, I use it all day and especially helpful on my daily run. It gets the update and now it won't even take a charge.   It's dead.  Paperweight.  The best I can do is to get one of the little green lights on the back to barely shimmer.   Timing might be a coincidence. It's been terrific with almost no issues up to this point, other than the fact it sometimes changes settings when it wants. 

[brightblur777]

I posted this in the pinned thread, but saw this post and am going to share it here as well. I believe I have a 2017 Charge 2, but I’m uncertain about that, but I saw a massive drop in battery life going from 6-7 days per charge to less than half of that time. One thing I did which so far seems to have resolved the issue is to do a factory reset of the device, then stick it in the charger and reboot it, then put it back on the account and charge it back to full.

The way I factory reset it was like this:

1) Charge up the Charge as much as you can.

2) I went to the Fitbit webpage, went to account settings, and removed the device from my account.

3) Opened the Fitbit app on my phone, and forced it to sync, by swiping down. Which then factory resets the device.

4) Stuck the Charge 2 in the charger, and pushed the side button to reboot it, then let it charge up.

5) While waiting on that, I went into the Bluetooth device list on my phone and removed it from there.

6) Once it was charged up, I went through the process of paring it again via the app.

Doing all that seems to have fixed whatever was going on. I will note that after doing the factory reset and reboot, the battery went from 100% to 70% which makes me wonder if part of the problem was it having difficulty accessing the charge level of the battery before I did this. I don’t know if I was having the issue where the green LEDs would never turn off, but now if I take it off and set it down, they do turn off after a few seconds.

Also, the video I found which showed me how to do a factory reset can be found here:

https://youtu.be/8ODCsp2EAeA

[Mrsbmullin]

Same thing has happened to me.  After reading posts it's pretty clear that the new firmware update has to be the culprit.  Fitbit needs to FIX THIS!

[AndieMarie3]

Sounds like the same problem I'm having....guess I'm without a fitbit now.

[summersun54]

And the most they will do it give you 25%off a new one even it the battery goes totally dead

[Choppykid]

Actually you are wrong.  I did everything they said and nothing was working so they offered me a free replacement or 50percent off another model.  The people who helped me were fantastic, they responded quickly and informed me mine is defective so will be replaced.  I have filled in a form and now awaiting my new one.  Have you tried getting help from them? Maybe try again and do all the steps they suggest.