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.

[Meganrae85]

Me too. Won’t even last 24 hours without the battery going from 100% to 0%. Just started the last couple of days. Before that I could go 5-6 without charging. 

[JaimeA76]

I have checked through the messages on this forum, but haven't found an issue exactly like this. I have had my Sense for a little over a month. 3 days ago, my battery out of the blue started draining very quickly. From 100%-around 10% in about 12 hours. I didn't change any settings until after it started draining. I had no issues before then. I do not use SpO2, I don't have an animated clock face, I don't have "always-on" on,  and I don't use any apps with GPS. I contacted customer service on chat, and was sent a link to an article to read for tips on how to get better battery life. Really not helpful at all. I believe my last post was deleted. Any help would be appreciated.

[Karwac]

My Sense battery is draining also! Tried all the tips but still not holding a charge long. Still waiting for answers from Fitbit. They say they are looking into it. I have been a Fitbit user since they first came out. If I can’t get it resolved I may become an Apple Watch user!

[Karwac]

Did you happen do the Pulse Study? Just curious if that’s why my Sense battery is draining.

Sent from my iPhone

[Stetsonblade]

I didn't do any survey, myself. Just randomly started about a week ago.

[Micsb]

I got the same battery drain now. Draining 20% an hour 😥

It worked flawlessly the first 7 months. 10 days ago it started counting way too many stairs and last night it drained my battery, up until yesterday it would last 5 to 6 days. Nothing changed since yesterday, and now it has depleted my battery three times. Need to return the watch with this insance battery drain.

Tried to reboot my phone just to ensure it wasnt the culprint, and it still eats up 20% an hour!!!!

Watch has been completely depleted three times and hence restarted which doesnt change anything, still draining the power in no time.

[crath83]

I am having the same problem and it is totally random. Last week my Sense randomly died while I was sleeping even though it had plenty of battery life the previous day. I restarted it and charged it and it was fine for a few days. It did the same thing last night. It had a 92% battery when I checked yesterday afternoon and it once again died during sleep and therefore my alarm did not go off. Why does this keep happening?

[Micsb]

@Guy_ you are right, i found the same a bit earlier today. With bluetooth off on the phone, there was 0% drop over an hour. Activating bluetooth on the phone and the battery drain was back. I tried to remove the device and repair Sense with the iphone, still having the battery drain. I will try to logout and reinstall the app to see if it solves it.

Just strange that it started out of nowhere, it was weeks ago I last updated the app, nothing was changed on the phone prior to the battery drain.

[Teecher]

Hi,

Have you tried doing a factory reset? After doing this reset the Sense downloaded a firmware update that seems to address a number of issues. It definitely worked for me. Since the factory reset my Sense has gone five days between charges. That is the sort of performance that I paid for and I am back to achieving it. It’s also syncing much quicker. It would be a good thing if Fitbit at least advised that there was a new firmware available. It would also be nice to have the Sense sync via a Windows based PC as previous Fitbit devices have. 
Hopefully some of you will also be able to achieve similar results by doing a factory reset. On your Sense go to Settings, About, Factory Reset. 

[Micsb]

Still draining my battery, tried to unpair Sense, didnt change the battery drain. Tried to logout and log back into the app, still draining the Sense battery. Only thing working currently is to disable bluetooth on my iphone. 

[woolybeast]

That was my experience. I downloaded an update to the app, and then my battery started draining in a matter of hours. I did a factory reset, downloaded new firmware on the Fitbit and all was well again.

[Micsb]

I got it working again. Reinstalled the Fitbit app and now it only drained 18% over the last 18 hours. Bluetooth, notifications etc activated.

[Guy_]

@Micsb  Thanks for confirming it's an iOS Fitbit App issue, and the workarounds solve the problem and that you are back to normal battery usage

[Denitra]

My battery seemed to be working ok (that was about the only thing that was working), until yesterday. My watch was on 65% yesterday morning. By 5pm it was dead. Got home, charged to 38% and 2 hours later, dead again. Charged again, this time to 100%, and put it on as I was going to bed (I use it as my alarm). It was at 25% this morning. So, 6.5 hours of wearing, only while sleeping, drains 75% battery life. What just happened?  It has actually been syncing as it should for a couple of days so do I only get one option?  You can either sync your watch, OR have good battery life. You can’t have both!!

[Teecher]

Denitra,

Try the Factory Reset. I’m sure you will find it will help you get your Sense back to normal.

Regards

Allan

[Shocku]

I am having the same issue, recently my watch continues to die after 6 to 7 hours. I charged my watch for 2 hours and woke up the next day after putting it on and the battery was at 10% again. Why is this happening? 

[JJRed]

Hi @LizzyFitbit I have had my fitbit for under 6 months and the battery kept dying VERY quickly. I'm talking HOURS. I did call Fitbit and they replace it. I was using an spo2 face but got rid of it as soon as my battery started dying. This is ridiculous. These watches are expensive and should last more than 6 months. 

[JJRed]

does it still keep track of everything? when i didn't have it connected to bluetooth i kept getting alerts to connect.

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi everyone. I'm glad to see you around the forums.

I've moved some of your posts to this thread to keep our forums organized. I understand how you're feeling about your Sense not holding charge and while our team keeps working on this matter, please try force quitting the Fitbit app on your iOS devices to prevent the battery from draining when syncing. Thanks for your patience through this situation and rest assured your feedback hasn't gone unnoticed.

See you around.

[armymedic1970]

They told me it’s not a warranty issue it’s a glitch and “engineers are working on a fix”.