Fitbit Versa 3 received another update in August 2022. This is exactly before the launch of the Versa 4 smartwatch. The previous firmware update on a Fitbit Versa 3 smartwatch happened in the month of November 2021. The latest firmware update on the Fitbit Versa 3, as of October 2022, is version 36.128.6.17. This firmware update does not make any change to the Fitbit operating system as it stays at version 5.30.
The recent firmware update – 36.128.6.17 for a Fitbit Versa 3 smartwatch focuses chiefly on:
- improving Versa 3 performance
- bug fixes
- adding outdoor exercise modes
- status indicator of the Versa 3 smart watch on the Fitbit app. Some such status indicators include low battery indicators, sleep mode indicator, and the status of pairing between the Versa 3 smart watch and the Fitbit app
However, there have been adverse reports of the latest firmware update on Fitbit Versa 3. Some Versa 3 device owners have reported that the smartwatches got bricked after the firmware update. Fitbit is unable to remedy the situation and has offered a 35 percent discount coupon for a new Fitbit device.
The following steps can be taken to try and resolve the issue of a non-working Versa 3 device after firmware update:
- Press and hold the button for about 8 seconds until the screen turns off.
- After the screen turns off, they’ll feel a short vibration:
- When they feel the vibration, release the button and immediately press and hold the button again.
- Wait until the blue logo appears, then disappears:
- Immediately release the button and then immediately press and hold it .again, until they feel a vibration.
- After they feel the vibration, release the button.
- This vibration indicates they started the factory reset.
How can I update firmware on Versa 3 to firmware version 36.128.6.17?
You can update the firmware on your Versa 3 to version 36.128.6.17 in one of the following ways:
- You can allow the update to be made available to your Fitbit app. The Fitbit app needs to be running in the background mode on the phone that is paired with the Fitbit Versa 3.
- Once the firmware update is sent to the Fitbit app, you can use the paired connection between the Versa 3 device and the Fitbit app to update the firmware on the paired Versa 3 watch.
This approach is a simpler, and hassle free approach to updating the firmware on a Versa 3 smart watch.
Fitbit initiated the firmware update in August 2022. Inside 4 weeks, the update has been rolled out to the eligible Fitbit Versa 3 smart watches. And, there have not been any reported issues or errors in updating the firmware on a Fitbit Versa 3 smart watch.
An alternate approach to updating the firmware on Versa 3 smart watch to the version 36.128.6.17 is through the fitbit.com dashboard. You will need to login to the fitbit.com dashboard and check for the available firmware updates.
If the firmware update is available for your device, you can initiate the firmware update through the Fitbit.com dashboard. Such an update can be manually initialized by you.
How do I know the current firmware on my Fitbit Versa 3 smartwatch?
You can find the current firmware on your Fitbit Versa 3 by going into the device and clicking on the device image on your profile. This will give you the current version of firmware that resides on your Fitbit Versa 3 smartwatch.
Update Versa 3 firmware using Fitbit app
You can update the Fitbit operating system and firmware version on your Versa 3 smartwatch using the instructions below:
- Click on the Fitbit Versa 3 image on the Fitbit app. The Fitbit app resides on the phone that is paired with your Fitbit Versa 3 smartwatch.
- If an update is available, please press the Update button to initiate the update process through the Fitbit app.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to download the latest firmware for Versa 3 (August 2022) version 36.128.6.17 on your Fitbit app.
Before initiating the firmware update on the Versa 3 smartwatch, you will need to make sure that:
- the Fitbit app phone has an adequate charge to last through the update cycle. It may take up to an hour for the Fitbit Versa 3 to be updated to the latest firmware 36.128.6.17.
- the quality of the Bluetooth connection between the Fitbit app phone and the Fitbit Versa 3 is good. It is advisable to keep the Fitbit app phone and the Fitbit Versa 3 devices in close proximity to each other.
- the Fitbit Versa 3 smartwatch should be adequately charged so that it can last through the complete update cycle.
An interruption in the firmware update for a Versa 3 may lead to complicated issues. Therefore, a little care and planning are needed before attempting a firmware update on the Fitbit Versa 3 smartwatch.
How can I download the Fitbit OS 5.3 on Fitbit Versa 3 smartwatch?
The Fitbit OS 5.3 for a Fitbit Versa 3 is bundled in the firmware update 36.128.6.17. You do not need to download the Fitbit operating system manually. The firmware update on the Versa 3 to 36.128.6.17 will also update the Fitbit operating system to the version 5.3. The previous version of Fitbit operating system was 5.2.1.
Can I roll back the Versa 3 update from version 36.128.6.17?
Once you have initiated the firmware update on your Versa 3 to version 36.128.6.17, you will need to allow it time to complete. There is no way to go back to the previous firmware version on a Fitbit Versa 3 smartwatch. The firmware files are not manually published, and hence cannot be manually downloaded onto your computer or the paired smartphone.
Versa 3 firmware update 36.128.6.17 is stalled or hanging?
The Versa 3 firmware update to 36.128.6.17 should work fine in normal scenarios. If the firmware update is stalled on your device, you would do well to understand that firmware updates can stall on a Fitbit device for the major reasons mentioned below:
- your phone has a bad Internet connection
- Fitbit app is having issues on the paired smartphone. Try restarting the app manually to see if it makes a change.
- your phone and the Fitbit Versa 3 device have a poor pairing connection. You need to make sure that the phone and the Fitbit Versa 3 are in close proximity.
- either the Fitbit Versa 3 or the Fitbit app phone may be running out of battery charge. Or, possibly one of the devices is already discharged.
If you have been trying to update using the Fitbit.com dashboard, the most likely cause of a stalled update has to be the quality of the Internet connection.
Summary
The latest firmware, as of October 2022, for a Fitbit Versa 3 smartwatch is version 36.128.6.17. This firmware update will push the Fitbit operating system to version 5.30. The latest firmware update is being made available through the Fitbit app. Or, you could go to the fitbit.com website and get the firmware update through your device dashboard on the site.
You may also like to read the following content related to Fitbit smart watches:
- Current firmware version for Fitbit Sense
- Daily Readiness Scores on Fitbit
- Fitbit operating system update 5.3 for Fitbit Sense and Fitbit Versa 3
- Does Fitbit Sense have music?
Helen Kurt is a geeky nerd who loves to cover the wearables space. She has over 5 years of experience in the smartwatch domain. You can reach her on email at [email protected].