The redesigned iOS Fitbit app is rolling out!

[LizzyFitbit]

Hello everyone!

I would like to announce that the redesigned Fitbit app starts rolling out today! This new app will help you reach your goals, and bring the health and wellness information right on hand.

Check out our latest blog for how to get the most out of the new app. 

Note: Please be patient if you don't see the update right away, as it will take some time to roll out completely.

Happy stepping!

[MarkStone]

After a couple of days to make adjustments to the new app, I’m really happy with it. Reading through other posts/threads, I realize that I may be the only one at the forums that likes it 😊 - I use the iOS app on an iPhone 13, utilizing a Charge 5 and a Blaze.

The Focus area at the top of the screen is easily programmable, and the metrics in each classification below it can be turned off or on as needed. I’ve customized my Focus area to have Heart Rate in the big circle, then weight - steps - sleep in the three smaller circles. A user can put any metric in Focus that they want. After about 1/2 hour running through the app to get to know it, I discovered it is easily customized. Everything I liked about the old app is still available.

The new app is also faster. For example, updating my weight or adding calories to the app after a meal would take a little time on the old app (a few seconds) for the update to appear. On the new app the new data is on the screen immediately. Also, the old app took its time to generate a sleep report - the new app is much faster. Also, the time it takes to sync my “ancient” Blaze is much, much faster. My other Bitfit, the Charge 5, also syncs faster - but the difference is not so pronounced. 

Are there things I don’t like about it? Sure - I don’t like that a battery percentage is no longer available, although the app does show battery level graphically and in a descriptive form. I also don’t like the stark and unimaginative black-on-white screen. Some colors, or the option to change it to a dark-screen mode, would be nice. 

So, for me anyway, two thumbs up. 

[Sparky-10]

My fitbit was provided by my insurance for free. A pleasant surprise. Just recently I was offered a free premium membership. The app appearance changed (for the worst) when I joined. I blamed the membership but apparently the app changed around the same time. I really only pay attention to my sleep info, and the appearance has taken away the percentages of most sleep stages. And I don’t get a new fitbit next year, not that I need one. I’ve got 3 months to figure out how to get out the premium membership, which I’ve seen here is extremely difficult. I JUST WANT MY PLAIN FITBIT BACK, with its easy-to-decipher-at-a-glance info!!☹️

[Theresa222]

Nope... and i have been going through all the comments and voting them as it seems like everyone hates the new version! agree... its plain, dull and incomplete. it just looks so basic and was perfect the way it was. i hope they read this whole thread and put it back to how it was!

[Finagenesse]

I don’t like the recent update at all. The update feels generic, bland as if it was not finished. Also, if the app is to be used on a phone why is there so much empty space and huge fonts? The lack of tile contrast is also questionable, lighter grey on light grey without any different color scheme, fonts or icons. They removed the accurate charge information. I checked the charge level of my watch that was charging and it indicated that it was fully charged when in reality it was only at 80%… 

Generally, users tend not to like big changes but will accept them if it comes with significant improvements, if there are improvements with this update I still have to find them.

Finally, I might be a big baby but I loved the fireworks when a goal was reached, now there’s nothing. I used a few watches or apps before and they all have a way to recognize when a goal is reached.

[Laurib1]

The new app sucks. 

[okb4]

The redesigned Fitbit app is truly a disappointment. I honestly doubt I'll end up using any of the new features. The UI updates are fine, but nothing to get excited about. Please bring back streaks (e.g. step goal) and the battery indicator. Thanks

[MarkStone]

@Laurib1 — How can we help you with it?

[GracieJc]

I loved the fireworks too!

[LKG55119]

I am also experiencing issues with the sleep tracking. This new version is a major step down from what it was before. 

[acadie]

Totally agree. I had to do a lot of editing to make it reasonably viewable, but as a web developer myself, this GUI doesn't give one the opportunity to view what you need at a glance. What's worse is, you can't see how charged your device is. So when you're charging, you can't see how close you are to 100% before disengaging it from the charger. That's nuts. 

[SunsetRunner]

I also very much dislike the new interface. I agree that battery level is important. Recording sleep is important for me and now, even when sleep is set as the focus, it doesn’t give the details that were given about sleep on the main screen. I have to dig deeper. It is very linear and color isn’t used like it was before to differentiate areas of the screen. Why is hourly activity now a line of bars, rather that the dial it was before. Instead of being able to drag the activities up and down in the main screen, you have go to another screen to move things up and down with arrows and it isn’t obvious exactly how this works. The fun factor of using FitBit is entirely gone! I don’t agree, though, that it looks like a child designed it. It looks like a left-brain geek designed it without doing any useability testing! The final verdict — hard to use, not flexible enough, and worst, not fun to use.

[carringtondl]

I can’t find a way to do this with Apple other than wiping and installing from the cloud which I don’t want to do.  Is there a place to find earlier versions?

[yalyn44]

What were the developers thinking? I want my step streak (in total days) in the banner and my battery life icon back. Why were these features removed in this update??? Why take away a known motivator (step streak) and a vital piece of information (battery life)??? You just want us to move to Apple Watch.

[Lisajane1965]

Has any one found how to view the battery life

[JimJ502]

 I agree, the new redesigned app seems to have been designed by a child. Why can't I have the info I want, where I want it. No longer can I get Heart rate zones (peak, cardio, fat burn) on the Today Screen. No longer can I get detailed Sleep stats on the Today Screen. No longer can I put info where I want it.  Why can't Google let us migrate to the old App?  Perhaps it's time to migrate elsewhere.  I just cancelled my Premium subscription because it's not as relevant in the new app. 

[KATEMAR]

I seem to have lost data in that it it is not recording my sleep accurately and after a lengthy walk it does not appear to have recorded my steps. It could be my battery was low but I had no way of ascertaining this. 

[mercy0065]

I haven't even been able to customize my home screen the way I would like it?  It was easy before to just drag the activities up and down in the main screen.  How does a person update their home page?

[JimJ502]

I agree that no longer can items on the today screen be moved up or down without going to a secondary screen, but even then they can only be moved as a group.  I want to see my heart rate with my steps but now I have to have all the other health stats as well before I see other stats.  I agree that the sleep factors have changed entirely.  They've combined some stats such as Deep and Rem.  Heart rate is important for me when exercising and no longer does the watch report Peak, Cardio and Fat Burn levels.  I can't adjust my workouts accordingly.  

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Agreed. Absolutely awful !!!

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I agree.  If we can't migrate to the original app, its perhaps time to migrate elsewhere.

[Perpetual]

Totally agree. It’s infuriating to say the least. I’m trying to see my battery life and there’s no where to view that even. This is the worst upgrade to an app I’ve ever seen. I logged a review in the Apple App Store as well and recommend others do same. 

[JimJ502]

I whole heartedly agree, the new app sucks.  Where's the detailed heart rate info.  Unfortunately the new App makes the watch nearly useless.  Time to look elsewhere.

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I too have been using Fitbit since 2015 and I too just unsubscribed from Premium.  I too will be migrating elsewhere.

Google simply buys technology but it seems the don't  have anyone who knows how to develop technology.