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. 

[cmc1024]

Heart rate became completely inaccurate after update. Would love to see this fixed otherwise my Fitbit is basically useless to me since I do mostly heart rate based workouts. Not a lot of running where steps can be recorded 

[KayKay42]

I'm having the same problem, updated 1/21/21, now charge lasts less than 24 hours

[A_Giraffe]

So is it safe to update yet? The banner prompting me to update my tracker is beginning to frustrate me

[jpstasi]

Don't do it, unless having an inaccurate HR is less frustrating to you....

[Ashave]

Upon updating my Fitbit versa 2 with the latest firmware, it no longer displays an accurate heart rate while I exercise. I have reset the watch multiple times and nothings changed. Finally, after a week of it not working I decided to do a factory reset. I followed all the steps such as deleting the device from the app, forgetting the device from my Bluetooth settings and updating my phone with the latest versions but the versa and iPhone will not connect via Bluetooth. And yes I’ve turned my phone off and on as well as my watch multiple times but the versa still can’t be found. It has the main logo that says download Fitbit to set up 😡😡😡

[cmc1024]

It has been the most frustrating update so far. I will be switching to new brand of tracker if this is corrected soon. 10 days of inaccurate HR during workouts. 

[Ashave]

I wouldn’t 

[mrfrench316]

Agreed.   One update destroyed their entire line of trackers all because no one took the time to see if it was ready before the released it.  While I am disappointed,  it is time too move on from Fitbit.  Be safe fitbit community. 

[janetlee51]

I have the Original Versa. The new update worked for me. Only issue was automatic time zone. It had me in the Eastern US, and I am in Central. I just turned off the automatic button and I have the correct time again. It has been a long 5 days, glad to have it back to normal.

[Pjd1300]

@tartntiny I applied the "fix" you posted as a result of your live chat with support (👍).   

In addition to that I bought a Huawei Watch Fit as a potential replacement and wore both devices simultaneously as a comparison (results below).

Now, I wasn't having sync or battery issues, but I was experiencing wild heart rate level fluctuations - after the update it seemed to me that the Versa was "under-sensing" my heart rate.    After the fix, however,  the wild fluctuations (so far) seem to have subsided.

I haven't done a proper workout yet, so I can't speak to that, but I did go for a 1 hour walk yesterday wearing both devices and they were pretty much the same in terms of HR levels throughout the walk.

I'm returning the Huawei (which is REALLY nice, BTW) because I prefer a device that can connect directly to MyFitnessPal (the Huawei uses Apple Health as an intermediary).

I'm going to stick with the Versa 2 for now, but If I had to switch to another device it would likely be a Garmin Venu or Vivoactive.

The sad part is it would seem that for the past 5 years (Fitbit Charge HR --> Versa --> Versa 2) I've been getting a grossly over-reported calorie expenditure due to elevated heart rate readings 😯😔😧😠.   It's either that, or my heart has become way more efficient in the past month.

I suppose, in short, I will have to adjust to a new (LOWER) baseline.

[SunsetRunner]

Thanks for this! I did as it says and my workout today showed all my stats back to normal! Whew! I really did not want to give up on my Versa 2! 

[scl205]

Update:

The Good news    After 24 hours my versa 2 seems to be working fine. The heart rate does seem to be accurate.

The Bad news      My wife's versa 2 had an update today and she works nights. She lost all of her steps after midnight (normally over 20,000 ) due to this update. She is upset which accounts for the uptick in my heart rate

[dougffriedman]

A few days ago I posted that I was giving up on Fitbit.  After reading some of the recent posts and to Fitbits credit the notices of software updates, I decided to give it one more try.   I once again reset to factory settings my Versa 2 and totally reinstalled the latest Fitbit application on my android phone.  The very good news is my Versa 2 now sync's with my Fitbit application on android.  (Thanks Fitbit for the fix).  It actually seems a bit more responsive on syncing than before.  What I haven't tested yet is whether the heart rate lag time when doing aerobic exercise has been fixed.  I hope to get to the gym tomorrow and use the elliptical.  If my Versa 2 heart rate gets over 120 bpm at least within a minute or two of the elliptical heart rate monitor (which is accurate) I will be a happy camper.  I am currently deciding whether to buy the Apple Watch SE or stay with the Versa 2.  I've enjoyed the Versa 2 for over a year (until recent software issues).  This heart rate monitor issue (lagging in aerobic exercise) I'm certain will decide it for me.  My understanding is Apple watches don't have the heart rate lag issue as we have seen.  Will let you know either way.

[SafetyBob]

I haven’t had any issues with apps, but it seems my versa 2 is now incapable of monitoring my heart rate when I work out. Workouts that would previously register 20% in the cardio/peak range now show that I never got out of “fat burn” range. This is really annoying. 

[Lux78]

Hi, I just updated the firmware a couple of days ago, and since then my fitbit versa keeps dying after a few hours.  

I've tried restarting my versa, unpairing with my phone and re pairing, force stopping app and reconnecting,  tried charging from different  sources.

Nothing has helped.

[Kris_sf]

Thanks so much to everyone who has posted helpful tips in this thread.  I think we've proven that collectively we are better than the pathetic response being provided by Fitbit.  I LOVE my Versa 2, have never had a problem with it until this software update was pushed out 2 weeks after my warrantee was up.  First my device would turn off randomly during the day and be fine after a restart.  Then the battery would drain one hour after I arrived at work (usually lasts 4-5 days with no charging).  If I charged it right before my swim or hike it would record the activity just fine and it recorded my sleep at night with no problem, but was unusable the rest of the day. The final straw was the disappearance of the display screen, which had been intermittent in the days after the software update but then quit all together.  It still would vibrate with a text message, phone call or when I had steps left in the hour, but no screen display. I followed all the advice in this post, restarting my watch, turning Bluetooth on and off, changing the watch face setting, turning on and off my phone, uninstalling and re-installing the Fitbit app.  Nothing worked and I was so excited yesterday morning when I got notification that a fix was available, only to get to the last step where I needed to enter a 4 digit code from my watch screen into the app...right, hard to do with no screen display!  Tonight I finally had time to sit down and email customer support to see if there was any other solution, only to find out you can't email them?  It's unbelievable that something they've admitted to causing has been met with such poor customer support.  I hope someone from Google is paying attention... in the meantime, I appreciate all the Garmin and Apple product reviews from my Fitbit family...see you on the other side!

[Sabysp]

My Fitbit versa stopped charging after update. I have tried cleaning, restarting, changing the usb power source, nothing working. It’s at 42% and would like to get a response sooner before I plan to switch to another product. 

[Salter77]

When will the issue be fixed that stops syncing and dropping Bluetooth most days ?

Funny that you said on Friday that an App update had resolved this issue when in fact all I can see on Twitter is people complaining that issue not resolved 

Via messaging on Twitter I've been told that this is an ongoing issue and that an exchange or new Fitbit wouldn't be worth it as it's the App that has caused the issue 

When will you stop misleading users that this issue is now fixed and acknowledge that it's an ongoing issue. Put a message on top of this page and put a tweet out acknowledging this. 

Not much confidence when a member of your team tells me an exchange or new Fitbit wouldn't resolve the issue

[Andie75]

Mine has been rendered useless with is the second one since October as the first an ionic bricked and this one will no longer sync with my phone because of the new firmware, I was told by a Fitbit agent that I would have to look at the list of tested devices ( so subtext by a new phone ) to continue using my versa 2.

It worked fine before the update.

[dandeforge]

Now almost two weeks and the firmware has rendered my device useless as an exercise monitor. I’ve tried every solution the company and posters have provided but they haven’t helped at all, the heart rate monitor continues to be wildly inaccurate. Everything else is fine.

ive been a loyal Fitbit premium fan since I bought my Versa 2 and have enjoyed the health benefits of that. But without a reliable tracker that actually monitors my exercise, the benefits have vanished.

so I’m regrettably switching to Garmin. The Garmin users I know have products 5 years old that are working the same as they were when they bought them.

Fitbit/ google is losing more than users switching to other devices, they’ve lost my Fitbit premium subscription, a monthly payment which I was happy to supply but now refuse to since they have apparently deliberately rendered inoperable .