Sense 2 Firmware Update 194.61

[LizzyFitbit]

7/13 Update: We’re continuing to roll out this firmware for the Sense 2 Firmware Update 194.61, and expect more customers are able to update their devices. This is a progressive rollout and all customers can expect to have it within a few weeks. We release updates in phases so that we can monitor performance closely and make adjustments if needed. If you don't see the option to update, don't worry - you'll have it soon!

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We’re excited to announce that a firmware update version 194.61 for Sense 2 will be available soon! Some of you might already have this update available. If you installed it, let us know what you think!

We release updates to customers in phases. If you don’t see it, check the Fitbit app in a few days, and you’ll see a message when you can install the update. We appreciate your patience while we get this update to all of our customers.

*Firmware releases are not distributed based on region or location and can reach anyone no matter where you reside. We do not recommend performing a factory reset to force the update to your device as your data will be lost and you may not get the update. Please be patient and wait until you see the update banner inside of the Fitbit app to begin the firmware download.

WHAT’S NEW AND FIXED

• View menstrual health tracking on your watch. For more information, see How do I use the Fitbit app to track my period?
• Swap between saved clock faces directly on your watch. For more information, see How do I change the clock face on my Fitbit device?
• View your daily readiness score on your watch (Premium feature only). For more information, see What’s my daily readiness score in the Fitbit app?
• Your watch now supports dynamic GPS. For more information, see How do I use GPS on my Fitbit device?
• Support for global characters and right-to-left text notifications:
  Arabic
  Hebrew
  Thai
  Hindi
  Vietnamese
• This release includes bug fixes and improvements.

Full release notes can be found here. For more details, please see this Community Blog post.

HOW DO I UPDATE?
See How do I update my Fitbit device? for step by step instructions for updating your Sense 2. If you run into difficulty updating, review these Why can't I update my Fitbit device?

We’re interested in hearing your feedback on this update! Let us know what you like! If you encounter unexpected behavior during or after your update, please post the details below.

[Cosi123]

Did you get any help on this? Having the same issue, HR measuring keeps cutting out randomly, at times for hours. I’ve reset my sense 2 and restarted multiples times but keeps happening 🤷🏻‍:female_sign:

Same for me 😢

[Mcav75]

Here we are in the middle of August and still no Firmware. Fitbit has become a joke.

[MlleConstantino]

Any clues when this update is coming to Canada? It apparently fixes a bug I have, and the bugged feature is the only reason I got the sense 2. 

[JulieS.]

Is there going to be a fix to the heart rate monitor issues the update has caused. I am tired of restarting several times a day. Then, sometimes when I restart it will flash the logo a few times and show a big red x. I am about ready to go to an Apple Watch. This is getting ridiculous. I paid enough for a product that should work! 

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi everyone, and welcome to our new members.

Thanks for taking the time to share your experience, as well as your feedback regarding this update. Before anything else, let me explain that we don't have a time frame when this firmware will be fully released. However, you'll be prompted on the Fitbit app to install it once it's available.

By the way, if you haven't received this update but you have a question, you can always start a new thread in the Help Forums. Make sure to share as many details as you can in order to receive help from the community members.

@Fitforfinheike and @Dnorth1 I went ahead to check your details and it seems you already got in touch with our Support team. Because they have access to your case, please make sure to follow up your case in order to receive further assistance from them.

@JulieS. and @Cosi123 I appreciate you for the troubleshooting steps tried. Just to confirm, may I know if by freezing do you mean the screen is unresponsive? If so, have you tried changing the clock face? Also, is the issue with the heart rate tracking happening during a workout? Or does it happen regardless of your activity? In case you haven't done so, please review this help article which describes what factors can impact a heart rate reading.

[Cosi123]

Thanks for your response! For me the HR recording cuts out randomly, not during workouts but randomly throughout the day. When I check the green light at the back isn’t on, when I restart it it’s usually okay for a bit but I usually only know by checking HR that it actually cut out. Checked just now, no green light and no HR history from the last 3h… not dependent on activity at all. I restarted and the green light is back and tracking but tricky if it doesn’t reconnect by itself, don’t want to check and restart my Fitbit every few hours to ensure it’s tracking 😬 haven’t had any frozen screen issues 

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi there, @Cosi123.

You're welcome, and thanks for getting back with the requested details. I understand your point of view about this situation and because the heart rate sensors aren't working well, I've requested a case so our Support team can look into this. They'll get in touch with you via email to provide you with assistance, so please keep an open communication with them.

[Nicola_grec]

It's been two months already, and I haven't gotten any updates yet, how long will it take .

[HudsonRobert]

When using the running or walking exercise mode on my sense 2 the time of day is 12 hours out of sync with the actual time. I have heard that this bug may have been fixed in the newest firmware update (194.61). However I only have version 1.184.52 and when I open the Fitbit app on my phone it does not show any updates available. Any suggestions?

[Mcav75]

It's clear that they've paused the FW rollout. I'd not be in any hurry to install it when it does come either. Looks like waiting a bit will be the order of the day. 

[JoeCoolRocks]

I realize I am just piling on but 9 months of "almost" is not cutting it.  The lack of ability to sync anything regularly, especially weather and sleep stats, along with using UTC for am/pm instead of local time while in exercise mode means my Sense 2 is nothing more than a sensor.  I am an Android user and like to support Android first products.  I was so excited to see Google release the updated Sense 2 with the promise of being the best of a fitness first device with smart watch capabilities.  It has failed at both.  I will open a support case and hope it is just some random setting I have missed but scanning these forums has me thinking otherwise. 

[FeeneyCM]

You’re not missing anything. This has been going on for months with the only help being “turn the Bluetooth off and on” or “power off and on the phone”. It sometimes takes 10+ times before it works. Why won’t Fitbit address the big or roll back the upgrade?

[SzGeri]

I’m really disappointed. Feels like the release of the Sense 2/Versa 4 is to fulfill some of the merger control obligations, but they were never intended to support these products. Even most basic functions do not work. They are ruining your already limited device? Here is a coupon… What is happening with these devices is simply outrageous. One thing I’m sure: never again Google or Fitbit products. 

[JoeCoolRocks]

I did open a case with support and they act like they have never heard of any of these issues.  The agent even asked if the weather app was a 3rd party app.  If I treated my customers this way I would be fired and or my employer would be out of business.  After 40+ years in the tech industry watching bad customer service ruin companies, I think even Google has hit a new low for disregard by the way they have alienated their users on this one.  I will give it another few weeks and if the answer is the same it may be time to completely part ways with Google Fitbit and start questioning my association with other aspects of their product line. @LizzyFitbit I know you are just the customer facing voice in this conversation and I thank you for trying to be transparent but its clear to me this was a dead product before it was even released. With any luck Google will realize this and offer some sort of full retail credit for Sense 2 users who want to move to one of the other better supported options in the Pixel line.

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Its actually not 12 hours off.  They are using UTC to determine if they should display am or pm and using your locally selected time zone to display the time.  Rookie programming mistake that should have been caught by any reasonable quality testing.  Support seems to think fiddling with the time zone settings in the phone app will fix this but it never will.  Engineering needs to step in tell support, "yes we know about this and it will be fixed in XXX release in the future."  Instead support just looks bad and this reflects negatively on Google.

Moderator Edit: Personal info removed

[NigelJenk]

Similar to other users, the firmware update has reduced my Sense 2 battery life to 2 days. Have tried multiple fixes - including restarts and factory resets - but issue persists.

This is not what I expect from this device, and having owned it for less than a year (and after owning Fitbit devices for many years) am finally planning to switch to Garmin…

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi everyone, and welcome to our new members.

Thanks for sharing your comments. As mentioned before, while we don't have further details when this update will be fully available, please make sure to install it once it appears on the Fitbit app.

@Mcav75, @JoeCoolRocks and @FeeneyCM I appreciate the time taken in troubleshooting your watch. As mentioned before, our team is aware of the syncing issues experienced after updating the firmware and they're working to identify a fix as soon as possible. I'm sorry for the inconvenience this has caused and thanks for your patience on this.

In regards to the time being incorrect during a workout, just to clarify, this is an issue that was escalated before and while we don't have a time frame or more details, I'll make sure to keep our team informed of the impact to all of you.

@NigelJenk I understand where you're coming from and thanks for the steps that you've tried. As with any electronic device, certain features have a greater impact on the Sense 2 battery life. Please note you may have to charge your watch more often when tracking GPS and SpO2 data, using animated or non-Fitbit clock faces, or having Always-On Display. If you haven't done so, please make sure to follow the tips described in this help article and keep an eye on its behavior afterward.

[NigelJenk]

Nothing had changed on my Sense 2. The reduced battery life - from 5 days to 2 days - is a direct result of the firmware update.

[Linda_Buthelezi]

Good morning,

I am still waiting for this update. How far along is the roll out? By when should the last of us also have received it? 

[SunsetRunner]

See community: https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Other-Charge-Trackers/Community-notifications/m-p/2393356

[Kuman]

Seeking advice. I just got a Sense 2. It’s on version 184.52, but the app keeps asking me to update. After reading this thread, it appears Fitbit paused the update. Now that’s it’s asking me to update, could this be a sign that issues are addressed? Or should I just keep dismissing the reminders to update? Thoughts? Thanks everyone in advance!