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.

[cyclosapien]

Ever since I received the update my GPS tracking has stopped recording accurately. Sometimes it records much faster than I am travelling. And sometimes, based on some of my activities, it records like it is only sampling my position every +30 secs. It seems to be corrected if I restart the Charge3 but needs to be done everytime I start a new activity.

Is there a way to go back to the previous firmware?

[asiayeah]

July 24: From https://gadgetsandwearables.com/2020/07/24/charge-3-smart-wake/

"Both of these updates are progressive. This means if it hasn’t hit your fitness band just yet, there’s no need to panic. It should be rolling out to everyone soon and you should receive it within a week."

If you don't have the update yet, it's time to get panic.

[Kevorado]

If you haven’t received this update yet, consider yourself lucky. Prior to
applying, I should have researched posts about the impacts of the
“upgrade”. I’ve suggested to friends and family they avoid this one until
1.88.12 or whatever comes out. My Charge 3 is a vibrating, spastic screen
flashing brick at this point. Thankfully I still have my cracked face
Charge 2 to track while I work with Fitbit to resolve the issue with my 3.
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Sent from Gmail Mobile

Moderator Edit: Word choice

[EntropicLife]

Thanks, that's great information!

[EntropicLife]

I had my first inkling of a problem with my Charge 3 today. The app could find the device, and was showing yesterday's information. I had to reboot tracker, and restart phone before it caught up. My tracker is almost 15 months old...

[DaveyReyn]

15 months old sounds like you get to look forward to a 25% discount off another Fitbit product which is the standard offer when these devices all fail outside of warranty. I recommend getting the insurance that covers you for 2 years, the warranty will be cheaper than 25% discount on a replacement & I've never had a device make it 2 years (customer since 2015).

[WaywardSon]

I got the update notification this morning. Charged it up enough and installed the update. It completed ok but at the end the app explained to me that alarm setting had been moved from the app to the fitbit itself.

I guess at some point in time, someone thought this was a good idea. I have no idea why, to move it from a larger screen in the app to the tiny screen on the gizmo, this would be a good idea but there ya go.

In my case, this makes managing alarms impossible. I now have no way at all to access that functionality, thank you so very much. You see, the fit display has a lot of lost pixels & is becoming increasingly unreadable. When it comes to the alarms, I can't even tell if I'm on the correct display to set them, much less to do anything with them.

And yes, I have found the threads discussing the messed up displays & have done hard resets, changed the clock face, all the suggestions. None fixed it.

Yay progress.

I guess I need to junk this fitbit & buy something else.

[EtheP]

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@AhmadB1 wrote:

Still No update. 

It's very frustrating that Fitbit can't give a definite answer to the timetable of rolling the update. Every company must have a timetable for rolling out any software update. Don't announce the update if you can't push it to your customers. 

If there is any problems with the new firmware, why can't you just tell us instead of leaving that many customers in the dark. 

I'm sadly very disappointed in Fitbit

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Sadly they will never do that.  It would lock them in too much.

[Ascully]

Finally woke up to the update this morning, its currently underway will keep you all posted.

[Ascully]

Updated fine took around 35 minutes. Love the new clock faces and you can finally schedule your watch to enter sleep mode between certain hours. Everything went smooth, bare in mind though my Charge 3 is less than a month old.

[EntropicLife]

Yup, I am betting a new Charge 3 is in my future... for 25% off... apparently it won't apply to Charge 4. Maybe with the updates... I will definitely get the 2 year warranty...

[WaywardSon]

Bought mine at Costco. I'm considering taking it back, they'll just give me a full refund for what I paid. Then use that for another fitibit maybe. Possibly a charge 4, dunno. Reports are that you don't go 7 days without charging those, maybe 2 or so. I could live with that but it's not as convenient.

[EntropicLife]

Carry on Wayward Son...

I read that if you enable the GPS, it goes down to 2 days on charge, but if you don't- like Charge 3, it can last 5-7 days

[WaywardSon]

It's still under warranty. I just went on support chat, they're replacing it. I generally like the Charge 3, just the display crapping out has been a problem.

[Nolefan32]

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@EntropicLife wrote:

Carry on Wayward Son...

I read that if you enable the GPS, it goes down to 2 days on charge, but if you don't- like Charge 3, it can last 5-7 days

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@EntropicLife wrote:

Carry on Wayward Son...

I read that if you enable the GPS, it goes down to 2 days on charge, but if you don't- like Charge 3, it can last 5-7 days

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Disabling the GPS on a Charge 4, at least full time, doesn't make it worth it to me. Everything I've read, the primary upgrade on the Charge 4 was onboard GPS. Which is one of the reasons I was happy getting a Charge 3 - the price had dropped after the 4 was released, and I didn't need the onboard GPS.

[andresergunin]

I got an update this morning.

It looks like Charge 4 now with all of it watch faces and some new features listed in official update release.

Here is few actual photos of how it looks like on Charge 3 SE.

IOS 13.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[EntropicLife]

Thats why I bought my wife a Charge 3.

If/when (based on what I'm reading) mine kacks out, I will buy another 3, with 2 year warranty 

[Nicosoccerfan]

I honestly won't be suprised if I don't don't have the update next year. In my opinion it should be out to everyone by now.

[DaveyReyn]

According to KateFitbit's last update from the original post:

"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."

I anticipated I would have it by now from that message on 7/23, but I suppose "soon" is a subjective term. Unfortunately I have been getting my hopes up & refreshing the app often since a few more people on here have posted they received it...& of course with each disappointing refresh I become more annoyed.

[andresergunin]

Here is how charging looks like