Charge 2 completely dead and not charging

[HelenWardle]

Hi

is there a shelf life for a Charge 2? I’ve had mine for 2.5 years. It is getting harder and harder to charge it now. I charge the charge2 when the battery indicator flashes to say it’s low. Now it won’t charge and runs out of battery completely. Last week I had on charge all day before a bit of battery life appeared. I then reset the charge2 and this then charged the charge2. 5 days on I am in the same situation. Only now my app is showing I have a full battery when the charge2 is completely dead. My app cannot find my charge2 as it is dead. I always charge via sockets as I have no laptop. 

Can you advise? Has my charge2 reached its end of life or is there a way of charging without it completely going dead and taking a day to get some battery life and resetting? 

[AlvaroFitbit]

@HelenWardle A warm welcome to our Community!

Let me help you with your Charge 2 not charging. 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.

[janbetz60]

I am having the same issue. 

Updated firmware. New UL wall charger. Cleaned the back of the fitbit and the cable connector. Charged for a couple hours. My battery shows as full but in 5-10 minutes, will be dead. What else should I try? This started a few days ago, and my date was stuck at Aug. 24. The date and time are correct now, but the fitbit will not stay charged. 

[way2good]

I am having the same issue. I have cleaned it and restarted. I just rec'd an update on the software. Would this be the issue of having to update that would maybe correct? Thanks.

[janbetz60]

This morning I "restarted" my Charge 2 holding the button for 4 seconds. It showed the start up screen but nothing has changed. 

It is still plugged into the wall with the new US listed wall charger we just bought. 

The battery icon flashes with a "!" in the middle. 

Fitbit, Please help! 

[HelenWardle · Accepted solution]

Thank you. I have cleaned it so now putting on charge. I’ll see how it goes. 

[janbetz60]

Good luck Helen! Let us know how it goes. I'm not having any luck with mine. It apparently charges up but goes dead after 5-10 minutes. 

[janbetz60]

Alvaro,

Noone has responded to my questions other than to mention they have the same issues. 

Is the Charge2 still being supported? I have cleaned the contact points, kept it plugged into a brand new UL listed wall charger, downloaded the new firmware, and still it won't hold a charge more than 5 minutes or so before it goes completely dead. 

PLEASE HELP!

[HelenWardle]

Hi.

I am afraid the suggestion did not work. I have tried all help and advice. My charge 2 is completely dead. It seems to be a similar theme for a lot of people. Does the charge 2 have a shelf life of 2-2.5 years? 

I loved my Fitbit and feel lost without it. Looks like I have to save up for another. 

[HelenWardle]

It’s still dead. I have tried everything as suggested and more. Looks like I’m saving up for another. 

Good luck with yours. Resetting did help for a while but it didn’t work last time I tried. 

[LAW87]

Having the same issue as well

[janbetz60]

Mine is still dead, too. I left it on the wall charger all night. I put it on this morning, went outside for a couple of minutes, and it was dead. I cleaned the contacts again very carefully, and plugged it in again. I'm running out of options and Fitbit hasn't responded. I hope it has something to do with the latest Firmware version and the developers can send out another update that will fix the issue. If not, I'm through with Fitbit.

[way2good]

Hello Fitbit,

Can you give an update to all of us within this group since we are having the same problem that is happening? Pretty much most of us have done the upgrade to our fitbits, cleaned them, restarted, charged them and are still having the same issue. Any other solution/s? Would love an answer. Thanks.

[SunsetRunner]

My Charge 2 died right after the previous update. Left on the charger, that came with it, for 24 hours and it ran for 15 minutes before turning unresponsive. It’s been on a shelf for a few weeks in the hope I might find out what happened. Already tired of reading more and more stories like this.

[Izzysnook]

I have been having the same issue since Aug 2nd. I know realize the problem is a firmware update dated july 24th. This update was rolled out slowly. I applied it around aug 2nd. There is our problem.I read a news article today saying there was this exact problem. I plugged in my charge 2 today and i could syc it with the app.  I just downloaded the update for aug 14. Hope this works. 

[Izzysnook]

Here is the news item. 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/fitbit-charge-2-firmware-update-battery-1.5258511

[0_o]

I have been sitting on this issue for a few weeks, figuring faulty product and poor customer service responses on other complaints.  This article explains a lot. fitbit should step up.

[Davidcra]

I wish everyone would stop buying new chargers it’s not the problem. All you are doing is rewarding Fitbit for a f-up and the charger has nothing to do with it. It worked one day. Then you updated software and the next day it doesn’t work. Connect the dots.  

[Davidcra]

I suggest if they don’t solve this immediately like NOW don’t buy another Fitbit. Go with Garmin. I was a loyal Fitbit user but no longer.  There was a predecessor company I think affiliated with Fitbit. Maybe was Fitbit under and old name Jawbone. Their trackers failed and they completely walked away on their customers. 

[Davidcra]

If you updated your software it has nothing to do with battery shelf life don’t get sucked into believing that. If customer support is feeding that line then you know this update was meant to  spur new sales. After all the Charge 2 is an old model and what company Doesn’t  like to find a way to make you buy the latest gear.  I am done with Fitbit.  I already use a Garmin on my other wrist and that’s my go to tracker from now on.  Bigger company. They don’t mess around with half assed updates and are well know in aviation and marine circles.