Sense Battery Performance Program blocked my device

[Petero1]

Thank you to Google and Fit bit you have made my Sense watch redundant.

It was on charge while I was at the gym came home to find a message relating to an upload to prevent the watch overheating and it has locked the watch.

I dont have the app as my phone is too old, used to have the app on my partners phone but it would not update as again Google Fitbit deemed it too old.

So unless somebody at Fitbit or Google can offer a replacement for my now redundant Sense then it will be binned and replaced by something that does exactly the same but is a dam site cheaper.

Trouble with companies is they think everybody rushes out to get the latest phone downloading all the apps so the companies can control people and gather information. 

Await a response but doubt I will be satisfied with it, anybody want a redundant Sense??

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity

[LZeeW · Accepted solution]

@Petero1   Fitbit announced a Battery Performance Update Program for some Sense and Versa 3 units because they are at risk for overheating.  I'm not a Fitbit/Google employee, so I can't explain why you are getting this information months after everyone else.  Part of the program included locking the watch, a safety precaution for the user.

You should be eligible for the $50 USD refund since it is available through early Jan 2026.  There is a Registration link in the Help Center article.

Google sets a minimum phone operating system for both platforms.  It is currently Android 11 or iOS 16.4.  Fitbit/Google drops support for older phones when Google and Apple stop supporting these older operating system versions.

[Petero1]

No information ever received from Fitbit, and the watch is not connected to any mobile because 

we cant load the App on to either mobile now so the watch was stand alone just gave me minimal

information which suited me now might as well throw it in the bin.

Thank you for your response

[LZeeW]

@Petero1   Please don’t throw it in the bin.  Please dispose of it as e-waste by your local rules.

[poleran]

Have you tried reaching out to Fitbit support directly to see if they’ll offer a replacement or workaround, since the update essentially locked your Sense?

[LZeeW]

@poleran   Affected users can fix this by performing the firmware update.  The OP doesn’t have a compatible phone for the current Fitbit app.

[Petero1]

Yes was in a chat with Fitbit but due to time between responces the chat cut off as the web site timed out 

[Petero1]

Not able to do any update as both the mobile phones are not compatable now for Fitbit app. However I have learnt 

that Fitbit are phasing out a number of watches the Sense being one of them