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. 

[darthseditous]

Hmmm, I give it two days at most

[MikePC]

You’re being generous 🙂

[darthseditous]

Maybe, we'll wait and see.

[Katrien9]

Hello,

I went through this entire thread to find out if these upgrade problems also affect Versa Lite but 1 comment aside, it's all about Versa 2. Still not keen on trying the upgrade on my Versa Lite. Seems safer to stick to my current version 38.72.1.9

[Llamalady02]

I have (sorry had) an original Versa.  The firmware update bricked my device.

[darthseditous]

A wise move, I'd say, under the circumstances.

[darthseditous]

Welcome to an expanding club of fitbit owners in the same boat

[Katrien9]

Thank you for your fast reaction. I suppose that with 'original Versa' you
mean 'Versa Lite?

[Llamalady02]

Versa Lite is a different product from the first Versa released.

[MoraMea]

My heart rate is not tracking correctly during workouts for 5 weeks now. It tracks between 80 and 90 during intense workouts.I get much higher readings during a walk. I get a lot of flat-lining of oxygen saturation chart in the sleep tracking.

After 5 weeks of communicating back and forth with the support I finally got a response that pushed me over the edge and I am jumping the ship like many others already did.

After numerous suggestions to do app update, factory reset, setting custom heart rate range (the most ridiculous one by far) that did not work I have asked to at least acknowledge that there is an issue with the firmware. If its being worked on I am willing to wait for the fix as I do love my Versa 2. But this is what I got instead -

"we do understand that while there may have been reports of certain issues that may have occurred for some users, these are reviewed on a case to case basis.". Not even saying that there is an issue for so many of us. Just read this thread!
I am grateful for Amazon that approved the return of my Versa 2 and my new non-fitbit fitness tracker is already on the way.

[MoraMea]

I just got off the phone with Fitbit support and I was told that they do not consider the heart rate issue to be an issue and they don't have any reports that the firmware update has cause it. Don't hold your breath about the fix coming soon folks.

[MikePC]

That is absolutely unreal. 

Sadly I’m also not surprised by that. 

Wow, Fitbit. Lifetime value of thousands of customers has to add up to something, right?

Wow. 

[GlobalEngineer]

@MoreMea:  So, they don't consider failed heart rate monitoring to be an issue -- but what about all the issues with failed device syncing and even bricking of the device (as I experienced) after the firmware update that have been so widely reported on this forum?!  (A rhetorical question to you, of course.)

[MikePC]

Another poster had said via interaction with someone from Fitbit that they were actually admitting there was an issue but had no timetable for a fix. 

So who knows, other than the clarity of knowing we won’t see a firmware update addressing any of these issues raised in these forums (and elsewhere) for a long time. 

If ever. 

[NARpaulb]

My Versa Lite was bricked by the update but I got it replaced under warranty.  The replacement works fine but I am ignoring any update reminders, not catching me twice!

[GlobalEngineer]

I received my replacement Versa 2 two weeks ago.  Step, stair, and heart rate tracking is all working as expected.  The battery discharges less than 10% per day.  I have had zero issues syncing with my iPhone.  It came with firmware 70.7.14 -- it keeps telling me that there is a firmware update available but there is NO WAY that I will allow it to update!  I don't need another bricked Versa 2.

As I saw at least one other person post here, the new Versa 2 s not compatible with the charge of my previous Versa 2.  That's annoying because I had purchased an extra one that's now useless to me.  And because of the way that the cable exits the bottom of the new one, you can't set it flat on a table - it's hard to describe, but as a design engineer I would describe it as "bizarre".

[MikePC]

I have that newer version of the charger and yeah, it’s different. 

Was there anything special you did in setting up your new Versa that allowed it to bypass installing the latest firmware? 

[GlobalEngineer]

@MikePC- I was worried that the App would force or require the firmware upgrade during the setup, but I was able to skip it.  (I can't remember exacty how it went, but it was something akin to "Skip" or "Later" on the Update page.)

I forgot and allowed my iPhone to update the App, to 3.39, but that hasn't appeared to have caused any problems.

It is annoying to need to continuously 'x' out the firmware update reminder in the App.

[SunsetRunner]

@MikePC I also got my replacement with the previous firmware version 4 days ago. It didn't even ask me to skip or anything, I just set it up the same way I did my previous Versa  2 and it had the old firmware. Works great, HR tracks correctly finally (managed to reach 190 on my cardio yesterday)and I think my battery has no issues - for 3 days of using it and working out each day it went down from 100% to 39% which is similar to my previous watch. I also constantly get the reminder to update since last night but I'm never ever doing that again 🙅‍:female_sign:

[MikePC]

@GlobalEngineer and @SunsetRunner thank you for that; receiving a new one Friday and hoping it does just as you both say. 

Then I’ll have to decide if I want to keep using it, as I’ve found the other manufacturer’s device to be (in some cases depressingly so) more accurate in many ways than the Fitbit, first and foremost with HR in general and not just while exercising. 

The Fitbit is so elegantly simple in many ways, though; I have to use multiple apps with the other device to glean all the data I want to — getting sort of used to that but it’s not optimal. 

Battery life is also far superior on the Fitbit...