Sense 2 Firmware Update 194.86

[LizzyFitbit]

11/29 Update: This update should now be available to all customers! If you have any difficulty updating, make sure you are following the directions in How do I update my Fitbit device? If you choose to post about your issue, provide as many specific details as possible in your post so that we can assist you.

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We’re excited to announce that a firmware update version 194.86 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.

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.

[asotmike]

Android here

[MYOHMY]

@asotmike - forgot to ask,  I assume you don't have app version 4.04 yet either?

[asotmike]

@MYOHMY not yet, still on 4.03

[khalid0099]

successfully updated after restart 🙂

[MYOHMY]

I received the update this afternoon - competed install successfully and all seems well so far. As others have commented I did have to perform a shutdown and restart manually after the whole update process had finished (including an automatic restart) in order to get weather working. 

Fine so far - good luck everyone!

[asiayeah]

I received the update as well. After installing it, Fitbit App nor my Sense 2 walk me through any new change. Is it expected? I actually have to read the release notes here carefully to figure out what's changes.

Changing a clock face on my Sense 2 is new to me. I don't think it's trivial to know how to do it without reading a support page.

[MYOHMY]

Just back from a 6 mile test walk.  Sense 2 performed as expected *except* where GPS was concerned - although the watch tracked my walk all along the route it kept losing GPS signal momentarily and then reconnecting.  Before the update my Sense 2 didn't do this,  in fact GPS has generally been excellent up to now but after the update its a bit sketchy, plus the constant buzz every time it disconnects and reconnects is quite annoying. 

I'll be testing it most days so we shall see if the GPS performance improves over time.  I'll update again in a few days. 

[SunsetRunner]

Using a pixel 7 so I don't think it's related to iPhone or Android

[Goosse1962]

@MYOHMY were you using GPS from the Sense 2 or the new feature that uses the GPS on a phone?

[MYOHMY]

Hi @Goosse1962 - the honest answer is I don't know because as far as I can see its not possible to switch the dynamic part of GPS off. The only control is in the exercise settings where you can turn GPS on or off,  that's it. I did have my phone with me on the walk,  and when I got back home I did see a notification on the phone from the fitbit app saying that "connected GPS" was in use,  so I assume the sense 2 was using it on the walk,  but it's not clear.

It may be that the constant disconnect/ reconnect that I experienced is down to the new dynamic GPS feature,  but I can't be certain. 

Hope that's clear. 

[Krocket]

My Sense 2 GPS has never worked properly, often losing lock for 5-10 minutes. Maps of my walks show me magically flying between points where it had signal.

But I have faith that Google will find as way to make it worse…

[SunsetRunner]

Finally able to change clock face device, just updated today from .52 to .86. So far, pretty good, liking new features like dynamic GPS.

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Connected GPS means it is “borrowing” it from the phone…

[SunsetRunner]

Connected GPS is definitely working and very well at that! I got notification on my phone that it was on.  So far the only issue I have is that I have to turn my Bluetooth on and off or reboot my phone or watch in order for it to start syncing in the morning.. once I do that it continues to work for the rest of the day. If that's the only issue I have, I guess I can live with it. Moderators! If you're anywhere to be found, please respond to this!

[SunsetRunner]

@LizzyFitbit 

I still have to cycle my Bluetooth everyday to get my watch to sync in the morning. If I don't it can take halfway through the day before it starts working. I know this is not isolated because I see this in other posts. As a matter of fact, I learned how to fix it by reading another post. Can this possibly be addressed?? Everything else is working so wonderfully. It's horrible that this still is like this. Always been this way. On two different devices. So far the rest of the firmware update is working beyond expectation!

[1GinnyME1]

Yeah, no thank you. I have the banner on my phone but because the ongoing issues since I bought my Sense 2 in July, I don't want further issues with the "updated" new firmware? Hard pass. The Mods won't even the address the app update issue which people are upset about also but we're all being ignored. Bad customer service in my opinion. 

[Krocket]

Rebooting my phone and watch every morning is a PITA Fitbit never advertised. The food news is that it appears I may never get the update. Why doesn’t Google just announce that they don’t support Fitbit products and be done with it?
Sent from my iPhone

[Walker1610]

New update, Same issues!!!!

fitbit app still not updating my sleep correctly, showing no heart rate data from 4am yet Fitbit showing heart rate from 4am. This then affects my sleep score.

So frustrating 😡

[Weegmeister]

New update is working great for me so far - Love that notifications are sped up a bit (I think?) 

@LizzyFitbit Just wanted to provide a finding that may help for support. I recently moved from a 30+ floor condo to a house. After the move, my app sync and notification issues have gone from several times a day to maybe once or twice a month. I'm not super well versed in bluetooth, but maybe there's a correlation? 

Anyways, can't speak for the majority, but this update seems solid 2 days in. 

[asiayeah]

I have a question.

I assume this is the latest Sense 2 firmware. In settings, there is a section at the bottom that shows:

Developer bridge

Use Fitbit SDK tools and Fitbit Studio

What does it do? AFAIK, Fitbit SDK is NOT supported on Sense 2 since it was released. Fitbit Studio was officially shutdown on April 20, 2023.

Why is Fitbit SDK mentioned while it was never supported on Sense 2? And why a deprecated Fitbit Studio is still being mentioned in the latest firmware?

Thanks.

[DBExpert]

Your software is dreadful. SO slow and this firmware update business is a joke. Nothing wrong with the device SENSE2.