Fitbit OS 2.2 - Versa Firmware Release (32.12.19)

[AlessFitbit]

Hi, everyone! I am excited to announce the release of Fitbit OS 2.2! (Firmware Version: 32.12.19) At this time, we've released Fitbit OS 2.2 to a small group of Fitbit Ionic and Fitbit Versa users. 

WHAT'S CHANGED?

Please check out this help article to see what's new in this update.

IS THIS UPDATE AVAILABLE TO ME?

This update has only been released to a small group of Fitbit Ionic and Fitbit Versa users. If you have not yet received an update notification and wish to force the update, you can give the watch a FACTORY RESET and then follow steps 1 - 4 below. Please make sure you sync the watch before performing the reset so that all your current data transfer over. Factory resetting your device clears all data from the watch including music, Fitbit Pay information, and apps. Historical Fitbit data will still be available in the Fitbit App.

HOW DO I UPDATE?

Step by step instructions for updating your Ionic can be found here. We recommend updating your Ionic 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 Ionic to Wi-Fi, check out this article.

If you run into trouble updating your Ionic, please follow these steps:

1. Restart the watch. 
2. "Remove" the watch from your account inside of the Fitbit app.  
3. "Forget" the watch from your phone's Bluetooth settings (along with any other Fitbit devices paired to your phone)
4. Try the update again. 

Looking forward to hearing everyone's feedback on the latest release. If you have questions, please let me know in this thread!

[lenny4d]

@freibergisch  yes, apps made for sdk2 are not visible for devices with older firmware. That's a little awkward right now, but you can chose for which firmware version you want to develop your app though, it's in the sdk docs how to do this.

If you insist to install 32.12.19 on your tracker, you need to remove it from your mobile app, from bluetooth, and then do a hard reset (not a reboot, but a wipe-it-all). It is as if setting up your watch from scratch, and it will force the latest firmware (the one for SDK2). Note that not all 3rd party SDK1 apps will run correctly on 32.12.19....

[Laszlo52]

@lenny4d

"from bluetooth,"

No, It is not from bluetooth, rather from WiFi (much more faster).

[SunsetRunner]

I just updated to the latest firmware earlier today. The "what's changed" article doesn't have much information but I've noticed a couple of things that I think have changed (not sure). Perhaps someone else can let me know if I'm imagining things.

How is the Versa updating to the web? I've got autosync turned off so I can check the battery life, which seemed to be getting worse and worse on my Versa. I hadn't had the app open on either my phone or laptop for five and a half hours, yet when I went to the dashboard (web) it had all the latest information and said it synced 3 minutes ago. How did it do that?

The battery life seems to be much improved. After charging the Versa to 100% (five and a half hours ago), it stayed on 100% for at least 20 minutes more than half an hour. That's never happened before. It's always reverted to 99% almost as soon as I've put it on after charging. Not only that, but it's been showing 99% charged for all the rest of the time. That's a first.

Is the battery reading faulty on my watch, or has something been tweaked in the firmware so the battery doesn't drain as quickly? (I'll take the latter, gladly!)

[VippS]

Do you want a Versace style clockface?

If yes, click here. https://gam.fitbit.com/gallery/clock/af2741cc-b3cb-4d79-a274-cdcdb6c240ef

[SunsetRunner]

This is 11/19/18 and still didn’t receive the update, what gives 

so much on keeping your word Fitbit 

we will never get the firmware version 32.12.19 

[AlessFitbit]

@SunsetRunner Hello! Thanks for sharing your observations for what you've experienced so far with the latest firmware update. Sounds like you are having a good experience so far. As you mentioned, our release notes for this firmware are included in that article. For any battery life concerns, please keep in mind that battery will be affected by the clock face you're using, how often you use an exercise shortcut and any of the other apps active on your watch. I wouldn't worry too much how quickly it drops from 100% to 99% after fully charging. Instead, I think its best that you observe how many days it lasts after the full charge. For our battery saving tips, check this out: Can I improve my Fitbit device's battery life?

@Unicornpff @SunsetRunner  Hey, there! I'm sorry for any confusion this firmware release may have caused. 

To anyone following this thread for updates, please note you will not be prompted inside of the Fitbit app to update to the latest firmware version (32.12.19). 

Instead, we only released Fitbit OS 2.2 (32.12.19) to a small subset of Fitbit Ionic and Fitbit Versa customers. If you currently have Fitbit OS 2.1(32.10.15) on your Versa and want to upgrade to Fitbit OS 2.2, the only way to do that is to factory reset your device to receive the update. See this article: How do I erase my Fitbit device? for instructions on how to perform a factory reset. 

*Please note that factory resetting your device clears all data from the watch including music, Fitbit Pay information, and apps. All your Fitbit data is still available in the Fitbit app. 

If you’re having issues updating from a previous version, we’re working on making the update more widely available. We apologize again for any confusion surrounding the release of this firmware. We are always working towards making improvements for future releases. 

[SunsetRunner]

You need to send the update through the fitbit app like you did with firmware version 32.10.15 as I will not do it by factory resetting my watch and end up lose everything off of it.

this is getting ridiculous and my mom was one of the 10% users who got the update through the Fitbit app on October 9th which isn’t fair at all 

[Buzzsaw]

Must be some serious issues with this 32.12.19 update.... it's been over 6 weeks now since the release to "the small subset of 10%"..... Maybe I don't even want it... I am surely not going to do a factory reset just to get an OS update.

[lenny4d]

@AlessFitbit   Great and very clear feedback!

@SunsetRunner, @Buzzsaw, ++  Note that the firmware 32.12.19 also known as OS 2 is NOT about a gazillion of bug fixes that many of you seem to hope for. Yes, there are some bug fixes (mostly unspecified, although we know the annoying flaw with the non-sticky exercise custom settings is now fixed), but OS 2 is really about other things under the hood. One of the things you should be aware of is that apps, and thereby most notably 3rd party apps, may need to be recompiled for SDK2 to work properly. I don't know why some seem 'desperate' for OS 2, but unless there is something confirmed working different/better that you simply cannot live without out, you are just fine with the current firmware.  

[Ximmo]

---

 To anyone following this thread for updates, please note you will not be prompted inside of the Fitbit app to update to the latest firmware version (32.12.19). 

Instead, we only released Fitbit OS 2.2 (32.12.19) to a small subset of Fitbit Ionic and Fitbit Versa customers. If you currently have Fitbit OS 2.1(32.10.15) on your Versa and want to upgrade to Fitbit OS 2.2, the only way to do that is to factory reset your device to receive the update.

---

Will factory reset be the only way to update to the new version? Or in some time update will appear anyway?

[lenny4d]

@Ximmo

>> Will factory reset be the only way to update to the new version? Or in some time update will appear anyway?

Eventually, you will be able to update through the app as per normal. Unclear when that is. In the mean time you can force an upgrade via factory reset, but note that you cannot roll back, and you loose everything on the tracker, including music, wallet etc. Have to reinstall. (this won't happen via the install via the app, once available). Note that some 3rd party apps may not work as normal.  

[AlessFitbit]

@SunsetRunner Thanks for your feedback! I definitely understand that you'd like to directly update to the firmware and will make sure this is relayed to our developers. As of right now, the only way to receive the update will be to perform a factory reset as suggested. If this changes, I'll be sure to let you know. 

@lenny4d Thanks for adding in some more clarification in this thread. I appreciate your willingness to explain to other Community members what to expect from this firmware release. 

@Ximmo As of right now, the only way to receive the update will be to perform a factory reset on the watch. Please take a look at my post here for more instructions. Like @lenny4d mentioned, once you do update the firmware there is no way for you to rollback. This is the case for any firmware update for Fitbit products. 

If I receive any more information on this release, I'll let you all know. Thanks for your cooperation! 

[Nu2_4rum]

Were the select few who received .19 warned of the risk?

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

[Buzzsaw]

I am in no rush... but I was hoping that the annoying bug of No calories shown "--" when displaying the "Workout" and "Spinning" activities that has been an issue with the Ionic and Versa since their release.

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Ionic/Calories-displayed-as-quot-quot-for-exercises-in-Android-app/t... will be fixed with this OS update.

It's been broken since the Ionic release in October 2017..It's not the phone app, because My Charge 2 worked fine.. I switched from a Charge 2 to a Versa so I could read the display in the sunlight....

I really don't have many other issues.. occasionally, the heartrate doubles from what it actually is, then it seems to fix itself. Only occasional sync glitches...

[lenny4d]

@Buzzsaw

>> but I was hoping that the annoying bug of No calories shown "--" when displaying the "Workout" and "Spinning" activities that has been an issue with the Ionic and Versa since their release.

Good point! No-one seems to have confirmed if this is fixed or not fixed. But there are a few people here in the thread that have done a forced upgrade that probably could verify this?!! (I know it should not have to be like this, but that's how it is for now). You could reach out to some directly I presume... 

[waxena]

It is so dissapointing to find out that after a year of creating an update, something basic as Wi-Fi connection is giving a lot of trouble. It is a problem that should be a prioity and has been pointed out months ago by me . 

It is even more dissapointing to see that the device connects to a 4g tethering hotspot and when installing aps just is not connected. As this was the only workaround to bypass not being able to install app's with a wpa2 wifi connection. 

Because of that, the watch now is useless as i can not install anything after this upgrade.

I also reseted everything in the app and watch so this is not the issue!

People probably would have less trouble if this issue would be be repaird. And fitbit would have less complaints. I wonder if this is a hardware problem because of poor build Quality... if not: FIX THE FIRMWARE!

edit: i was finally able to install apps without changing anything. I have a feeling the connection problems might appear if the fitbittis trying to sync or if another app is using the connect functionalities on the phone. (eg mail). 

[Happyvalley46]

Update pain as band change with Versa. Why something so simple but so complicated !

[Books4me107]

Just purchased the Versa, linked it to my account, tried to change the watch face and now it doesn't work. Since I hadn't really changed much, I went ahead and did the factory reset. Now I can't even link the watch to the app on my phone. If it's not fixed within the next few days, I will have no choice but to return it. So very disappointing. 

[Nu2_4rum]

It does not say much for Fitbit’s testing that such a simple scenario fails.

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

[Ryan79]

I'd guess that it's due to the watchface being incompatible with the new OS.

Is it possible that another watchface could work?