Sense battery draining after iOS app update

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi there,

Our team has released the new Fitbit iOS App 3.43 version and it should be available for all of you. Please make sure to download it from the App store as this will resolve the battery short life issues experienced on your Sense. Take in mind that this and future Fitbit app versions will require iOS 13.4+.

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Hi everyone. Thanks for your continued reports.

Our team is aware of the Sense not holding charge when syncing with iOS devices and they're working to bring a fix as soon as possible. In the meantime, we recommend force quitting the Fitbit app on your iOS devices to prevent the battery from draining when syncing.

I've moved your posts to this thread so we can keep our team informed of this situation. Your patience is truly appreciated and please know your feedback hasn't gone unnoticed.

See you around.

[salperl]

Since the last update two days ago my Sense my battery drains in about five hours after being fully charged.  How do we fix this?

[SteveH]

Are you using iOS? If so, have a look at the following thread where Fitbit discuss a battery draining issue with the Sense.

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Sense/Sense-battery-draining-after-iOS-app-update/td-p/4866910/page/...

[wookietim]

Do you guys even QA these updates? I mean, this type of thing seems to also be happening on Android and it seems like if you did a longer term testing you'd notice it so I have to assume the QA team needs to.... get better at their job.

[terenew]

Hi, I had the same issue and was about to take this one back when I did a factory reset. All seems to be ok now and battery life is back to normal, on day 2 and my battery is still at 85% 🙂

[ghostestMostest]

Simply shutting off the bluetooth connection between an IOS device and the Sense works as a workaround as well. That way you can reconnect for periods of time and use the basic features. 

[SteveS_39]

Yep, I agree.

Disable the bluetooth on the iphone and all OK. Enable it and the sense dies, super quick.

All worked fine until a recent firmware update on the watch. Could have been the Fitbit app I guess, but it dies without that app loaded.

Doesn't anyone test anything properly any more?

[Milanopizza]

when we force quit the app, will the data be lost?

im having trouble with my Sense holding a charge as well.

[Mama_Lady808]

I have done a factory reset. I've had my watch on for about 8hrs and its currently @ 92% now.  I don't open my Fitbit app unless I update my stats. I also keep my bluetooth on.  So far, so good.  92% is way better than what I've been experiencing the past few days.  I'll be more conscious of the battery life when I track my 3 mile walk today on the app.   

[SunsetRunner]

Watching this thread closely, I haven't received the new firmware upate. In the event that I do get the notification, will have an idea how to cope with the battery discharge. Although these workaround aren't ideal, hope it's only a temporary fix and keeping bluetooth along with the app open will eventually hold the Sense's charge. Thanks everyone for the feedback. 

[DaveS3]

just updated my sense firmware with the new update, am on Android for my phone. Gone through 2 full sense battery charges today. So this is not only ios but also Android, at least for me. 😞 

[Mama_Lady808]

So, did a 3 mile walk w/my Sense while keeping the fitbit app on (I have an iphone 8).  Battery is down to 49% which is better than the past few days - but it held out for the day.  We'll see what tomorrow brings. 

[Teecher]

Hi @SunsetRunner, thanks for the information on the update. It’s just become available to me and it has installed without a hitch. Hopefully my Sense and everyone else’s start behaving better.

Good luck with yours.

[patsyrob]

This isn't fit for purpose is it if they still can't fix it - I want my money back but they are using everything excuse!!

[Clove6060]

Did the firmware update yesterday and this morning everything looks and operates well.

my battery was draining an average of 20% every 24 hrs and that’s still the case after the upgrade yesterday at 7:00 a.m.  no significant change in battery drain after update. 

[DaveS3]

Android, updated watch firmware yesterday. Went through two full watch
battery charges yesterday after the watch update. Turned off Bluetooth on
my phone last night before going to sleep and watch battery use was normal.
But, that negates half the purpose of the watch. Hope they figure this out
soon.

[SteveS_39]

Update:
18 hours, no bluetooth - 14% battery usage
Then:
4 hours, bluetooth, ios fitbit app just for syncing - 42% battery usage

Watch is not fit for purpose

[TC123]

Update to my message below.. after approximately 12 hours with the Bluetooth switched off on my iPhone 8, my Sense battery level has only dropped a very small amount (still at 94%). So, it is good to know that my tracker still appears to be able to hold its charge for a good amount of time, just as it did when I first began using it. Tomorrow, I'll try switching the Bluetooth back on once again on my iPhone, and we'll see how that goes.

- - - - -

Having the same issues as everyone else with my Sense battery suddenly draining way too quickly after doing the 128.5.38 update to the tracker yesterday. I will try turning off Bluetooth on my iPhone as a test to see if that at least stops the crazy battery drainage, but of course, it's always so disappointing when a technical update ends up making things a whole lot worst, rather than just a slight bit better.

[IanHas]

Thank you for that, it sorted the problem out for me and now back to normal battery life!

[DaveS3]

Android - 1 day after the update (and 2 fully drained sense batteries later), I turned phone Bluetooth off, slept, then turned bt back on. So far, sense battery usage is closer to normal. 

[Teecher]

After the Sense firmware update mine appears to be doing fine. Overnight the battery only dropped a few percent and still syncing well. It would appear that there is a range of issues between various phone models and their software and the Sense devices. Hopefully this can all be sorted in the near future.