Able to return to previous Fitbit app version

[Dsarazin]

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

[Olek1024]

@StanReardon makes sense, although could be a risky adventure. I was only able to find an older version on a 3p platforms. Still on the fence. Also Google may introduce changes to the api that aren't backwards compatible. Anyway, an option worth considering. Thank you for sharing this idea.

[SciWizard]

I tried about 12 hours ago. The only version in the Android play store is the new one.

[Cjl2.0]

Wow! Yep, I’ll call Amazon tomorrow

[Afondraco]

I so agree. I only use the app now to check my sleep. I have had the new dash for nearly a month and I use it less and less. I am looking at other options. I will never under stand why things get changed for the sake of change. If its good and everyone likes it and it's not broke why change it!

[MarkIndia]

Please do take a little time to go through the new app. It's design in
horrendous and not user friendly. It still beats me how this could have
gone through any quality checking process.
However, most of the data is there - badly organized as it is:
Steps
Distance
Sleep
Active Zone Min
Calories
Readiness Score
Exercise Days
Floors
Health Metrics - HRV, Breathing rate, Skin Temperature
Oxygen Saturation and RHR
Stress Management

[skenney13]

Couldn’t agree more!  If it’s not broke, DO NOT FIX IT!  Did you even ask the Fitbit community if they wanted a change in the app? I’m so disappointed I feel like I am going to change my activity tracker when this Fitbit dies out. It has completely changed the way I work out and keep track of everything. I barely keep track of my water intake anymore because finding it on the app is ridiculous( I don’t even bother adding it anymore). Bad bad bad bad change so, so so disappointing!!!!!!

[SunsetRunner]

The new UI is awful. I am remiss I just purchased a new Fitbit in June.Had I known you were changing the interface, I would have chosen a different brand. I have been with Fitbit for years, since it was a tiny clip-on step counter. I want to see my steps right away and the battery usage. I really don't need a menstruation log and it just takes up space. I paid 30 years for the right not to think about it. 

You can bring the old UI back. That is total BS. 

[ldusseau]

Agree with all of these comments 100%. I'm not quite ready to ditch my fitbit yet, but I'm considering it. I've had FitBits since 2016 and by far this is the worst update ever. Everybody hates it. I'm 100% sure the software engineers didn't do a beta test (which should be an essential engineering function). If they did they would have realized it was horrific and done something else. However I think they were too cheap to do the proper testing, rolled out the update, said to the users: "Here, YOU deal with it". Seems like everything Google touches nowadays goes to heII in a handbasket. 

[PatriciaL20753]

They totally messed up, I’m not even using the app any longer. Going to try
an Apple Watch.

[PA_Espinosa]

MsJuloe00:

Sending you 2 images:
1 on the Dashboard, tap in the pencil icon
2 scroll up until you see the menstruar cycle tile
3 tap the button to off
4 Press, Save

You are welcome. Hello from Fort Worth, Texas

[AtomicNerd]

This update is horrible.

You took away the color

and all the features that

made it fun and enjoyable

to use. I struggle enough

with motivation, and now

one of the main tools that

helped me is gone. I hope

you will listen to the many,

many people who are very

unhappy with this change

and do something to give your millions of long-time, loyal customers a reason to keep using FitBit. 

[MarkIndia]

I was wondering if we are all being the same app. This is what appears on my Android phone. Please  let me know

No1

    

[PA_Espinosa]

MarkIndia:

I do not see your snapshot, but here is mine.

[MarkIndia]

@PA_Espinosa Funny - I can see my screen shots but nor yours!

[Spiyda]

How do you get the heart rate front and centre in a big font ? 

for use when on the running machine

Which was my main use for the app

[PA_Espinosa]

MarkIndia:

Yes, very odd that whoever is monitoring, we cannot share screenshots for
comparison.

[sjhowe]

Thank you @valyba for sharing the instructions on how to download the old version of the app!! I downloaded Version 3.88 directly to my Samsung Galaxy phone from my browser** and it worked! It took a full day for the Bluetooth connection to function properly but now it's fine and I am so relieved. For all the reasons everyone has said before, the new update is terrible and as a hiker I especially missed seeing the floors climbed right at the top of the screen. Having been a longtime Google Pixel customer, I was surprised at the lack of customisation in this upgrade, if what people are saying is true that they changed the interface to be more consistent with their other product line. Why not let us reorder the stats how we want??

**I wanted to note that unfortunately, we are not allowed to share the link to the website where you can downgrade to older versions on the app and I won't be surprised if this post is even deleted by the moderator. Apparently that specific website, or mention of it, is "not permitted in this community. Please remove this content before sending your post."

[MarkIndia]

@Syiyda: I don't think the new app allows for moving the various tiles
around for individual preference.. I think you are interested in real time
heart rate.
1. Scroll up on the app till you reach 'Heart'. If you place it on a holder
on a treadmill you ought to be able to see your heart bpm in real time
along with your RHR
2. Alternatively you could keep flipping your wrist to see the BPM on your
watch - which is rather inconvenient.
3. At the end of the day - tap on 'Heart'
a) you will come to the page with 'Heart Rate' . This includes :
b) Trend for the week
c) RHR
d) Cardio Fitness
e) Each days Heart Profile - tap on this and you will get the days
heart profile over time.

[Sugeee]

The new screen is bad in so many ways, I find I simply don't want to use it.

[PatriciaL20753]

This must have been meant for another post. I didn't mention anything
about a menstrual cycle.

[Spiyda]

I tried that but I can't read the muted small text in the new app, on the
old version it was bigger and bolder

[Lilybet]

@MarkIndia I can see you screenshots and yes I have ordered a replacement watch, Goodbye soon Fitbit, you were great from the Pebble till now. Till you sold us all out 

[PA_Espinosa]

Spidya:

1. On the dashboard tap on the pencil, doing so will activate the edit mode
2. Place your finger on phone and slide to the left and scroll until you
get to the to Focus group with Heart (front & center)
3. When you get to the Heart Health Focus Preset Group, tap on the button
which I have circled, then hit “Save” in the Top Right Corner.

I tested it and at the bottom, I have 3 images:
a) HR sitting at my desk
b) HR walking around on break
c) HR walking up 2 flights of stairs

Hope these instructions work for you.

[Catman81]

"How do you get the heart rate front and centre in a big font ? "

I found a good feature, if it's ok to be positive about this new app, to customize the Focus tile that appears directly under the word Today. Touch on the edit icon (pen) We can scroll across through the different Focus choices we saw when this new app first opened. There is one that is a Custom Preset where we can put Heart Rate front and center if we want. I set Sleep as metric 1, and also selected my most used metrics for 2, 3, and 4.

Back on topic, when I was customizing my screen I was once again reminded how bleak, dreary, and uninspiring this new style is compared to the old style. I truly believe it only motivates me to search for a replacement app even if I have to purchase another brand.

FitBit/Google, The old app was near perfect because it had gone through years of development and improvement based on user requests and comments. The functionality and navigation was great as though the developers were avid users of the product. They seemed to understand the customer base as opposed to whoever developed this new app. The new app should have been developed by the same group that maintained version 3, by a group who understands what FitBit customers expect. Did you have a large focus group of dedicated FitBit users to advise the development team? It doesn't look like it or it never would have gotten released in it's present form.

[fjcruiser]

Thanks to the person who posted info on how to change the new (awful) app. If you have an iPhone here is what to do:

locate the pencil in the upper right corner. You will then be able to update what you see. You might first change what I will call the Header. That’s the 3 items you see at the top of your app. You can use several standard ones based on your focus or create your own custom one. Just swipe right to left after touching the pencil. 

below the header are what we used to call the tiles. You can turn those on or off. I got rid of the menstrual cycle!

I can’t say I like the new app but at least being able to customize it is an improvement.