Versa Smartwatches - Fitbit OS 4.2.1 Firmware Update (72.1.9)

[FitbitCommunity]

Update 1/20/2021: We've updated to 100%

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We started releasing Fitbit OS 4.2.1 to Versa, Versa Lite, and Versa 2 customers. This is a progressive rollout which means everyone will receive it at different stages. We roll out releases in phases as a cautionary measure so that we can monitor performance closely and make adjustments if needed. 

*Firmware releases aren't distributed based on region or location and can reach anyone no matter where you reside. 

WHAT’S NEW AND FIXED 

Read our help article for the latest updates. 

HOW DO I UPDATE?

Find step-by-step instructions for updating Versa smartwatch here. 

If you run into any trouble updating your Fitbit device, review these troubleshooting tips. If you have issues after completing the update, try restarting the watch. 

VERSA LITE users - If you have trouble updating the firmware:

Follow the steps in this help article where we outline troubleshooting steps just for Versa Lite. 

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

[Kimi27]

I updated my Versa 2 last week and ever since then the heart rate monitor is way off during workouts. It won't register over 110 until the very end of my workout, so my burned calories are completely off. The new update is also causing my battery to drain. I've contacted Fitbit twice about this issue. I've turned off/on the heart rate monitor, I've restarted the watch, I've restarted my phone, and I've done a factory reset on the watch. None of these things have worked. I'm outside of my warranty by a whopping 48 days, and therefore don't qualify for a replacement. Fitbit told me there is no plan to release an update to fix this garbage firmware, but that I can have a discount to buy a new watch. 

I've had this watch for just over a year and it is now basically worthless because I have to charge it every other day and the heart rate monitor is off in its own fantasy land. I've been a Fitbit customer since 2014, but I will be taking my business elsewhere.

[jpstasi]

Exactly same as me. I got this as a gift for Christmas 2019. What a waste. Digital watches are not made to last forever, but only lasting 1 year is ridiculous. 

[marshra]

Once I updated the firmware the green light on the back of the Versa no longer turns on.   I tried a factory reset and still doesn’t work.  

[Lizfy30]

This is what happened to my versa too.  What a poor outcome. Ive been a customer since 2015 and i think the last update  must have been planned to get rid of us all.

[gadgetboy]

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@MarreFitbit wrote:

Hello everyone! 

We acknowledge the limitation we have on our part particularly on what you have experienced. We‘re taking into consideration your comments and sentiments with regards to our products and services.

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Hi, @MarreFitbit.

While I appreciate some acknowledgement of the problem, the response is unacceptable.

This forum consists of your most active and loyal users - most of us know how to reset the watch to factory settings and what factors may affect heart rate measurement. It's clear that your most recent firmware update has made your devices partially or completely inoperable for practical use.

What you have not acknowledged:

• Will there be a subsequent firmware update with a fix? In what time frame?
• If not, why? You bricked our devices - do you expect us to buy new ones from you after spending hundreds of dollars on the first one? Why would we do that when it appears that, at any time, this could happen again? How are we supposed to trust you with our devices and our health data?

I paid for a device that has Alexa voice support. I bought a device that is supposed to accurately track my heart rate, especially during a workout.

Now I have neither - and it's your fault, not mine.

Maybe the EU and the DOJ should take another look at the Google acquisition...

[dougffriedman]

Many of us have described similar or the same issues with heart rate accuracy (and other issues).  In my opinion you "gadgetboy" maxed it in expressing to Fitbit Representative Marie what we are all feeling. Marie is trying to help, but this is way over her level of support and resolution from what we are seeing on the blog.  Those of us, many on this forum, became Fitbit advocates to others who purchased fitbit devices and have been let down big time with this rollout of firmware.  Selling Fitbit devices are the work of marketing and sales folks.  Unfortunately I don't believe they see loyal customers and "operational" Fitbit devices as necessary in selling new Versa 3's and Senses.  If they did they would be immediately be "reading" the massive problems this latest firmware has caused.

[AKatC]

Well said!

[dandeforge]

I’m done. I loved my Fitbit but this planned obsolescence smacks of Apple behaviour, and Google behaviour. They will experience a massive exodus of customers.

Cancelling my Fitbit Premium too since it’s useless with a device that doesn’t work. And not going to another new Fitbit device that google will likely choke next year when the Versa 4 gets released.

Hope to see you all on the Garmin Board in February !

[Disappointed2wo]

I’m having the same issues. I am so frustrated with Fitbit right now. 

[arat18]

I am having the same heart rate issues that others have described. I have another tracker that I use for running and biking with a heart rate strap, so I am well educated on where my HR is during various activities. The way my FitBit is tracking now is basically trash. Im probably going to switch to a Garmin I can wear full time. Such a shame, as I really do enjoy some of the features, but now its unreliable as a Fitness Tracker, which is its main purpose.

[Disappointed2wo]

I did all of this and it still doesn’t work. 

[SoranTheSky]

My Fitbit battery is dying a lot faster than it should. If this is your way of getting me to by the new watch it's not working. 

[SunsetRunner]

So it would appear that the replacement versa 2 you’ve sent is now lost which is just great. I used my old Alta HR yesterday for my workout and that gave me an almost like for like reading my versa 2 used to before you lot basically broke it. The above reply from Fitbit is basically a cop out, as said most of us have been using Fitbit a while to know how to perform basic resets etc if the unit starts playing up.

get your s**t together before we all leave, though judging by the responses we’ve had from customer services I think I will anyways. 

[LWolfe85]

My versa 2 heart rate tracker has stopped working with this update. I've done restarts, a factory reset and nothing. Really disappointed.

[hskit]

Some reassurance that Fitbit (as in the people above the moderators on the board, who must be stressed to the hilt with all this - which is probably why the little note about community support has appeared on the message board now) are a) aware that there's a problem and b) are working on it, would be helpful.

Perhaps hitting them in reviews that new customers might see would work. Perhaps not.

[gadgetboy]

Yep. I've already called them out on Twitter and linked to this thread. No response, yet.

[hskit]

Hah. I spoke to the customer services thing on Twitter and they made a case and that's the last I heard of it. Currently connected to the live chat, who appreciate my troubleshooting and would like us to work together in fixing the sync issue. So far this has consisted of linking me to help articles I've already seen.

[SunsetRunner]

I spoke to someone on live chat today about it and they just gave me scripted answers. Told them I’ve read all these articles before and we basically just need a better update to fix the problem, to which they replied that you will receive a notification when A new update is available. Basically, not any time soon 

[hskit]

My chat robot keeps thanking me for the details because I keep telling it I've already done the troubleshooting XD

My phone is compatible, apparently. But it wants my phone logs...

[hskit]

Did you get 'that said' and 'with this' all the time?

That was extremely frustrating. They asked for my phone logs, then when I got a bit lost trying to find them they suddenly said "with this matter, we are currently investigating this issue at our end and we assure you that we are working hard to set modifications to our software". Which is nice but felt a bit like "okay now will you shut up and go away". And then asked for my phone log again.