Battery life decreased after Firmware x.24 update

[BJCruz]

Prior to the update, battery life averages 2-3 days. After the update, it only lasts 1 day. I have email and sms notifications on plus the HR. Same settings before the update. 

It is frustrating because this is the 2nd replacement watch. First was 28 days after my purchase at HSN, the display went completely gray. Second was 3 months after it was replaced, the screen started getting gray and flickered a lot then totally went black. 

Now, this.. 

[SunsetRunner]

Hi @MarcoGFitbit 

I really appreciate your support in this matter.  I've 'Factory Reset' my Versa 3x now and still having the same issue since the update.  At this time I HAVE NOT contacted customer support as I just came across this Forum.  I loved my Versa until this happened, now its been nothing but frustrating.  I hope you can help me out!    

                                    FITBIT Versa Version: 32.33.1.30 (Model FB504)

                                    App Version: 2.84 (20213341)

                                    GOOGLE PIXEL 2 XL

                                     Android Version: 9

[JulieBoord]

You are best contacting the customer service centre on the helpline they will help you out I found them to be quiet user-friendly and my Versa was replaced. Once they made the decision of replacing the Versa it only took two days.
Good luck

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[SunsetRunner]

Thank you for your advice! Ill call them right away. Hopefully i can get some resolution through them.

[pamperedkeri]

They ended up replacing my Versa. I just got it in the mail. I don't know what happened during my update but it fried my Versa. Thank goodness for warranty. 

[JulieBoord]

Very happy for you.
There customer service is great.

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[nettak]

Ok, follow up on my issue with my battery life draining after doing the update. I called Fitbit and spoke to an agent. This was his advice. I admit I’m not happy with the process. He had me do the 2 button start, then he had me put the Fitbit on my charger. It’s at 87% after just being on 2 hours. When it’s gets to 100%, I am to track the battery number every hour if possible (not) and continue to check it until it dies, do not recharge it but call them back for a solution. Mind you, I told him that I could give him this info from yesterday, immediately after I put it on it drops to 99%. I put it on at 5:00 am and at 9:00pm it was at 6%. Tomorrow I have to call for a solution but until I do this battery drain test, they cannot proceed. Then I get an email suggesting not to use the heart rate, notifications, steps to move or quick view screen to prolong my battery. These are the features of the Versa which is why it was purchased. What good is it if I can’t use the features for which it was intended. Not happy at all, 😡

[H3rocketman]

Versa version - 32.33.1.30 (2 factory resets in 2019, same version loaded)

App - 2.84 (20213341)

Phone - Samsung Galaxy S8+ SM-G955U

Software G955USQU5CRK

Android 8.0.0

Verizon Wireless

Battery life less than 8 hours. Also drains my phone battery quicker.

First battery charge after first reset lasted over 3 days. Less than one day since even after second reset.

Customer support will not replace my Fitbit since it was a gift, no purchase date or location due to company policy. How about downgrading the firmware? Saw it on sale in Costco but was not motivated to buy because of my recent experience.

[JulieBoord]

Don't stop using any of the features but do the time test of the battery life (which I know you have done) and with it been so bad they will give you a new one.

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[Kidperson30]

I went through all of that. It ended with me getting a new Versa. Battery issue solved. Mine was under warranty. That is THE ONLY solution 

[nettak]

Can’t wait to call and let them know what I already knew was going to happen. Battery will be dead here shortly. Thanks 

[lenny4d]

What suprises me most is that fitbit now must have a stockpile of returned malfunctioning Versa's and still they have no firmware update that stops this from happening.

[Marrrmaduke]

@lenny4d Well, if Versas bricked due to a faulty code, they can be un-bricked and refurbished. I guess.

[lenny4d]

@Marrrmaduke  As it doesn't happen with everyone something must be related to a user configuration difference (could be wifi, bluetooth, or installed apps).  F.e. if wifi is always on without realizing it the battery will drain fast. Same for bluetooth. Why that would happen, I don't know. Another problem may be that somehow some critical flash memory gets overwritten or something. F.e. maybe the battery is fine and doesn't drain at all, but there is a problem in some memory location with the battery management part of the firmware, and happens only when certain apps are or were installed. And thus cannot be undone. I don't know. I am just speculating.

If sometimes a notification doesn't come through, or the HR is off a bit, it is all one thing -- but a battery (seemingly) draining in hours or less than a day just because of a firmware update that cannot be reversed by the user, that's an incredible pain. In theory the mobile app could have a manual firmware override download function --- just like if you want to install an Android app you don't HAVE to do it via the Google Playstore. You can override and install any a.p.k (including previous app versions) yourself if you want to. Now as the process for the fitbit firmware is a bit more special (firmware is encrypted, probably with the private device key although I am not sure about that), but that's not a hindrance. Or simply a button that instead of "new firmware available, install" says "select firmware to install" and shows a dropdown list of firmware versions available. It is really not all that complicated. And would possibly have made many people's life just a bit easier. Let's see what fitbit cooks up 🙂

-----

PS: why is a.p.k. without dots "not permitted in this community"??? 🙂

[H3rocketman]

I just got an email from Fitbit that says downgrading the firmware is not possible. That is very shortsighted in my opinion. That being the case, they had better have all the hardware revisions and test all of them before releasing a new version.They probably only test the latest and greatest. Not good for long term customers and early adopters. In the long run, reputation is everything if you plan to stay in business for the long haul.

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[Marrrmaduke]

@lenny4d It is permitted. APK APK APK 😛

[MarcoGFitbit]

Hello @SunsetRunner, @JulieBoord, @pamperedkeri, @nettak, @H3rocketman, @Kidperson30 and @lenny4d, I hope you're doing well, it's nice to see you around. It's great to see you as well @Marrrmaduke, thansk for your insight about this situation. 

I appreciate some of you have contacted us back letting us know you've already contacted our Support Team and they have issued a replacement to you. @H3rocketman and @SunsetRunner, at this moment, I've contacted our Support team on your behalf to look into this issue further and provide you with some options. Please keep an eye on your email inbox for further instructions. 

@H3rocketman and @Marrrmaduke, please note that we do not recommend installing a previous version of the app in your phone as it might affect negatively other features. 

I appreciate your patience and understanding, have a great day. 

[lenny4d]

@MarcoGFitbit  "please note that we do not recommend installing a previous version of the app in your phone as it might affect negatively other features. "

With all respect: the question was about a previous version of the firmware, not the mobile app!

@H3rocketmanyes, I agree with you. It is not possible to roll-back firmware allthough I do agree that that functionality should be available to the user, if only just for the previously installed version. Unfortunately it is not even possible to hack your way around it either.  If it was I would write the code to do so!

Reputation is everything, I agree, but not when you ship millions. For the high-end sport trackers that ship in much lower volume at higher prices it is - people demand the quality and flexibility they need, but for fitbit the market economics are different. It is a bit like microsoft.

Moderator Edit: Format. 

[BJCruz]

And so it goes...

Battery charged to 100% 08:30 today. Fast forward to 18:10 same day, battery is down to 39%. Prior to this, the watch stopped syncing to the app for a day. Didn't generate a resting heart rate too. 

After getting this 3rd replacement watch, I monitored the battery life for 2 weeks. It averaged 3.5-4 days on a single charge. 

So, it seems the battery is draining unusually fast once again. No changes in usage. No 3rd party apps. Stock watch face too. 

Am I going to have to put myself through another painful process of calling customer service and having them tell me to reset the watch a couple of times and monitor the battery once more before I get a new unit?

Watch is still under warranty until July. I really hoped they gave me a good working and reliable unit after replacing it twice. Apparently I am back to the same spot as I was when I first started this thread. 

[Kidperson30]

Oh no. My replacement has been fine so far. Only a few weeks, but so far so good. 

[Marrrmaduke]

@BJCruz Factory reset it. I know it is a pain but it seems that there's something going on the software level. I agree with @lenny4d's previous statement about bluetooth. You need to restore sync and see if after factory reset, versa manifests the same issue. Btw, when did your watch stop syncing exactly? Do you remember if it was after you updated fitbit app to 2.85? Unless you haven't yet.