Fitbit OS 4.0.2 - Firmware Release (68.9.15)

[MattFitbit]

Fitbit Update: 10/30

Hi, Versa Smartwatches family,

We're happy to announce that Fitbit OS 4.0.2 (Firmware Version: 68.9.15) has now gone out to 100% of all users. Please download it if you haven't already. 

We always recommend keeping your watch and the Fitbit app up to date on the latest versions to have the best experience. 

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Fitbit Update: 10/9

Hi everyone,

We’re excited to announce the release of Fitbit OS 4.0.2 (Firmware Version: 68.9.15). 

We've begun releasing this new firmware to customers. This is a progressive rollout which means everyone will receive it at different stages until it has been completely released to all users. We roll out releases in phases as a cautionary measure so that we can monitor performance closely and make adjustments if needed. 

*Firmware releases are not distributed based on region or location and can reach anyone no matter where you reside. We do not recommend performing a factory reset to force the update to your device as your data will be lost and you may not get the update. Please be patient and wait until you see the update banner inside of the Fitbit app to begin the firmware download.

WHAT’S NEW AND FIXED

 
This release includes bug fixes and improvements.

HOW DO I UPDATE?

Step by step instructions for updating your Versa can be found here. 

To update Versa Lite Edition, leave on all-day sync and let the Fitbit app run in the background on your phone. When the update is ready, you’ll see a notification in the Fitbit app.

If you run into any trouble updating your Versa or Versa Lite, I recommend reviewing these troubleshooting tips. 

We appreciate your patience while we work to roll this out to everyone. 

[EKJ74]

you're within warranty, so you can get another one. Mine isn't. And I cannot believe those people at Fitbit had the nerve to say this problem hasn't been reported! I said how? I'm looking at your community page RIGHT NOW!!! LOL. Boy I swear. 

[EKJ74]

Same same same! What got me was the fact that the rep said NOBODY else had called in with my problem. I told her I'm on a community form, that fitbit monitors, with tons of community members complaining about the same thing, but nobody has this issue? Absolutely insulting. 

[S-graves07]

My watch won’t even turn on anymore so I can’t even get the newest firmware 🤷🏼‍:female_sign:

[rrogan777]

Thanks Lizzy, but the notifications are still not working no matter how I change them.  Given all of the issues and longevity for Fitbit to fix the issues, I've begrudgingly made the decision to abandon Fitbit and buy an Apple Watch. 

[lmazz722]

I am not too far behind you!!

[mhand]

Versa Fitbit is quite possibly the worst software hardware package ever foisted off on the general public. It rarely works or syncs even using the blue fob that is sold by them.

[EriktheRED]

I too was a part of the initial firmware update that screwed everyone's notifications. They then released another update and yet still no change. It really stinks that I now have only phone call notifications vibrating and nothing else will.  This is a really crappy experience...  I had high hopes since they had replaced my versa when it was out of warranty due to it getting burning hot on the charger one day, and was loving it until all this went down. Unfortunately unless something changes drastically, I feel like this might be my last Fitbit product...

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi everyone. Thanks for continue posting in this thread.

This thread is to report any issue experienced after the firmware update. If you're having a different issue, please search for a similar thread in the Help Forums, this way you can receive more related responses about your situation.  For the ones that are experiencing notifications issues after updating to iOS 13, this has been reported to our team and they're working on this situation. Please keep an eye on this thread, we'll update it once we have more details.

@morphius501 and @EKJ74, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts in regards to our products and services. Our team constantly receives feedback from our users, as it helps us to evaluate our procedures to improve our Fitbit watches and overall environment. Since you've created a case with Support, my recommendation is to keep in touch with them so you can receive more details about your case, as well their resolution.

@S-graves07, thanks for keeping me updated. While I'm unable to see your case details, I've updated your details to our Support team so they can send you an email with more information about your case. Keep an eye on your inbox.

@Aqyx, thanks for bringing this to my attention. I understand how you're feeling about the update and I'm sorry for the inconvenience this has caused you. Among the issues experienced, I'm concerned about the battery not lasting and the Versa 2 freezing. Since your post didn't mention, may I know if you've tried restarting your watch? Please confirm this with me so I can work along with you.

@tomzoo, thanks for the update as well for trying the steps posted before. Since this troubleshooting isn't intended to be done regularly, could you please confirm if you're wearing your Versa as described here? Also, may I know the name of the workout performed?

@mhand, I'm sorry for this experience. I understand your point as your Versa should be working correctly. Let me help you out. Besides the syncing, could you please detailed the other issues that you've had? About the syncing issues, what is the error message displayed? Make sure the Fitbit app is updated in your phone and just in case you've not done so, take a look to the steps described in this help article.

@EriktheRED, thanks for letting me know that your Fitbit watch isn't receiving the rest of your notifications. I understand your point of view about these issues and I'm sorry for the experience that you've had with your replacement. Just to confirm, may I know your phone's model and OS version? Also, please try removing your watch from the Bluetooth settings, turn off other Bluetooth connections just for this process, reboot your phone, open the Fitbit app and set up your watch as a new device. Then set up all the notifications and let me know how it goes.

Keep me posted.

[Aqyx]

@LizzyFitbit

Yes, of course I have restarted my watch. I have to restart it every few hours to even get basic functionality working.

[EKJ74]

@LizzyFitbit  I was so upset by the lack of customer service and the blatant lie told to me by the agent, that I purchased an AppleWatch yesterday. It's a slap in the face to the entire fitbit community, whom I've grown to love, treat me and all of us like our concerns don't matter. When I gave her my issues, she said that she hadn't heard of anybody having that issue, and i was literally looking at 20 pages of complaints. 

[makarand]

Hi, updated new version , but now only getting call from phone  but no other notifications.

I've turned phone and watch off and on, removed and reinstalled the app, deleted and reconnected the bluetooth connection but still the same problem

[lmazz722]

Figured I would give it one last try. ios update 13.2, firmware update
vision 32.68.9.15.... factory reset..... and what do you think
happened?????..... Wait for it...... wait for it.... NOTHING!!!! Still no
notifications, battery life sucks, drops off the bluetooth.... Apple watch
is looking better & better!
--
Lisa~~Sent from Gmail Mobile

[Ginofs]

Hi Matt!

     I installed the 68.9.15 update recently, and everything seemed to be going great. The only problem I had with my Versa Special Edition was the notifications not being completely cleared. I lived with this for a while, figuring that the update would be worse than having a few extra notifications.

I let an update cycle come by, and then I saw it disappeared. Maybe a bug was found. Anyhow, I installed this new update smoothly, and seemed to have no problems.  Over a day or so I confirmed that the notifications issue was really fixed!  However, today was my Gym day, and when I went to work out as usual, I noticed that my critical heart rate display during exercises was sort of gone!

I have it set to be on the middle display during workouts, changeable to several other items. I didn't know this was configurable until this release, and saw instructions for configuring the exercise display for each exercise. In my case, I have it set to display heart rate in the middle display. 

Well, what happens is that the heart rate section is blank, but faintly says Heart Rate under where it is supposed to be displayed. After about 8 seconds or so, the heart rate pops up briefly, and then disappears again. Sometimes it comes up again and then goes away.  I reconfigured the position of Heart Rate to the top line of the display, and then the bottom. No matter where I put it, it did not display.  During all this time, the green LED on the bottom is LIT, and the heart rate log on my iPhone's Fitbit app is always perfect with no gaps.  I am NOT having problems recording my heart rate, just DISPLAYING it.

When not in exercise mode, my heart rate is always displayed in the corner of my Versa watch face as it always has. Sometimes, in the exercise mode, my heart rate will be displayed "normally", but more often it will blink off again.  I tried setting the display to permanently ON, but this didn't keep the heart rate from going off. I tried different exercise modes, but this didn't help.

So, I think I should have held off installing this update even longer, but I didn't see anyone who had this problem yet.  Again, my Versa was working perfectly until after the update.  Everything else works fine, and I really love the ability to charge things using Fitbit Pay.  

Hoping for a solution.  I tried resetting the watch, and turning Heart Rate off - suggestions I saw here in the forum. I'm also looking forward to a dedicated Forum page for this problem.  Again: The heart rate hardware is working, but the displaying function is what's failing intermittently.

Looking forward to your help!

[gwinny]

Mine works great with my tablet, but that's pointless unless I'm home or
carry it everywhere....and it stays on wifi. I might mention the tablet is
older than the phone they told me was incompatible all of the
sudden.....when it worked up until a couple of months ago. Theirs is the
only app I've ever not gotten to work...

[SunriseRun427]

It's curious how some of us experience multiple issues with the firmware update, while others do not. I can receive notifications, heart rate tracking is fine, as is sleep tracking... yet others can not even get their watches to turn on. What gives? Poor QC from Fitbit?

[lorraineg]

I wonder the same thing. I’m having no issues other than elevated heart rate, which is an ongoing issue since 2018.

Sent from my iPhone

[Ginofs]

DumbWatch:

As a retired software developer in charge of releasing software, Configuration Management was the name of the game; provided you had total control of the hardware platform, everything would run the same with the same software release. 

Bad software would break everything equally, and good software would work everywhere. I have the idea that hardware is constantly changing, and not enough testing is being done prior to release. Unfortunately, even Apple has these problems  but at least Apple has a huge staff and rapid turnaround on fixes. Let’s hope Fitbit improves. They make great products, provided they work perfectly on release, and can survive updates!
I still prefer my Fitbit Versa over an Apple Watch. 

[PcAddict]

I did a factory reset also. And everything is working just fine as it was before the update. I get my notifications and I can control my music without it disconnecting. I thought about trying the update again, but I decided not at this time. I really didn't see any big new things in the update that would make it worth updating anyhow. When I had did the update it took me awhile to figure out how to get my notifications to work again. But no matter what I tried I could not get it to stay connected to control my music. That's why I did a factory reset.

[SunriseRun427]

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@Ginofs wrote:

DumbWatch:

Bad software would break everything equally, and good software would work everywhere. I have the idea that hardware is constantly changing, and not enough testing is being done prior to release.

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Possibly, but the original Versa and Versa Lite are more mature products, and one would expect support to be improving as the software devs get to grips with the hardware. Then again, there are glitches which don't turn up in testing but do in the wild... then Apple and to a lesser extent, the big "G" have competing products so there is no incentive for their gear to play nicely with Fitbit's. Don't you just love vendor lock-in?

As for the Apple watch, when they release a model which can hold its charge over a long weekend, I might start getting interested.

[SunriseRun427]

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@PcAddict wrote:

I thought about trying the update again, but I decided not at this time. I really didn't see any big new things in the update that would make it worth updating anyhow. When I had did the update it took me awhile to figure out how to get my notifications to work again.

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As far as my tracker goes, I'm fast subscribing to the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" school of thought.