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

[Glorf]

What fixed it for me was updating with a device that has Android 10 or
later. It was able to update to the .21 firmware and appears to be working.

[Myainumi]

I also failed to update the firmware on Android 9, but it was successful on Android 12.
Once updated, you can use it on Android 9. (require bluetooth linking on Android Settings)

[pastimz]

Thanks for the info. I'm not sure what Android version my hubby's phone is (it is slightly newer than mine) but I was already thinking about checking into installing fitbit on his phone and trying to update my Sense in the morning. Your post confirms that might be worth trying. Bit even then, I'm not sure if it would pair with my phone but, at this point, I've got nothing to loose by trying it since the only thing my Sense tells me now is to update it. I also love my phone and would hate to have to change (although I know I probably will have to at some future date). *Sigh* My Sense was working perfectly until this firmware update to "fix" it.

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Get Outlook for Android<>

[pastimz]

Me, too. It's 2:11 am here---too upset to sleep. I cannot get the updated firmware in my watch. I really don't know what the real truth is because Andrea (one of their representatives) told me that the firmware ending in .17 was the updated one (and I have the .17 firmware) but then I see others on this forum with a different firmware (I have a Sense). Anyway, my Sense factory reset today (I guess that's what it did.....) Now, it appears to be useless. I have tried to get it to pair with my watch at least 3 times (each time taking more than 2 hours). Each time it seems to be working until you are finished. Then it won't sync afterwards. Beyond frustrated. I loved my Sense and would sing it's praises to everyone until Google destroyed it with this firmware "update".

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Get Outlook for Android<>

[pastimz]

Yeah, I'm going to see what Androud version my hubby's phone is in the morning. Or maybe I can use one of my son's phones. 2 of them have androids (the other son just got an iPhone a few months ago, lol). All of them are good with technology soooo, hopefully my Sense can be resurrected.....We'll see......

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Get Outlook for Android<>

[rrwm]

The email said it would automatically factory reset on the 13th Feb 2025. I woke up this morning (14th) and now my fitbit is stuck in a factory reset loop. I have been through the setup process 2-3 times. Each time it completes successfully, then reboots the fitbit and triggers another factory reset.

I'm assuming the update that is meant to be available isn't available at the moment so I've just got a pretty bracelet that is teaching me "connect to the fitbit app" in a variety of different languages now?

(and I thought the perma-"you must update"-clock face was bad. At least I could switch that out when I was away from the fitbit app!)

Note that this was an automatic forced factory reset. I had no ability to stop it. And as I've said, the fitbit has paired and downloaded the lengthy update (the wrong update I'm assuming) many times, getting to a clock face before rebooting and factory resetting again.

[Mabli11]

My watch was stuck on 100% after the update for four days then started going down charged the watch only lasts about one day Fitbit told me it was my fault for doing the update and to go and buy a new watch because my warranty had run out. Just waiting for it to pack in.Was very ignorant on the phone to me.Some people have had worse experiences than this mines working sort off but needs charging every other day . Had a message from Fitbit saying the update was to make the battery last at least seven days emailed them and told them no reply. If I knew how to put these problems on social media I would highlight the problem to other users.
Sent from my iPhone

[rrwm]

Looking at some of the other messages in the forums, it looks like you might need to upgrade your phone/ tablet to google 10 to be able to receive the update in the first place (as there is a new version of the fitbit app that only works on android10 and above devices - and for some reason that has the new update but not the old app? surely it's just a "here's where the file is on the internet, let's stick that on your fitbit and install it" sort of thing.

When the kindle fire I usually use finishes another install which will undoubtedly fail, I'll see if there is an update to the fitbit app on that (sideloaded the android app store) and if there isn't, I'll have to install the fitbit app on my work phone (android 10) and see if that has better luck.

[cfriess128]

I have a galaxy S23 android 14. My update took forever and then my fitbit was stuck at 100% for several days. I kept wearing it as nothing else seemed amiss. Since then, it's working perfectly and battery life has improved by several days. I was also one of the people who's fitbit was replaced several years ago due to the battery heating up and burning people. 

I had posted here when it was stuck at 100% after the uodate. After reading all the posts, I agree it must have something to do with the cell phone and android version. Would have been nice if those requirements had been listed with the update. I guess I was one of the lucky ones as I love my Sense.

[mitietoni]

Hi @cfriess128 , what android phone has to do with watch battery stuck at 100%? Or are you talking about something else 100% ?
The watch sync data with phone, but the measurement of the battery level is from watch to phone, not the opposite, and it works also without the phone.

[pastimz]

Just did that this morning with hubby's phone (his is slightly newer with an Android 12 operating system). AT L-A-S-TTTT (cue music :musical_note::musical_notes:). Only thing off now that I've notice so far, is the weather is stuck on celsius on my Fitbit (but is set Fahrenheit in the app). Can't get it to change.....Guess I can live with/will have to live with, that, lol. Sooooo, mostly a MUCH, MUCH happier camper than I was last night at 3:30 am.

[pastimz]

Yep, hubby's phone Android 12. Mine, Android 9. Wouldn't update past .17 on mine. Installed my Fitbit account on his S10, updated Fitbit Sense, reinstalled the Sense on my S8+ and it's mostly A-OK, just the weather is stuck on Celsius in the Sense despite set on Fahrenheit in the app. Guess I might need to get a bit familiar with Celsius. But, that's just a minor problem (just a tiny, tiny bit annoying). All-in-all VERY happy it finally updated. Doggone persistence FINALLY wins the day!! (Can you tell I'm excited!!??)

[Scott337]

I just noticed my weather data was in C also. No new updates for me. Each watch face can have it's own weather settings, independent of the app settings. Open the Fitbit app > tap your phone > tap Gallery > scroll down and tap Weather > scroll down and tap Settings > change the watch face weather to F.

[pastimz]

I have an Android 9 operating system. Like you, it just wouldn't update. My hubby has an Android 12. So, this morning I used his (installed my Fitbit app on his phone and successfully updated my Sense - finally). And was able to re-pair it with the app on my phone. Only thing I've noticed so far is that the Sense weather is in Celsius even though the app setting is Farenheit. If you have access to a more recent operating system than your current phone, that might work for you, too. My current firmware is 44.128.6.21.

[olliewills]

GREAT! So we're saying that just because the two phones in our house (both paired to fitbit devices) are running Android 9, we can't receive this update and therefore have to live with devices that could both cause burns and are also bricked remotely by Fitbit/Google therefore rendering them unsafe AND unusable? And all because, what, Google couldn't be bothered to backport the safety fix to an Android version that they don't want to support anymore, even though that version (9) was supported by the app at the time many of us purchased our watches? Doesn't this effectively mean they have used a saftey issue to remotely deny us access to a service that we've paid for? There was never any mention in the communications about this update not being compatible with Android 9, and even the app itself hasn't warned me that in order to be kept up to date I need to have Android 10 or later... 

So now I need to borrow a phone from a friend or basiclally buy a new phone(!) in order to fix the safety issue with my Sense... great!

[Killroy-TM]

To also that want to have the proper temperature displayed in their preferred way either C or F.

To change your Fitbit Sense to display temperature in Fahrenheit, open the Fitbit app, go to the "Today" tab, tap your device profile, select "Gallery" then "Weather", and within the settings, choose "Fahrenheit" as your temperature unit or Celsius.

Sync and Job done.

[pastimz]

It does seem like that's true. If you can borrow a more up to date version from a friend, the update didn't take long at all--maybe 15 to 20 minutes. Maybe ask with a good friend if you could borrow their phone, explain why and just invite them over for a pizza or something.....

---------

If they are like me, the operating system on their phone needed to be new enough to even update the Fitbit at all. My phone with an android 9 operating system could not, would not update the Sense whatsoever even after trying at least 5 times that took 2 hours to run each time, but my hubby's phone with an android 12 updated the Sense firmware the first try and it only took 15 to 20 minutes.

---------

Yep---love my Sense and finally was able to update it with my hubby's Android 12 phone. My phone is only an Android 9, but I love it, too.

---------

Let us know how it works for you. My phone with android 9 couldn't do it for the firmware update but seems to be happily communicating with my Sense once I used my hubby's Android 12 phone to install the updated firmware. Hope you can get it all sorted out soon.

[BobD50]

Simple Start Posting on Social Media, as Google is on X & Facebook.
See info on Fitbit Website under Contact options. That should get the MSG out about this Battery Issue. Try it , see what happens.
Cheers Bob

Sent from Outlook for Android<>

[Savari]

Updating the firmware from a device with Android 10 or later also fixed it for me. My device has Android 9 and the firmware was stuck on v44.128.6.17. I tried with a device that has Android 12 and the update worked on the first try.

[pastimz]

EXACTLY my experience!! So happy when the Android 12 did the trick!! Yeayy for us!!

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Get Outlook for Android<>