Fitbit OS 3.0 - Versa Firmware Release (32.33.1.30)

[AlessFitbit]

Fitbit Update 1/10/19: 

Hi all!

Big thanks to everyone for your feedback on the release of Fitbit OS 3.0!

Since the majority of users have now updated to 3.0, I will be closing this thread from further comments to help keep our Community discussions on-topic.

If you are experiencing an issue outside of the firmware update process, I invite you to start a new thread on this forum and we will be happy to assist you there. 

Thanks again and happy stepping! 

---

Fitbit Update 12/26:

Hey, everyone! We're aware that some of you may have noticed a fast battery drain on your Versa watches after completing this firmware update. Our team is investigating the root cause of this issue and whether it was caused by this update or other factors are involved. 

In the meantime, if you're experiencing this problem please try a restart on the device then consider switching to a Fitbit made clock face! Many 3rd party clockfaces (especially those with animations) are known to use up more battery. If you try this out and are still seeing a fast battery drain, we can connect you with Customer Support for next steps or you can reach out to them and create a case. 

We look forward to getting you all back on track! 

---

Fitbit Update 12/22: 

We've released Fitbit OS 3.0 out to 100% of users. Please make sure you have the latest version of the Fitbit app (2.84) before downloading the newest firmware. 

We're excited for you all to have the newest Fitbit OS, but please let us know if you have any questions about this update. Happy Holidays, everyone! 

---

Hi, everyone!

I am excited to announce the release of Fitbit OS 3.0! (Firmware Version: 32.33.1.30)

We've started to roll out this update and it's currently out to 20% of Versa users. This is a progressive rollout, and all Versa users can expect to have it soon. We roll out releases in phases as a cautionary measure so that we can monitor performance closely and make adjustments if needed.

WHAT'S CHANGED?

Please check out this help article to see what's new in this update.

HOW DO I UPDATE?

Step by step instructions for updating your Versa can be found here. We recommend updating your Versa over a home Wi-Fi network as this can greatly reduce the time it can take to get set up. For more information on connecting your Versa to Wi-Fi, check out this article.

If you run into trouble updating your Versa, please follow these steps:

1. Restart the watch. 
2. "Remove" the watch from your account inside of the Fitbit app.  
3. "Forget" the watch from your phone's Bluetooth settings (along with any other Fitbit devices paired to your phone)
4. Try the update again.  

*If anyone isn't seeing the TODAY app after updating, please try the following:

1. Make sure you're running the newest version of the Fitbit app (version 2.84) 

2. Connect to Wi-Fi in the Fitbit app, plug your Versa into the charger and let it sit. This will automatically update the Today app. 

Looking forward to hearing everyone's feedback on the latest release. If you have questions, please let me know in this thread!

[Salcy]

 Update.  A 35min run with assisted gps connection and bluetooth headphone connection only ate up about 9% of the battery.  Yesterday under same conditions it ate up 15% LOL.   So now I am at 50% battery after charging the phone on 12/23 late at night.  I will update again later on.  Merry Christmas 🙂

[RRTexas]

I updated on Sunday.  I immediately had problems with heart rate showing consistently.  I have since restarted per instructions 3 times and I continue to have problems with the heart rate showing consistently.  I have tried several clock faces without success.  

Is there a known problem with the update that is causing this problem?

Thanks,

[Tennisplyr2]

I have had my Fit Bit for 1 month.  It was working fine until the update. I updated my Fit Bit last week and have had nothing but problems since.  My Uber App and my Weather App no longer syncs to my Fit Bit.  My notifications no longer work on the Fit Bit.  I had changed my exercise shortcuts on my phone and the Fit Bit went back to the original exercise shortcuts.  

Anybody else have these problems and is there any resolution?

[Srbkrchk]

Don't do the update until you hear issues have been resolved. Mine seems to have died completely

[Salcy]

6hrs later my battery went from 50% to 44% .  Also something I noticed is that I have taken about 1500 steps while sitting down LOL.  I am not sure if this is something that is due to the update... For the looks of it I will have to charge my  battery  tomorrow or even overnight in order to go for another 30 min run... So the batterybisblasting me about 2 .5 days if I decide to use it for daily workouts... 

[Jenelly]

This update is completely impossible. I've been in this for like 2 weeks. 

[Susie2057]

Mine would die in 4 hours. I contacted them and they sent me a new fitbit. Worked fine before the update.

[Shetona]

I know so why did they have us updating the device that no good 

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

[Ryan79]

I find it interesting that the update broke so many devices considering the hardware is exactly the same.

[oma7144]

The headline in the international press ist going to be: Fitbit kills Versa by firmware update. Never seen such an desaster. Would 

like to see a statement of there CEO.

Cheers.

[Shetona]

Not sure why but it not connecting to my Samsung galaxy note 9 

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

[Susie2057]

So I charged the new Fitbit they sent me and 24 hours later my Fitbit needs to be charged again. This update is crap. They need to figure out what’s up and fix it ASAP

[urmoluts]

Maybe we need to understand when somebody have been bought fitbit versa. maybe there is some little difference between one and anothers fitbit versa. some hardware is changed or sm. I must say that my fitbit versa still holds battery and all functions should work also (after gps with android 9).

[Shmoo]

I am having no luck getting my Ionic to update- the app keeps saying it cannot connect to the only wifi network I have running. I have restarted and removed then reconnected all to no avail whatsoever. Now what/

[Flavius]

I just updated both the iPhone app as well as the watch this morning.  So far this has been no better than before.  There are more options, but we weren't asking for more options, we were asking for a functioning $300 tracker.  Instead I have an expensive digital watch.  It STILL locks onto my pace count instead of my pulse, it STILL goes through the connect - start syncing - pause - disconnect loop, it STILL counts elevation changes I never did (a 1 mile warmup run had me at 156 pulse and +16 floors on level ground).  I was hopeful about the update.  I see I was mistaken.  I'll never buy another fitbit.  Ever.

[Salcy]

Overnight Versa went from  44% to 29% (by 6am).  If I decide today  to go for another run O will looae aboit 10% and then the Versa will prompt me to recharge...So Yes The battery is lasting me 2.5 days.  FitBit please fix this issue with the new update and the battery ASAP.  You owe to you loyal clients.

[oma7144]

Since the update my Versa counts 50 steps when washing hands, counts a headrate of 155 while sitting on the table and counts 150 flours while sleeping. Battery drain increased also dramatically. Crap.

Why is it possible to damage the hardware with an firmeware update? This is very disappointing!

Cheers.

[lenny4d]

@oma7144, @Susie2057, @Jenelly,  @Salcy, @Srbkrchk, @Tennisplyr2, @RRTexas @Flavius (and surely others), sad to read you have have so many issues with the OS3.0 update, because it absolutely not what "everyone else" is experiencing. Most people love their Versa en the new OS3.0 with no issues at all. That does not help you obviously.

There is no doubt that Fitbit's app-control sucks. App's don't run anymore, or not properly, and/or might drain the battery and/or may interfere with other parts of the OS. Clockfaces are notorious but it probably applies to other apps too. I can only recommend so much to those that experience problems to create a clean install with only Fitbit components (clockface/apps), remove all 3rd party apps/clockfaces. Then verify if problems persist.

@RRTexas"... heart rate showing consistently"   That's not a sentence so no idea what you mean! But yes, certain clockfaces may not work properly under OS3.0, there is no way to tell if they are recompiled for OS3.0 or not. It sucks. The best option is to first install a Fitbit clockface, then re-evaluate if whatever you mean persists. If so, then write more clearly what you mean

@Tennisplyr2"I had changed my exercise shortcuts on my phone and the Fit Bit went back to the original exercise shortcuts."  Not sure if you mean your exercise settings (custom stats) or the exercises itself (the max 7 different exercises)? With me there is no change whatsoever. I can't comment Uber or weather app, still appears to work fine. Weather app is pretty silly, as you need your phone you might as well check your phone anyway, much better.

@oma7144  "Fitbit kills Versa by firmware update"  Well, if you mean "drains battery for less than 1% if users due to rogue 3rd party apps", yes maybe 🙂 Everything else is speculation. The battery drain thing is surely top priority!

"counts 150 flours while sleeping".  Sounds like you should talk to customer service and ask for a replacement! 50 steps while washing hands is high but not impossible. As you know it interprets wrist movements, and household duties may sometimes be interpreted as 'steps'. It really doesn't matter unless of course it adds up to 1000s per day. Your caloriecount (which is what matters more) will remain fairly accurate anyway.

@Susie2057  Obviously it is not the update itself, most people do not experience the same at all (including myself). That there is something going on for certain users, be it in a combination of mobile device/wifi settings/rogue 3rd party apps and clockfaces we don't know. Fitbit is on it. I strongly suggest an as clean as possible installation and see if problems persist.

@urmolutsYes you have a good point. Obviously fitbit will keep quiet about this, but it is not inconceivable that there are small HW differences between early and late releases of the Versa. I agree. There is a suprising amount of hardware inside the Versa compared to early fitbit models. Early models had only acc-chip, bluetooth-chip, main processor, battery, screen. On youtube there is a video of a cut-open Versa and it shows the PCB is full of components. Probably because of the wifi, extra memory and SPO2 sensor and whatever more.

@Flavius"It STILL locks onto my pace count instead of my pulse, it STILL goes through the connect - start syncing - pause - disconnect loop, it STILL counts elevation changes I never did" --- yeah, the OS was never intended to solve some of the sensor artefacts. The pacelock instead of pulselock (or both) is known issue. I don't know exactly what has been compromised on the Versa compared to say Charge 2, but clearly it's gone downhill. This may be the pulsefrequency of the LED (ability to sample the optical signal), above anything else. Also there is one LED instead of two. It is all about separating the pacesignal from the pulse signal and unfortunately both are of same magnitude and order. It is difficult. A good job requires power. And to get power consumption down ... something has to give. I am wearing Charge 2 and Versa now, it's crazy. I admit.!  I don't have syncing problems. Neither elevation count problems.

[SunsetRunner]

Hi, just a suggestion to all users who have battery draining problems after updating to the newest Firmware version: not only mention your problem but also the serial number of your Versa. Each and every Versa has it's own unique serial number. Maybe this makes it possible, also for Fitbit, to pinpoint these battery problems to a certain production line.

[GlasgowRon]

My OnePlus 6 is not syncing too on the latest version. Did you manage to resolve by any chance? Thanks