Can't update Inspire firmware

[mikelietz]

I received a used Inspire and was able to reset it to my account. The steps synced at least twice today but the firmware is out of date (33.20001.63.5) and I also cannot change the clock face.

I am using an Android 8.0.0 device with the most recent Fitbit app. When I try to update the firmware, it just sits at the "Searching for your Inspire" screen, even when the device is sitting on top of the phone. I've rebooted the phone, switched Bluetooth on and off, restarted the Fitbit (plug in, hold button for smiley face) and still it can't find it.

I tried using Fitbit Connect for Mac (internal bluetooth, pre-Catalina) and it was not able to find the device either, even when it was plugged in on the charger to that computer.

[mikelietz]

I thought I had made some progress on this, but it still failed after at least 15 minutes of "updating".

First I removed the device from my phone's bluetooth, then started the sync over. Steps synced and I tried the update again. It eventually stopped searching and started updating. The device showed a white line on the display.

After about 10-15 minutes the device vibrated and showed a white circle with an X on it in the display.

Soon thereafter I got the "Not working?" page in the app to try again. Trying again failed.

What does the X on the display mean?

[mikscoBarnes]

The X means your Fitbit has been "bricked".  That's when updating firmware on a device in general fails in such a way that the device can only act as a brick after the update attempt.  Bricks don't have ANY way of being updated once they are bricks.  Just go buy another Fitbit.