Sudden Charge 4 battery drain

[bagg1nns]

So this week, both my partner and I have experienced huge battery drain with our Charge 4 devices for no apparent reason.

Previously, I was averaging about 5 and a half days between needing to charge it. Then without changing any settings, the battery life has plummeted and I've needed to charge it roughly every 24 hours... I've since tried tweaking a couple of settings such as changing dynamic GPS to phone only, but it's still only partly improved the situation (dropping 15% overnight, so at most it would now last 3 days between charges).

My device was brand new in June, and my partners was brand new in July and both suddenly experience the same massive battery drain issues at the same time. What gives? One device going defective is one thing, but for both to go the same way at the same time, has there been some kind of surreptitious firmware update or something?

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity. 

[MSSRocks]

Same!! 

[rubil.ahmadi]

Google managed to screw up Fitbit very well. Even Android itself isn't the same as before (I used to be a big fan of android, not anymore)

Since Fitbit (Google) is not doing anything I am looking for an opportunity to dump both my android and Fitbit(none working anyway) and get an iphone/apple watch 

At least they are behind their products 

[dpvball]

Same here. Updated firmware to 48.20001.100.76 a couple days ago and my fitbit started draining from full battery to zero in a matter of hours. Was working perfectly for the last two years since I bought it. 

[cotwg]

Found a solution (at least it worked for me). After a charge a couple days ago my FitBit Charge 4 would go from 100% to dead in about 3 hours. I tried all the FitBit suggested methods with no success (though it's simply obvious that those fixes don't apply to this sudden drain situation). I figured there must be a quirk between the app and the device causing constant syncing.

What worked for me is this (I don't know if all steps are necessary): After charging the FitBit (or while on the charger) I did a sync, removed the FitBit from the app, deleted the app from the phone, restarted the FitBit (hold button while in charger until it vibrates; about 10 seconds of holding), reinstalled app and re-added FitBit. Off the charger it had a sudden drain of about 5% then has been normal the past day or so. YMMV

[stephoto]

Same thing with mine- no problems and now suddenly it has died twice in the past 24hrs & this morning I charged to 100% and it went down to 2% within 1hour! That’s after reading other threads about adjusting settings. I

[stephoto]

I was really hopeful reading this suggestion but just tried and I’ve gone from 100% to 43% in less than an hour 😞 

might try again & wait longer in between the steps?! Otherwise I’ll be purchasing a garmin & telling people not to get Fitbit! 

[dpvball]

Didn't work for me either. Tried the steps exactly but it drained after about 6 hours. Which is an improvement over the 3 hours it was before. But still not usable. 

[jenguin777]

Ditto here...started doing it after the firmware update. My Fitbit Charge is only a year and a half old. Extremely disappointed.

[wicked20]

This is suddenly happening to me, although so far not as extreme. I charged all night last night, put on this morning and now I’m at about 40 percent. Fitbit customer service was horrible when I last dealt with them, they pretty much just told me to buy a new device and tough luck. Well I bought the new device (this one) and after a year I’m getting this nonsense. This might be deleted too I suppose. 

[AlexKfit]

Same thing. My watch is barely a year old !

[aussiechick01]

Me too.  Just checked the version and mine has been working fine until this last update.  Now it doesn’t last more than 2-3hrs before draining completely. Can’t even use it as a watch, let alone using it to monitor exercise and heart rate.  Very disappointing.

[Triplea325]

Happened to me suddenly today as well, I charge it daily when I’m in the shower and have never had an issue, and was at work when it suddenly died on me. I updated my iPhone to iOS 16 last night, is that somehow related?

[alaskasail]

I just started having Sudden Charge 4 battery drain problem just after the last Charge 4 "Update" (9/22).  I turned everything off that was possible and it still won't last much over a day or two.  Can I go back to the old firmware before the "Update"?

[alaskasail]

It looks like this is a real problem, but I don't see Fitbit weighing in here.  I'm assuming they are assuming that we, the "community". will solve the problem for them.  A sad, but real corporate stratigy.. 

[SunsetRunner]

Mine went from charging every 6 days to charging every 2 to 3 hours. This is the 2nd one for me. Won't be buying another. Very disappointed with fit bit. They are not cheap.

[rubil.ahmadi]

I hope Fitbit team is reading these comments and know how they are losing customers.

Fitbit was better before Google acquisition and now it is down the drain. I have personally lost faith in google

it makes sense why 

Google Removes 'Don't Be Evil' Clause From Its Code of Conduct

because they have turned to a data collecting machine at any cost 

[PC60]

Fitbit are ignoring all comments regarding the problem and deleting any answers that suggest alternate info.  

I suspect many saw the update notification in the fitbit app, you can't switch it off and get it to stop nagging .... once 'well, it must be the right thing to do, click' or even an accidental one trying to get past the nag and you wreck an 'adequate' working Charge 4 and its charge life.

If you are daft enough they skin you for a discounted replacement which like as not get something else done by update to wreck it.  Nice operating model when you have billions and taking more.

[alaskasail]

I have already replaced mine with another brand and will be dissing Fitbit/Google for this at every opportunity.

[debbieann53]

Replaced mine today with a cheap yet good reviewed brand. This is my 4th Fitbit all with different problems and about 1 1/2  years old. Won't hold charge and too expensive. Done with Fitbit.

[SunsetRunner]

Doubt it had anything to do with it. I don't have an Iphone.