Fitbit users report dramatically reduced battery life after important update

Fitbit Sense and Versa 3 smartwatch users are reporting faster battery drain following a recent mandatory update. For the Sense, it was version 44.128.6.21, while the Versa 3 got version 36.128.6.21. This software was released to prevent an issue that caused the wearable batteries to overheat, which was reported to lead to skin burns in a few cases. 

When Google contacted customers about this compulsory update, it noted that users could experience a reduction in the usable battery capacity. It specifically stated that “the battery will last for shorter periods between charges, and you may need to charge your device more frequently.” However, the impact appears to be far greater than users initially expected.

Users have taken to the Fitbit Community forum and the Fitbit subreddit to share their experiences. These reports indicate that the Sense and Versa 3 watches historically lasted for between two and six days. After the update, users reported as little as 24 hours of runtime, meaning they had to recharge their devices daily rather than a few times a week.

Unfortunately, Google has yet to offer any solution for these users. It is also not an option to reverse or ignore the update, with the company stating that those who did not install this update on their smartwatch would see their wearable automatically reset to factory settings after a few days. Affected Sense and Versa 3 users were also offered $50 compensation relating to this battery issue. Other models, like the Versa 4 (curr. $169.99 at Amazon) do not appear to be affected by this problem.