Sense Firmware Update OS 5.1.1 (44.128.4.17)

[FitbitCommunity]

Update 12/11/2020: An update OS 5.1.1 (44.128.4.17) is now available to all customers.

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Update 12/8/2020: An update OS 5.1.1 (44.128.4.17) is currently in progress. Full release notes can be found here.

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Update 11/25/2020: OS 5.1 (44.128.4.15) is now be available to all customers. If you have any difficulty updating, make sure you are following the directions in this article, and then provide as many specific details as possible in your post so that we can assist.

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Announcing the release of Fitbit OS Firmware Update 5.1 (44.128.4.15)!

We release firmware updates to all customers in phases. The update will be available to everyone soon, and a banner will appear in the app when you can install the update. If you don’t see the banner yet, check the app again later.

Important Note: You will need to be on the latest app: iOS 3.34 or Android 3.34.1 in order to view the latest features. Please update your app.

*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 your device’s activation date, which is the day your device’s warranty begins. The activation date is the day you set up your device.

• Use Google Assistant on Fitbit Sense and Fitbit Versa 3. For more information, see How do I use a voice assistant on my Fitbit smartwatch?

• Use the built-in speaker and microphone in Fitbit Sense and Fitbit Versa 3 to take calls from your wrist. For more information, see How do I take on-wrist phone calls with my Fitbit smartwatch?

• This release includes bug fixes and improvements.

Full release notes can be found here.

HOW DO I UPDATE?

Step by step instructions for updating your Sense can be found here.

I recommend updating your Sense over a home Wi-Fi network as this can greatly reduce the time it can take to get set up. For more information on connecting your Sense to Wi-Fi, check out this article. 

If you run into any trouble updating, review these troubleshooting tips. 

We look forward to hearing your thoughts! 

[SteveH]

There are a few posts in this thread recently asking about audible replies from Google Assistant. Can I point out that the press release for the update says:

"Fitbit plans to make audible replies available for Google Assistant in the first half of 2021"

[N8teGee]

Yes I think the call feature is mostly just a novelty thing. It's so bad that I'm not sure why anyone would use it beyond that. 

[DonRW]

Thank you!

[Deechte]

I've made my first wrist call today and found it terrific. It wasn't VERY loud of course, but easily understandable in an environment of some light background music. The other side hadn't noticed anything bad, had a hard time believing I actually spoke from my wrist.

Of course I cranked up the BT volume on my phone.

[mangiacake1]

I paired Sense Controls via BT and got on-wrist calls setup and working. I noticed that the sense controls is not actively connected all the time. Is that how it is supposed to be - ie sense controls only connects when needed?

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Like that I am able to initiate, not just respond to, texts using Google assistant. Works great. 

Moderator edit: merged replies 

[SunsetRunner]

It only connects when actually in use otherwise it's in background! If
always connected it would reduce battery on Sense!

[Deechte]

@MangiaCakeI think that's correct. Sense Controls wasn't connected when I received my first call today. When I hit the green button on the Sense to pick up, Sense Controls quickly connected (in 2 or 3 secs) to facilitate the wrist call.

I think it's a clever implementation, cause you might as well want to take a call from your phone actually and not from the wrist.

I've noticed a drawback from this FW: twice today the fitbit app wasn't able to sync with the Sense anymore. Turning BT off and on, manually reconnecting, force closing the app didn't help. First time I fixed it by restarting the Sense, second time by restarting my phone.

[mangiacake1]

Ya - also wonder about missing a call due to a failed or delayed reconnect on the sense controls. I missed a couple while testing. We'll see how well it works over time. 

[JonnyP39]

HR no longer counts minutes in zones,

45 minute work out, the graph shows all zones hit, but the rimes are all at 0 and just says 45 minutes below zones

anyone else run into this ?!?

was fine prior to update

[Deechte]

Today's workout registered minutes in zones just fine for me with the new software.

[steveo57]

I want to know this also.  It would seem like if Fitbit did ANY testing on this voice answering at all they would determine that the volume was too low.  It only took one phone call for me.  If there is a way to raise the volume either someone on Fitbit Help or Tech should let us know. Also if any user knows please respond. It is ridiculous and not very useful to have to put it to your ear to hear the conversation.

[steveo57]

If you do not like clock faces you can get SPO2 now in the Health Metric section on the phone app.

[steveo57]

I agree on the speaker.  They probably cannot change the speaker placement but I fail to believe  they did ANY testing and having to put the watch to your ear to hear looks stupid and is barely usable especially if there is ANY noise around you.  Be nice to hear from FITBIT Help or Tech about alleviating this deficiency.

[Deechte]

I've stated multiple times on this thread now that you need to increase the volume during a call with the volume up button on your phone, like with any bluetooth headset.

[steveo57]

Good answer "I like the call on wrist function. The volume is great, you just need to turn it up on your phone once while in a call."  Finally this is the answer I have been asking and looking for to fix the call speaker volume problem.  Turning up the volume WHILE in a call might be the key.  I am going to try this and let everyone on here know.  All of the other new functions seem to work as advertised.

[steveo57]

You cannot dial a call only take incoming calls right now with this update.  Seems like to me if you had all your info in Google Contacts it would be easy to search it and dial with Google Assistant from the watch. 

[steveo57]

Another mystery solved but not well at least i know now HOW to MAKE a call from the watch using Google Assistant and contact list.  If you say dial and then a number will it do that?  I think you can switch the call back and forth from the phone and the watch on the watch using an option while you are still in the middle of the call.  It is an option on the watch while you are in a call yo switch it to the phone but I have not tried shifting the call back to the watch from the phone with the option on the watch.

[steveo57]

It plainly says (Alexa only) right now maybe later Google Assistant will have voice.

[mangiacake1]

Doesn't this kinda defeat the purpose of the call on wrist functionality... specifically picking up your phone (to adjust the volume).

[Deechte]

You only need to do that once, your phone remembers that bluetooth in-call volume for the next time.