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

[MrsGinIL]

Same issue here.  Fitbit Sense going on 3rd day of being useless.  Fitbit logo only thing showing on watch.  Performed usual restarts, remove/install, tried to do factory restart--nothing.  Spent hour on phone with customer service doing.  At end of conversation she gave me case number and said case was going to be "expedited".  Waiting with useless watch.

Was having absolutely no issues prior to update and was not even going to do except for constant notices and email pushing update.  Problem absolutely in firmware update.

Moderator Edit: Formatting.

[pastimz]

Mine is the same. It still seems to be updating and syncing with my phone but the annoying msg on the clock face won't go/stay away. And somehow my watch weather data reverted from Fahrenheit to celcius. Just annoying---my Sense was performing perfectly until I tried to update the firmware. My Sense is about 4 years old. I have been a Fitbit member for over 9 years now. Not happy, Fitbit. You need to fix this for your loyal members!

Moderator Edit: Formatting.

[OrangeParkDad]

I am having a similar issue.  Previously I had to charge my Sense about once a day depending on the amount of exercise I did.  Immediately after I installed the upgrade it indicated it was 100%. I didn't think anything of that because I did plug it in to upgrade the firmware.  Two days later I'm still at 100% and have done one 30 mile bike ride, a five mile run, and a spin class but it still indicates 100%.  Now I'd like to "think" that the firmware upgrade increases the life of the battery but I find that extremely difficult to believe. I've rebooted/restarted my watch twice but it doesn't change.  I've had Fitbit products for years but since they were purchased by Google it may be time to move on.  Maybe Garmin instead but I do like Fitbit.

[pastimz]

Well, for me, I'll just have to wait for Fitbit to do it, I think they said on the 13th?? I've already spent hours on this---Very frustrating. I'm 73 so not exactly a techie. And I have better/more pressing things to do. I've been a Fitbit user over 9 years now and have had my Sense for about 4 of those.

---

Apparently, Fitbit seems to not know what they are doing here. Sooo many problems with this Firmware update.....

[Scott337]

This update is not trying to kill off all Sense watches. This is to prevent certain batteries from overheating and causing burns.

[cfriess128]

Same exact thing for me!!! I'm still at 100% after several rounds of exercise and wearing it to bed every night. I would expect it to be about 50% right now. 

[Rose09]

I have the same problem. My Fitbit is not permanently at 100%. This is incorrect

[olliewills]

Well after a few days of the annoying update clockface and multiple failed attempts to install the update, something has changed! As of some point yesterday evening the update clockface is gone, as is the message in the app and the recurring notification. My sense is syncing properly again and still shows as V44.128.6.17 so I haven't got the latest update. 

[Mabli11]

Had the same email done the update which took two hours then the battery % stuck on 100% contacted customer services told me had to buy a new watch because it was out of warranty not my fault they told me to do the update worked fine before 

[Wulverine]

The battery percentage showing on the app is 27% and my Fitbit is actually at 100%, and the percentage is not updating during the sync. Therefore, the update cannot install. Can you fix this on your end? I’m unable to use my Fitbit because it won’t install the update because of this. 

[Knsca]

Mine was stuck at 100%. I put it on the charger, turned off and on my fitbit in settings. The next day it was fixed and it's working fine. 

[Brownbeer]

Mine seems to be working normally (at least for now) four days after the firmware upgrade. It was stuck on 100% charge for two and a half days, started decreasing in charge Wednesday mid morning, reached 45% this morning. I charged it again to 100% this morning after my workout. It’s now just a little after 4pm (6 hours later) and it’s showing 88%. Will see how it is by Friday morning. 

[Mabli11]

Do you mean shutdown on the settings on the watch
Sent from my iPhone

[OrangeParkDad]

Yes

[Lucyafg86]

Did the latest update all good for a few days fit bit battery is low 7% so put on charge before bed get back up and it’s dead checked all connections, all clean, still won’t charge been on charge again for At least 2 hours 

[BobD50]

Update from my Sense after Update.

So far working as normal, after 3 days finally started to recover from 100%
after recharging from 99% after update.
Yesterday was 98% @ 7.30 am
Now 7/2/2025 @ 11am Battery is 72%

Rest of Functions working fine.

Cheers Bob

[A5kil3s]

Hoping to see if there is a fix.  A day or 2 before I received the notice of the firmware update - my battery lost 50 percent of its power over night.  I updated the firmware (which took a few tries to connect) - after firmware update battery stayed at 100 percent for a day - I restarted it and it seemed to fix that.  However, over the last 24 hours I have lost 50.percent of the battery.  Wondering if anyone else is experiencing a similar.issue?

Is there a fix or is there nothing to be done? 

[Scott337]

That update is the fix, unfortunately. It's a fix to prevent certain batteries from overheating.

[Katrina98]

I'm having trouble with this firmware stuff. I started to do the download last week and my battery life was to low so I paused/stopped it. I forgot about it till today when a phone picture ion on my watch and tells me to fo to my fitbit app for download. Somehow my phone has come unpaired from my watch and it's not even showing up on my Bluetooth pair devices. I'm so lost on what to do. I've been trying to figure it out for 3 hrs and haven't got anywhere.  At this point I can't even use my watch. Please help!!!!

[rachell1984]

My sense battery after the firmware update drains really quickly from 100% to empty in an hour and 30 minutes or less. I spoke on chat to Fitbit and they said their aware of the issue. Not good as I'm now unable to wear my watch. Have to keep charging.