Able to return to previous Fitbit app version

Woke up this morning to your new app. To say the least I am not impressed. It lacks color and is boring and adds nothing new to what was there before. I absolutely hate it. I am a longtime Fitbit user but this might actually change that on next purchase.

Moderator edit: Clarified subject
3,255 Comments
K8Kauai
Jogger

Bring back the old dashboard!

It used to tell you projected "how many calories remaining" or "over" no matter the number allowing me to better estimate, now it says "within target range" before I go to bed only to wake up and find I was very much over!!  

BRING BACK THE OLD DASHBOARD!  it was 10x better.

Fitbit just keeps making changes that alienate their users!  It was bad enough when they changed active minute for active zone minutes, meaning I earn ZERO minutes when lifting weights or walking just because I'm in such good shape that my heart rate is low.  If fitbit does not make changes that are best for their consumers, I WILL be finding a different tracker 

Joyx2520
Recovery Runner

The loss of the workout maps is the deal breaker for me.

phs3
Runner

@TDelirium wrote:

>The "new and improved" Fitbit app is just a copy of GoogleFit. Go take a look at it!  Such a lazy move. 

Now we're getting somewhere. Not defending the decision, but at least this would make some form of sense: "We have two apps that do the same thing; why don't we merge them?" If you couple that with the no-doubt internecine wars over whether Google Fit or Fitbit should "win", we can draw some conclusions.

Although looking at Google Fit reviews, folks don't seem very happy with it. Whether that's the device or the app isn't clear, but it does make one wonder why not just leverage the Fitbit reputation and rebrand Google Fit in the first place?!

phs3
Runner

P.S. To the folks who want a choice between old and new: that isn't likely, because (a) it would require maintaining two products; and (b) presumably any convergence between Google Fit and Fitbit is going to require some back-end changes to the stored data. Again, it doesn't make sense to maintain two of these. So one has to "win". Of course that doesn't have to be the Google Fit format, but that seems to be the decision to date.

Obviously that decision could change, or the guts of the old app that talks to the back-end could be updated to read the Google Fit-format data, but either is a big hit after this much has been invested. Hoping for incremental restoration of missing function is probably more realistic.

I hate that this is so, but after over four decades in the software business, I know that's how things work.

SunsetRunner
Not applicable

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 thanks @TDelirium ! It’s #173 in the Apple Store for health and fitness and Fitbit is currently #30 (I believe it was higher the other day) and they decided to turn the higher rated app into the less desired app? Absolutely bonkers. 

BaherR
Jogger
We all know the new app design is terrible in too many ways to list. Has there been a reply yet?
Abby232
Stepping Up

@NJGB 

I haven't tried it yet but this is the video that was referred to: 

Step By Step instructions how to "Downgrade" to Fitbit App Ver 3.88

ATTENTION: Android users only!

sorchatoogood
Recovery Runner
unlikely to be a return to the old format

Sent from Outlook for Android<>
hellotom
Recovery Runner
Please update your App reviews, tweet, voice your displeasure, together we can change this horrible situation.
sirodar
Recovery Runner
Fitbit. You really have gone mad in your development offices. Sorry to tell you, but your 'new' app is a disaster. What you have done is take something that worked and everyone liked and completely ruined it. Its unclear, its clunky, cheap feeling and makes literally no sense. Give us the choice - the Old or New app. Its an easy choice...OLD APP!!!
Psssst
Recovery Runner

I hate the new app. The previous app was very useful, this version is not. The Fitbit attitude of just get used to it is arrogant and condescending. Unfortunately, I recently renewed my premium for a year. So, Fitbit, don’t think that I am ok with your work or your attitude. As soon as my charge 5 dies or it is time to renew, I will move up to Apple Watch. (Are you actually working for Apple? You just increased their customer base by a lot.)

 

Megseels
Recovery Runner

I'm not even waiting for my fitbit to die. I'm gone. App uninstalled, ordered a different tracker, found a new app peace out.

TDelirium
First Steps

Add one more to the list of grievances: the new app no longer syncs with Myfitnesspal or MapmyFitness, which I have been using for decades.  Never had a problem sharing food logs or outdoor runs between aps, but now it doesn't work.  👎👎

GutsNGlory
Jogger

Unbelievably terrible new App update!!  Nymdok is spot on with their comments - and very well supported and reasoned complaints and observations.  Looks like a toddler designed this unattractive and useless screen!

Hey Fitbit (Google) - remember Windows 8, Real Coke, the Ford Edsel, Pepsi A.M., and Apple Newton? All colossal failures like your new App update!

Please bring back the original home screen - or suffer an epic and devastating exodus from your products.  After almost 15 years and 4 watches – I am considering switching from Fitbit watches unless you correct this epic fail within the next month or so. Thank you in advance for recognizing your colossal mistake and correcting it before you loose 90% of your market! 

KW1954
First Steps
The rest of my family all use Apple and are very happy with it.  The reason I stuck with Fitbit is that I prefer their slimmer wrist designs.  But looks like it's time to switch.
Mandy1234567
First Steps
The new app is just awful. No battery percentage in the sync bar, bland colouring, can't move wanted sections to the top of the app. Sections all the same colour and not defined from other sections.
Hoping the old features come back when they update the app again
ReaderRiley
Recovery Runner

I've always considered the Fitbit app to be pretty basic. Now they have updated it and it is even more basic. I used to be able to scroll through my data, which I appreciated, to see how I was improving (or otherwise) over time. So of course they have made this considerably more difficult by separating data week by week. What they should have done is make this utterly simple interface more customizable; instead they have made it less usable and really quite ugly.

Agg89
Jogger
In the old model, I could manipulate the home screen for what I needed, where on the screen I wanted it. Now, I can't.
Abby232
Stepping Up

SPREAD THE WORD!!! If you are an Android user YOU CAN REVERT BACK to the old software version!!!

@Dsarazin @SunsetRunner @Kyrunnergirl @JessicaFaith @BlissJC @evelynrosew @Wingermann @PatrickNZ @GutsNGlory @TDelirium @hellotom @NJGB 

I followed the instructions in this is the video that was referred to: 

Step By Step instructions how to "Downgrade" to Fitbit App Ver 3.88

ATTENTION: Android users only!

Nina12355
First Steps

I am gonna wait another week and if they didn't get back to the old app appearance, I will return my Fitbit. Nobody gonna buy this anymore.

PA_Espinosa
Jogger

Google/Fitbit has failed with new version of the Fitbit App. On Sep 9, 2023 my step streak stood at 561 days on Sep 10, 2023 a new version appeared and my step streak notification was no more. I have my Daily Step Goal set at 12,500 and ever since the new version was forced upon me, I have to manually track my streak which stands at 585 today 3-Oct-2023.

One good thing that I had suggested years ago, to add a Y-T-D sum of steps & distance. 

Another bad thing is the elimination of the ability to move around and sort the activity tiles.

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SunsetRunner
Not applicable

@Abby232  Thank you so much for this! Ill give it a shot later!

Abby232
Stepping Up

It works- To revert back to old version, download file from: fitbit.en.up to down.com (eliminate spaces in address - fitbit won't let me post the actual address)

Uninstall your current fitbit 4.0 version

Reinstall version 3.88

JVisco
First Steps
Thank you!Sent from my Galaxy
Abster37
Recovery Runner
What have they done to the app! It is so bland and unappealing. It's like Google is intentionally trying to bomb fitbit! This is in no way and improvement at all. They've taken a perfectly good app and ruined it. If they think they will force people to buy a Google watch by purposefully sinking fitbit, they have underestimated the community.
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