Fitbit Sense firmware update for battery

[HockeyMom28]

I received an email today telling me that is was urgent that I update my Fitbit Sense due to possible battery overheating.  I cannot get this update to install, so I am stuck with a clockface telling me I have to update.  When I try to update, the progress meter never moves and I get a big red X.  

I have factory reset my Fitbit.  Cleared all data on my Fitbit app.  Readded the Sense to my Fitbit.  Rebooted my phone and the Fitbit.  Nothing seems to work. 

Current firmware version is 44.128.6.17

Moderator edit: merged reply

[Kaylan2512]

Hi

I had the same email today, but wasn't sure if it was legit as they asked for all my information. 

Is it legit can anyone tell me?

[alexthecat]

@Kaylan2512 that email is legit. You can learn more about it here

[tsadowski]

What a poorly executed update by Fitbit.   I received the same warning emails and messages.  It was very intrusive versus a normal update so I figured it had to be critical.  My Sense had low battery and therefore I could not perform the update.  So I charged the Sense and then the Fitbit app would not pick up the charged battery despite several syncs (which are taking longer and longer, Fitbit - you are going in the wrong direction), reboots of both devices and a LOT of hassle to fiddle with what should be a 2-3 click process. While the download was trying to execute, I received messages on both my Sense and on my iPhone that I needed to open the app to do the update.  The update that was in process.  45 minutes into this, I still don’t have an updated Sense.  Fitbit, you’ve been giving me one reason after another to switch to an Apple Watch.  Keep going and you’ll lose another loyal customer.  

[HockeyMom28]

The update finally worked for me late yesterday.  I feel like the battery percentage on my watch is now incorrect.  I have not charged it since yesterday when I was trying the updates in the afternoon.  It currently says 99%.  That has to be wrong.

[JuanFitbit]

Hi everybody! Thank you for your messages and information. 

I wanted to confirm that the email you received is legit. As our friend @alexthecat shared, you can all get more info about the update and the firmware here.

This issue does not affect all Sense and Versa 3 devices; if your device is not impacted, the battery will perform the same as before. 
You'll find a form in the article to fill out if your device has been affected. 

If you are having difficulties with the update, please have a look at this: Why can't I update my Fitbit device?

[SugarSway]

Did you get it to work? im having the exact same problem today.

[BoomerangPete]

Exact same issue for me - it installed OK but since then the battery reading is wrong.

I updated on Tuesday evening and the battery was reading 100% since the update and until yesterday morning when I switched off the device and restarted it - where it went to 99%.

It's on 98% now so it's clearly another botched firmware update OR Google have suddenly managed to get our devices to have the battery life of a Nokia 3210 😂

[InsensedInWisco]

Same here. Stuck on 99%. For over a day now.

[FelicityM]

Yes, it is very annoying, cannot get the update and cant see my clockface, have tried all day, really time wasting and frustrating.

[swmp9jrm]

I spent about two hours in CHAT with FitBit support trying to get the firmware update done after trying everything I could think of on my own unsuccessfully. What finally worked was deleting and reinstalling the APP, doing a Factory Reset on my Sense, and then adding my Sense back as a 'new device' replacing the one in the APP.  After doing all of this, the battery status showed 100% and the firmware update was applied.  However, as others seem to have experienced, the battery status on my Sense is now obviously not correct - charge has only dropped 2% in almost three full days.  I have a third-party battery status APP that shows the same thing, and the FitBit APP on my phone also shows the same number.  I have tried running through the entire process of restarting, deleting and replacing the phone, the watch, and the app including doing another factory reset.  Nothing has corrected the battery status.  I appreciate that FitBit is doing an update to keep the watch from catching fire, but it does not seem to have been fully scoped out and tested.

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A temporary solution to being able to use the watch without updating the firmware: swipe left when you see the update message and you can get to the CLOCKS part of the APP which will allow you to change the watch face back to what you normally have.  The firmware message will come back until you're able to get it applied but at least the watch will be usable.

[MarkMM]

@swmp9jrm  What I read online was that if you don't update, your watch will auto factory reset in a few days anyway. 

[Scott337]

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@MarkMM wrote:

@swmp9jrm  What I read online was that if you don't update, your watch will auto factory reset in a few days anyway. 

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That is what the announcement stated. If you wait too long your watch will automatically reset.

[Scott337]

If your battery status is not correct, your battery is probably one of the affected batteries. This update is very similar to the Pixel 4a update a few weeks ago for the same reason, to prevent defective batteries from overheating. The last thing you want is a watch battery overheating on your wrist and burning you.

[Ami03]

Received the same notification once the update was completed watch display would not work, other icons would not open. Called in for support and was told nothing could be done - need to replace watch. Since my Sense is out of warranty, it's my out of pocket cost! Watch was working fine prior to update - feels like this is intended to generate new sales! 

[ingenius1]

it is NOT legit.
the update is, but you shouldnt have to input ANYTHING except to agree to the terms of service. one click on a button labeled "ACCEPT.

[swmp9jrm]

Just as an update to my previous posts, the battery status apparently fixed itself after about 4 days and now seems to be reading correctly. I will say it seems as though the charge status is dropping slower (longer battery life) than before the firmware update.  On my Sense, all things appear to be working normally.

[HockeyMom28]

My battery percentage also seems to be working correctly now.  I do not know how to close this topic.  There aren't any 'answers' that are correct.  The only thing I did was keep trying and eventually the update worked, and eventually the battery percentage seemed to fix itself.

[BoomerangPete]

Same for me, after about 2.5/3 days it settled down and appears to show the correct reading - not sure why it would need time to "settle" but it appears to have now.

[SunsetRunner]

I am also seeing this issue after the update. I have a Sense and prior to update I was at 58% and somehow after the update I am at 100%. Tried doing a shut down and restart but still at 100%. Does anyone have any idea if this will eventually reset and work properly or is it now just a guessing game of whether we need to charge our watches?