Charge 3 Firmware Release - 1.88.11

[KateFitbit]

8/14 Update: We are continuing to roll out the firmware update for Charge 3 and expect more users will see it as available. This is a progressive rollout, and all customers can expect to have it within a few weeks. We roll out releases in phases as a cautionary measure so that we can monitor performance closely and make adjustments if needed. If you don't see the option to update, don't worry - you'll have it soon! 

Please use this thread to share your experience updating the firmware once it's received. If you have a different inquiry, please post in a thread with a similar topic or create a new post. 

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7/23 Update: the firmware update has only rolled out to a small percentage of users, and will roll out further next week. It should be rolling out to everyone soon. Thanks for your patience and interest, we look forward to hearing your feedback on the new firmware. 

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We've begun releasing new firmware (1.88.11) for Charge 3 to customers. This is a progressive rollout which means everyone will receive it at different stages until it has been completely released to all users. We roll out releases in phases as a cautionary measure so that we can monitor performance closely and make adjustments if needed. 

*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

Please click here for firmware notes. 

HOW DO I UPDATE?

Step by step instructions for updating your Charge 3 can be found here.

If you run into any trouble updating your Charge 3, please review these troubleshooting tips. 

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR CHARGE 3 FIRMWARE UPDATE: ALARMS CLEARED

We moved where you set alarms from the Fitbit app to your wrist! After you update, any alarms set will be cleared and need to set up again on the device. 

To make sure you don't miss an important alarm, open the Alarms app on Charge 3 and tap *+ Set up a new alarm*. Tap the checkmark to save and make sure it’s set.

[Pincess]

I got the update a week ago but it took eight tries to get it to work. It kept saying that it was updating and could take as much as 30 minutes, and an hour later would give me a big X. The eighth time I got a check mark. I'm a little irritated that I have to set my alarm on my band but the new clock faces are nice. It also seems to sync more consistently than it did before. It's got a few more little things that are available on the band but nothing I needed. It's better, I guess 🤷

[bindu99velury]

When I try to update my Fitbit Charge 3 from the help screen, I’m getting unexpected error message “Your device is already up-to-date”. My Charge 3 is still on version 20001.64.5. Looks like I never received the previous update version 1.84.5.

The calorie count is always inaccurate. And occasionally it doesn’t record Step count at all. The soft/hard resets with deleting the Fitbit from the profile doesn’t help.

How long do I still have to wait before the update gets pushed to my tracker. It has been several months and the customer support keeps asking me to wait on an update. This is very frustrating that I can’t use a $150 device properly. Can I return or get a new device as the device is less than 6 months old?! Please help!!!

[1catfan]

How difficult can it be? Fitbit says they release new updates slowly in
case there are security issues or they need to make improvements etc. But
that is nothing but nonsense rhetoric because they can't selectively pick
when each charge 3 device will receive their update. It either has to go
through Android via Google play or Apple iOS via app store, simple as that.

[Lauren001]

My 9 month Charge 3 is constantly buzzing and is frozen the Smiley Face screen when plugged into the charging cable. Even though I align the Fitbit correctly on the charging port, it still doesn’t show a battery percentage. I can’t even press the side button to reset it!

When I take it off the charger, it will continue to smile at me. Once in a while it will buzz and go back and forth from the main clock face to the notifications and screen wake widget. (It won’t let me press the side button when off the charger to reset it either..)

Yesterday, it was perfectly fine and working properly! Now it’s having a seizure and can’t stop. (As I can’t reset it no matter how I try) I noticed this morning that my Fitbit wasn’t recording my heart rate, and that’s where the problems began as the green light was off for some reason and has been off ever since. (Even though I never turned off my heart rate?)

He most frustrating thing about this is that my phone can’t sync with my Fitbit. (It says that it is “looking” for it even though I am sitting here watching it go berserk.)

I’ve visited countless forms, and tried multitudes of tips from wiping the connectors with alcohol wipes to charge it, plugging in my usb into my computer, resetting, changing the clock face, leaving it alone for 2 hours to “charge” (it never shows the battery), ect.

No matter what I do... it won’t stop! 

Right now it just changed into something new. Now a white line is displayed across the screen! Hopefully that means it’s syncing or updating finally?

Hopefully all will be well soon. Does anyone have any more ideas of what to do? I really hope this isn’t a lost cause!

[Pincess]

This isn't an app update. This is a nugget update. It's being released in stages, not sure how they decide who to release it to but I got notified on  Friday last week that I had an update available. It was Monday before it actually updated. 

[supr2002]

Firmware is 28.20001.63.5

When I try to update I get message of firmware update available.It proceeds and says will take 30min but the next minute get message that your charge 3 is up to date.

[mquan21]

Great to hear it’s overall better. Just wondering if you were plagued with the Dim Charge 3 virus? If so, did the update fix that? I can’t believe how slow this update roll out is. A company named after a fruit says it’s available and then believe it or not, it’s available. To everyone... thanks for your help! 

[Bob75002]

@Lauren001,

With all the issues you are having with your 9 month old Fitbit, I would contact Fitbit customer support and have it fixed under the warranty. It has a 1 year warranty. It sounds like you tried your best to get it to work, now let Fitbit fix it!.

https://myhelp.fitbit.com/s/support

https://www.fitbit.com/us/legal/returns-and-warranty

Sincerely,

Bob

[Decoherence]

@bindu99velury as has been said several times already in this thread, 1.84.5 was only for people on one specific programme (in the US), so only a tiny minority of users would have received that. 

It is a staged rollout, as is more common in software updates than I think most people realise (even phone app updates often work that way), and at present very few of us have it. Kate the moderator posted to say that we should all get it over the next couple of weeks, but that's all the info we have. And of course the point of a staged rollout is that if problems emerge amongst the first batch of people to get it they can pause it - so it could take longer, but if it does you should probably be glad you weren't amongst the first. 😉

[pbellone]

I come from a background that sometimes reloading the current firmware fixes things. It is unfortunate this cannot be done with the charge 3. We all are hoping the latest rollout with magically fix our current issues. 

If the hardware is not junk we have to assume the software is the route cause of what ails us. I'm on my 3rd charge 3. Each one had a different issue starting with the dead pixel line on the 1st one to now the pulse sensor failing.

IDK if all the issues seen here are just charge 3 or is an indicator of the product line quality control.

[KCRobby]

Also wondering if this is what shut down my charge 3. Stopped working two days ago. Did the plug in and hold 8 seconds. Got the smiley face and appeared to turn on with wrong time but at least on. Woke up and black screen again. Plugged in and held and now just solid white line. No tracking for half marathon I am running today.

[Anniebananie1]

Hi, Since last Thursday my Fitbit Charge 3 has not been able to sync at all, prior to Thursday I was getting it to sync by forcing a reboot of the Charge 3.  This no longer works.  I haven't gotten any information or requests to update my firmware.  My version on my watch is 28.20001.63.5  which does not match up at all with the listed firmware version.  Very frustrated.  🤨

[EntropicLife]

I get the same, but the firmware hasn't changed. Mine is still at 1.63.5

[SSGoten87]

My Charge 3 through the fitbit app won't update. the update is there and it proceeds to update but after about 10 seconds it says it updated but I go to check for updates again and it shows the exact same update and firmware version on the charge 3 stays the same. no progress bar shows up on my charge 3 as well. this is starting to piss me off. if you make an update for the charge 3 to add new features that are probably only meant for the charge 4 this is what you are getting customers who can't update or the update makes them have to buy a new device. there is a saying if it ain't broke don't fix it!

[Niks_5in]

Same thing is happening to me since last two weeks

[PapiSleepy]

 @Lauren001 
Same here, happened to me yesterday. In addition, my FB C3 was getting hot during charging. Black screen, not responding and no HRM green light.

I contacted FB support team, as per @Bob75002's suggestion, over live chat, they asked few questions and open a case to solve. Expect replacement.

[BrokenFB]

I've finally heard back positively from the help email and mention of warranty has been included. Hopefully the fact that I have only been using my FBC3 since December indicates that it shouldn't have failed yet! 

Still no update option and bluetooth still nonreactive. 

Crossing Fingers!

[lindahermans]

Mine stopped working exactly that date and the firmware version is the same as yours.  I have already informed fitbit and their support team are going to contact me shortly.

[1catfan]

Same version on my watch 28.20001.63.5. No new update still 7/27/20. It can’t be that difficult to roll out this update. I know Fitbit states that they slowly release the update in case there are security issues or if the update needs an additional update. To me this is just false rhetoric. It’s not like they can selectively choose which charge 3 devices to update. They will either come via android google play store, the iOS Apple App Store or Microsoft P.C. update, simple as that. Has anyone on this Fitbit community forum received the update yet and if so by which method? I have all 3 versions and nada yet. It also would be nice if some of the new clock faces proposed in this update have increased font size so you can actually readily see your info.on your watch. Half of the time, I have to put on my reading glasses, which is a bit inconvenient when working out or trying to see an alarm time.

[pbellone]

I understand why the updates are rolled out in batches to users. If there
is a bad bug it will affect a smaller batch of users instead of maybe
thousands.

I think we need some patience here and hope it fixes our woes and be less
concerned about the new features.

--
- Peter