Charge 4 - Yesterday's update is draining my battery

[Katbs54]

After my Charge 4 was updates yesterday it is draining the battery in just hours where previously it would take days to drain.

I have turned off all that I can but it is still draining fast.

I just rebooted but not sure what that will accomplish.

Any insight would be appreciated.

Kathy 

Moderator edit:  updated subject for clarity 

removed personal information

[Lexy3]

My patience is wearing thin as I'm dealing with another issue apart from the update: the part that attaches/clips the charge 4 band to the fitbit broke.  I spent hours trying to reattach it but to no avail, so I frustratingly decided to glue the band onto the fitbit, which is not the best solution (I have several bands), but I didn't want to lose track of my steps. I also bought another charge 4 because I'll be traveling in a couple of days and am afraid to travel with a patched-up band.  I'm not sure how much longer I can continue to do the same thing and expect different results.  I'm on fitbit number 5!

[ragtopmom]

I thought it was very interesting that the same thing happened to me. I had continued to charge it over and over in hopes that it would finally keep a charge for more than a couple of hours and get back to counting steps, measuring heart rate, sleep, etc. But nothing since the firmware update. And now this physical part of the watch is broken. I suppose it's pointless to try to hang onto the hope that this Charge 4 (my second) is completely dead and useless.

[Ch0ngma]

My Charge 3 had the same problem over 2 yrs ago when that was updated with new firmware. However i still kept it and dug it out earlier this summer, where it managed to work normally with battery life lasting for several days! .. until last week and a new update, when i came back to these boards to check if there was any progress.... so going fwd, the lesson is dont update the firmware...

[Dominic01]

@Lexy3 Check this thread https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Charge-4/FitBit-Charge-4-device-breaks-where-the-band-connects/td-p/... 

You can change the strap to shell like strap. 

[Lexy3]

I hear you and commiserate with you!  It's my third Charge 4 (I like this model because of its features; some of which I was told were excluded from the Charge 5.  I also invested in several bands, which also adds to my hesitancy) and my fifth fitbit watch.  It arrived today and I just finished setting it up.  Hoping (with bated breath) for a good or better run! 

[Lexy3]

@Dominic01 Quick question: if you purchase a shell like strap as you suggested, I'm assuming that you would not be able to use the replaceable bands.  No? I believe I recalled you saying that you purchased several bands (I have done likewise and own several colored straps); if this is the case, how are you able to utilize your multiple bands with the shell-like strap. Thanks!  

[Dominic01]

@Lexy3 , you are right and you will NOT be able to use the replaceable bands. My suggestion was the "last resort" to make use of the watch instead of throwing it 🙂. When your base connector in the watch is broken, anyway you will not be able to use the replaceable bands. 

[GodlyOverlord]

Well, mines been draining within 24hrs consistently for the last couple weeks with everything turned off and fairly minimal usage.

Today i noticed the band has started to come away from the body. Unclipped it and yup, suffering the standard band mount breakage.

Hit them with a warranty request for both failure today. Surprisingly they've gotten back to me super quickly and already have a return label to send it back. 

Fingers crossed i get a new one (probably a refurb) thats on old firmware which i'll avoid upgrading and probably just go for one of those shells to avoid the straps breaking in the future....

[Lexy3]

@Dominic01 Thanks!  The choices, or lack thereof, suck.  The conundrum is once you resort to using the watch with the base connector (instead of tossing it), you then have to toss your multiple bands.  Whew!  Hands tied!

[PRBR]

I have same problem and called but they didn’t help. Just offered 35% of new Charge. I don’t want a new one, mine is just over a year old. 

[ragtopmom]

I got the same offer. Not going for it. Too, the clip on one side of the device broke. See this thread for many who have had this problem.  https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Charge-4/FitBit-Charge-4-device-breaks-where-the-band-connects/td-p...  Mine will charge but other than that will do nothing (no tracking of anything). It and Fitbit are dead to me.

[GodlyOverlord]

Well mines been sent back now (it's been delivered too them). Yet the actually hear anything.

Might just sell the replacement when I get it and move onto something else that's not a Fitbit, I don't want to deal with this company anymore (Google has seriously gone down hill in the last few years, I feel they've expanded them selves too much and are spread too thin. Their Google Home/Assistant line is a perfect example. Used to be brilliant but it's getting dumber by the day. 

I hate that they push updates without a choice of installing them in some ecosystems (ie their Google Home speakers/etc) but clearly don't test them, wait for the big reports to trickle in then fix it months later.

I thought that might happen here but nope, just burying their heads in the sand instead. I'm sure they'll fix it but 6 months down the track isn't acceptable 

[Dominic01]

Its a pity that there are so many people crying out loud and even the so called FB moderators not giving a consoling (at least) message that its going to be fixed.

[SchrodingersDog]

I’ve quit Fitbit and moved to Apple Watch. Loosing 9 years of data isn’t fun, but I know Apple won’t brick my device.

Sent from my iPhone

[R3R9]

Ditto but to Samsung Watch 5 Pro.

[CoreyMac]

I can't fathom how Fitbit thinks this is a winning strategy. 

They must see that the number of customers they lose and the perceived devaluation of the brand as irrelevant. 

Maybe it is.  When you are this big, then they can just say "whatever" and ignore those who are dissatisfied.  After all they can succeed "at scale" like many modern companies, so why worry about customer satisfaction.

The opposite of companies like Anker.  They sell power supplies, USB cables, etc... and exceed most customers satisfaction requirements even with a lower per item value than Fitbit, but their customer ratings are generally much higher..

[tangleman]

Your claim that Fitbit will resolve this issue is, unfortunately, completely false.  If the Charge 4 is out of warranty, the only resolution being offered is a discount on buying a new watch.  That is completely unacceptable.  Fitbit has released a firmware update -- which it directed we install -- and that update has harmed the battery or the watch in some way that causes a massive battery drain.  This is not a warranty issue.  Fitbit has done the digital equivalent of stepping on our watches and now refuses to fix the damage.

To cap it off, Fitbit customer service hung up on me when I complained about the inadequate warranty offer.

[ragtopmom]

My son purchased an Apple watch and gave me his Versa2. I removed my Charge and added this device two days ago. Now, this morning, look at what I am offered! I wonder how long I can ignore this? I have done some research and this model has also had its share of issues with updates. If I update this one (by accident, of course), and it gets bricked, I'll be forced to elevate this issue. What is this Fitbit world coming to?

[Crazygamer53]

Hi @ragtopmom, I did not update my Charge 4 and every day keep my fingers crossed that I still see that banner.  I am sure that at some point they will make it so either the app or the device will have to be updated in order for the device to continue to work and if we are one of the unlucky ones to have our devices fail they will continue to turn a blind eye at their responsibility in the issue. I hope that moment in time doesn’t come too soon for either of us. Good luck!

[GodlyOverlord]

Hey, what version number is your Fitbit on?

I just got my replacement under warranty (actually only took a week to get a new one!)

Last one broke the clips after suffering with the draining issue for a month. 

This one is on a different/earlier firmware to my original and I intend on not updating it but I'm not sure what version the issue started with.

I know 48.20001.100.76 had the drain, and I know the version directly before it was the start of the issue (atleast when it started for me)

This one has come with 48.20001.96.29. I'm hoping theres a version between these 2 lol