Versa battery draining quickly

[gingernutcookie]

Hi. Just wondering how I might go about resolving a battery issue with my Versa. Had the versa for a couple of years with no issue and suddenly my battery now drains within a matter of hours in one day. I have changed settinga such as changing to manual for checking stats and a dim light and turning off step reminders but it still drains super quick. I literally only use this watch for a step count and active minutes, nothing else really, I have no music or wallet or any connection to messages etc.

Is there a way to test the battery to see if it's faulty? 

[klm4iast8]

I don’t know what is going on. All I know is that everyone started having the exact same problem at the exact same time. That doesn’t sound like a battery issue to me, that sounds like a Fitbit problem. Another reason that I think it is a Fitbit issue is that not one single moderator has commented on the issue. Usually, they are all over the place telling you to reset your Fitbit, and referring you to other posts and articles on the website. There has been complete radio silence on the issue.

Melissa suggested that we turn off the Bluetooth connection and sync manually until Fitbit fixes the problem. I think this works! After reading her post, I charged my Fitbit to 100% and turned off the Bluetooth on my phone. It has been one hour and my battery shows 99%. With the Bluetooth on, I was losing about 10% an hour. Thank you Melissa!!!!

I bought my Versa 2 on 9/2/2019 from QVC, and I ponied up for the Square Trade 3 year warranty. I will never buy another Fitbit without buying a warranty.

Kim

Sent from my iPad

[Piperchick]

Agreed.  There are some major glitches with the latest firmware update.  This forum is full of them and I have 2 dead Versas after the update.

[klm4iast8]

If you are having the same problems that I am having, try Melissa’s fix. I did about three hours ago and my battery show 97%. Before the fix, my battery would be at 50%. I was literally charging my Versa 4 times a day, and I still wouldn’t have enough juice to make it through the night.

Kim

Sent from my iPad

[JanieLL]

I hAve hearing aids that use Bluetooth, but I “ forgot the versa Bluetooth connection, and it appears to have fixed the battery issue, but I do have to exit the Fitbit app as it still will sync and connect to my iPhone.

thanks,

Larry

[sanjay.mahant]

Hey I changed recent clock face containing Spo2 to normal clock. Reset bluetooth connectivity and wifi and restarted. Now its running good and battery is also come down to 75% from 99% in last night till now i.e 15hrs.

Also i had removed maps from the watch.

However fitbit customer support ,in reply to email says that they did not found any problem.

My conclusion: 1 fitbit has not able to handle this issues properly after their 30.04.21 update

2. Ios 14.5 update may be the reason,as some otrher apps are flumbing or not coping up with apple update. 

[sanjay.mahant]

Customer support replies:

Hi Sanjay,

We're sorry to hear about your Fitbit Versa battery that is draining too fast and we'd be happy to assist you.

Upon checking on our back-end tools, your device synced on May 03, 2021 with 95% battery level.

We've tried checking further but was unable to gather the much needed information on why its battery is not lasting as it should and we would like you to try a some steps for us to check the battery behavior of your device.

1. Disable the features that can impact battery life as described in: https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/2004.htm
2. Fully charge your watch then sync it right after.
3. Use it until it drains but make sure to sync it at least 5 times a day.
4. Once the battery is low, sync it again and update us right away.

If you have additional questions about your Fitbit device or services, visit help.fitbit.com.

Sincerely,

Jude M. and the Fitbit Team

[stephw89]

100% agree with your article.  I have had various Fitbit devices since 2014 and have had the same issue with each one.  Like clockwork, between 15-18 months they go from having zeros issues to not working overnight.  Fitbit support was super helpful back in the beginning (2014-2015) and actually sent me a replacement, but the last 3 devices I have had all died shortly after the warranty period and all I was offered was a 25% discount on a replacement.  I officially switch to Apple Watch this weekend.  Hoping for better luck with them.

[johartnett]

Thank you
Great article. Unfortunately it seems to be very true.
I called FITBIT last night and was told in order for my versa 2 to keep a charge longer than 4 hours I had to disable certain features??!!!! So now it is holding a charge but had to disable bluetooth device, backlight, and change clock face to one I dont find easy to read. Great. This is what I paid 229 for?? For a device that doesnt function properly if you use certain features?? Not happy.

[klm4iast8]

Well at least Fitbit is acknowledging that there is a problem now. I wonder how long it will take them to fix it? The Bluetooth fix works, but why should we have to manually sync our Fitbits all the time? I like my Versa 2, but when it finally dies, I might seriously consider other options.

[huskymom14]

I don't know how to reply to everyone but here's an article on battery problems after an OS update: 

Battery problems after upgrading to iOS 14.5?

Here’s how to fix it

BY ALBERT KHOURY,

KOMANDO.COM    MAY 4, 2021

I found this article :fast_up_button:  a few minutes ago on komando.com  the website of Kim Komando who has national radio shows about tech.  I bet that the most recent iOS update (14.5) from Apple iPhone is the culprit of the battery problems we're all having. I'd read elsewhere this update was to cause problems but the next one, 14.5.1 is reported to be worse, impacting many social media accounts. 

It seems to me, Fitbit should be aware of when both Apple and Google have updates planned, proactively research and test for any glitches to their products caused by the update and prepare customer service teams on how to handle issues when they arise. To me, it's a terrible business model to in essence tell customers "Sorry that's how it goes" or as someone wrote earlier, "disconnect features"  Most people, like myself, buy a specific item because of its features and how they intend to use the product. Myself, I need the alarm system to remind me of my critical medications. I also used other features, like sleep stats and heart rate monitor to inform my doctor of my status even before the pandemic but it's especially important now.  This was my first smart watch, first Fitbit and if Fitbit cannot come up with better assistance for the entire community for this major problem, it will likely be my last Fitbit watch.  

[SunsetRunner]

I'm on the phone with Customer support and just in the 3 minutes I've been on, my Versa 2 has dropped 2%

[Cracks]

I tried to impress on customer service that there is obviously an issue for so many of us that we need an answer. Giving me 35% off another Fitbit doesn’t cut it. Why pay a couple hundred dollars again for another 15 months. Good luck. 

[CynthiaLS]

Thanks for this info. I haven’t updated my software in several months, I’m still on 14.2 so this isn’t likely the cause for me. 

[huskymom14]

Two days ago when I first started posting here, mine was dropping from 100% more rapidly, also it seemed like message notification was in a loop because I'd see the same 3 or 4 messages being shown. Aside from the battery issues heart rate monitoring stopped working correctly as did sleep monitoring and SpO2.  I feel most of this began even before the 14.5 iOS update. 

[klm4iast8]

I just found an article on zdnet.com by Jason Cipriani titled “You should update your iPhone and iPad to iOS 14.5.1 right away”

The article goes on to say that there are several security issues being addressed. I don’t remember when my iPad updated to 14.5.0, I just know that Thursday everything was fine, and Friday it wasn’t. I’m kind of afraid to do the update just in case it messes up my iPad or the tenuous status quo that I have with my Fitbit. Not having my Fitbit connected to Bluetooth is kind of a pain.

Kim

Sent from my iPad

[SunsetRunner]

I'll do the update, klm! I'll report back!

[huskymom14]

Thanks for putting this out. I'd read it also but I was having trouble
getting it attached correctly?

To me, this problem falls squarely on Fitbit and they're responsible for
troubleshooting it and, if necessary, working 24 hours a day writing code,
testing and getting out an update for all Versa levels. If Fitbit cannot
come to this realization, they will loose customers to their competitors.

I absolutely cannot afford to pay for a new watch as I'm living on
disability. I also cannot take unnecessary risks with my chronic health
issues resulting in unnecessary stress to my body.

Thanks to everyone! 💜

[SunsetRunner]

Just updated to 14.5.1 - no change in battery behavior.

[SunsetRunner]

I've starting having this problem as well.  I think I will make the move to a competitor's product in the fall.  Like others in this topic, I have been a customer of Fitbit for awhile, 2014, and have had issues with product reliability after the warranty expires. I may as well spend more for a competitor's product and get a few more years out of it. I purchased the competitor's product for my father after he got COVID so he could track O2 and he loves it. I have always been a Fitbit fan due to battery life but it seems like that advantage is lost with a simple update.

[llayten]

Not a battery issue. Could it be forced obsolescence? That would be a
shame!--

Moderator edit: personal info removed