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
3,251 Comments
Robin234
Stepping Up

I agree with each and every one of your statements!

I too have been considering moving to an Apple Watch. I have had a Fitbit since the Original Fitbit came out. I like adding to my total lifetime steps, etc. 

However, if I can’t be proactive about charging my watch and if I don’t have the ability to change the size of the items that I see when I sync my watch, and if I don’t have the ability to choose the specific data I want to see at a glance, then having a Fitbit is NOT serving a health purpose for me. 

I would be interested in knowing how the decision was made regarding the first 4 data points we see under Activity??? This was a major decision since we are not able to move these tiles around at all.

I would like to know the thought process that went into thinking that seeing, multiple times a day, my/our Readiness Score and Exercise Days was so vital that it put them at the top of the list? This is especially important question considering that these numbers Do Not Change During the day. I would appreciate help understanding the thought process behind this decision that is impacting the usefulness of my Fitbit multiple times a day. 

I am also wondering why the 3rd and 4th data points, under Activity, were given such a high priority?? These data points are Activity Zone Minutes and Steps. I already saw this data, in the giant images that I see when I sync my data. Again I I would appreciate help understanding the thought process behind this decision that is impacting the usefulness of my Fitbit multiple times a day. 

This also is the reason why the different data points in each section should be able to be moved around. 

I look forward to hearing a response from someone from Fitbit. 

Thank you. 

syettip
Jogger

Hate the new format!!   Hard to use, much irrelevant content, setup is confusing, no battery power notation, and hard to see what you wantto see of your stats!    I have been using Fitbit since the original "Charge". I don't want the newer versions ( I currently have the Charge 2)  We should have been offered a prototype of the new format and. a chance to respond how awful we think it is. 

 

macd97
First Steps

What a stupid update. You have less options to personalize

 there’s less information at a glance because you can expand things like sleep or activity levels

 

 it’s a step backwards

jzime
First Steps

I try not to reflexively dislike change for the sake of being resistant to change. I certainly am not in the habit of giving negative feedback on products because of UI tweaks.

But this change to the Fitbit app is so awful I really felt the need to voice my concerns.

Showing us less data and fewer metrics at a glace that the previous home screen is an utterly bemusing decision that shouldn't have even gotten past initial internal discussions, and certainly should have been scrapped as soon as it was designed up. This change serves no purpose other than to force the user to scroll more when they open the app. No longer showing the battery percentage of my watch on the app is, similarly, a decision that has no benefit at all. It is simply a net loss to the user. There is no justification for this.

I really cannot believe these decisions made it past what must have been several internal reviews and sense checks necessary to be come reality. Did nobody, at any step of this redesign process, query why you were making data harder to view on a dash? If somebody did speak up, why were they ignored?

The aesthetics of a redesign are more subjective and I'm sure there are some people who might like the minimalistic feel. But I really just dislike how cold and colourless it feels. Fitness and exercise should be a hobby to be enjoyed and a mindset to be encouraged. But now whenever I open the app I am greeted with some very cynical, sterile blues. It isn't nice to look at and it isn't a nice vibe to associate with Fitbit.

I honestly cannot stress how strongly I feel about this. I do not usually like to moan about things like this, but I this UI design is so baffling I really felt the need to come here to comment. I really am expecting a U-turn on this redesign in the near future. I would honestly quite respect a bold 'you said, we listened' response to this feedback, because I do appreciate that people who worked on this redesign will probably be reeling a bit from all the negative feedback; but ultimately it takes bold leadership to admit you got it wrong and change course.

But if Fitbit are stubborn about this and dig their heels in while the expect this discontent to blow over, I can promise you it won't. If I am still looking at the same dashboard in a few months time, my fitness tracker I purchase will be an Apple Watch.

Kkratzke
First Steps

Thank you! That took a lot of energy and we all fed the same way!

I am not giving it a few months. This calls for an immediate reversal or an immediate purchase of a different watch. 

I don't see this company lasting very long with these decision making skills from top to bottom! 

This equals the debacle when Fed Ex bought Kinkos and changed everything about the company! 

 

Flagal
Jogger

I agree with the 100s of other peoples who are HATING on the new app. It's clumsy, takes two clicks to find out weekly goals, no zone minutes, no battery.  It's AWFUL. Please, at the least, give us the option to switch back to the older ( and much better) look. 

MaireRaven
Recovery Runner
Yes, I’m looking at alternatives as well.
NO-GO
Jogger

I agree with you wholeheartedly.  The recent update to the Charge 5 app is a huge change from what my experience has been.  It seems like a lot of functionality has been removed.  At a minimum, the company should have made the change/update user friendly or provide some kind of documentation to help us though the new app.  Very poor planning on the company's part.

Note: the fact that the company is 'experiencing extremely high contact volume right now and estimated wait times will be higher than normal. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to provide support as quickly as possible.'  You the company should be prepared with the huge feedback and problematic issues.  For goodness sake, didn't you try the rollout with a few users before rolling it out?  What's the matter with you?

Northengale
First Steps

Absolutely HATE the new version of the app.  What happened to the sleep analysis?  The percentage of rem, light, deep sleep? This was important to me. The look of the entire app is dreadful.  I’ve been thinking about retiring my Fitbit and getting an Apple Watch - will absolutely be doing that now.

SunsetRunner
Not applicable

DITTO!!!

Kathygs
First Steps

the consecutive days at target and my zone minutes proof gone....so disappointed and the feedback loop didn't care. Will find a different tracker...you are terrible.  worked hard to get to 330 days toward a year and more but you took that away...what the heck? your product people are horrible.

Dogwalker9
Jogger

I would appreciate be able to edit what shows up on the main screen and arrange it to suit myself.  As mot is much if the information in the focus screen is duplicated further down.  The whole app is now clunky and unwieldly and definitely  not user friendly

Fit_Aussie
Recovery Runner
The new update sucks. Its ugly. Its counter-intuitive. The data is grouped in an unhelpful way, using bigger, ugly tiles that force me to scroll down further. I cannot change the units from calories to kilojoules on the Today page. I'm Australian, all our food products use kilojoules. PLEASE, add an option to return to the old design!
Fit_Aussie
Recovery Runner

Agreed. If Fitbit sticks with this new design, I'm out. I hear good things about Garmin, but I really just want my old Fitbit app back!

Fit_Aussie
Recovery Runner

Yes, I agree. Fitbit what were you thinking? How did this get approved? The new design is awful. I cannot see kilojoules on my today page. I don't work with calories, I'm Australian. I really value the ability to track my kilojoules, it's the best way for me to lose weight. This new update threatens my weight loss goals. I can no longer enjoy using the Fitbit app to manage my kilojoule intake because of this ugly and harder to use redesign. If there isn't an option to go back to the old design, or at least receive a design very similar to it, I'm out. I will jump ship to a Fitness tracker company that can competently manage their product. 

AlienOfEarth
First Steps
Love new redesign of App and ability to add focus screens. But the color palette is so depressing and awful. It looks like a drained out Google Voice color palette from last decade. So boring and uninspiring. We need energetic google Colors to keep the users motivated in using the app. App looks so dead!
Dazie_9
Jogger

I’m done with  Fitbit 

NJGB
Recovery Runner

Dogwalker_9, I agree. I asked one of the chat team members about that this morning, and he said there is not a way to do that. 

lgw1111
Stepping Up

An update should improve. This update is a totally unecessary dumpster fire. Can we go back to the old app? I can't even tell what percentage of battery life is left. Jeez!🤑

snooper
Stepping Up

Yep this is terrible interface. When my Charge 5 dies, and based on the others I've had it should be very shortly since it's been almost 1 year, I'll be switching brands.

snooper
Stepping Up

Just lost me as a customer. Should have quit after 2nd watch died after less than a year and Google acquisition.

Rodconx
First Steps
New app design is terrible.. Fitbit previously had the best fitness dashboard I've tried. First the challenges now this, I'm going to a different product as Google clearly is just going to keep dropping features and trying to fix something that isn't broken
Fit_Aussie
Recovery Runner

Just realised the tile that says the KJ intake vs KJ remaining is gone, the tile with the green apple. I cannot tell how many KJ left I can eat. That really, really sucks. Shame on you Fitbit.

Fit_Aussie
Recovery Runner

I'm currently looking into Garmin.

SunsetRunner
Not applicable
I agree with this completely. This element was a major factor when I bought a Fitbit and now I have to go searching for my sleep analysis this is a total fail and I am disappointed that I invested in Fitbit when my head was telling me to go with Apple Watch in the first place.
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