Editing MyFitnessPal regressive upgrade

{{IncidentCargo
|StartDate=2025-10-03
|EndDate=2025
|Status=Active
|ArticleType=Service
|Description=MyFitnessPal forced an unannounced update on it's paid subscribers that retracted functionality and is unusable due to performance issues.
}}
In October 2025, MyFitnessPal began rolling out a mandatory update for its mobile application, marketed as the "brand new Today tab."<ref name="help-article-intro">{{cite web |title=Introducing the brand new Today tab! |url=https://support.myfitnesspal.com/hc/en-us/articles/39985611667341-Introducing-the-brand-new-Today-tab |website=MyFitnessPal Help |date=2025-10-03 |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref> The update was met with widespread criticism from users, who reported that the new version was slow, difficult to use, and missing core functionality. The company also used the update to move a previously free feature behind its Premium subscription tier.<ref name="forum-announcement-test">{{cite web |title=Exciting News: A New Food Diary is Coming Soon! |url=https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10945729/exciting-news-a-new-food-diary-is-coming-soon |website=MyFitnessPal Community |date=2025-08-27 |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref>

==Background==
MyFitnessPal is a popular application for tracking diet and exercise. For years, paying subscribers used a stable version of the app with a consistent feature set. Many users integrated the app into their daily health routines.<ref name="report"/>

On August 27, 2025, MyFitnessPal staff announced a "brand-new Food Diary page" and invited users to test the new design. User feedback on the announcement thread was overwhelmingly negative.<ref name="forum-announcement-test"/> Users criticized the inefficient design, with one commenting that it was a "terrible UI design that makes it harder to track" due to excessive scrolling.<ref name="forum-announcement-test"/> Another noted that positive features like "good visual separation between meals... have all been removed from the new layout."<ref name="forum-announcement-test"/>

During this test phase, users discovered that the macro percentage pie chart, a core free feature, had been removed. After contacting support, one user confirmed the company's intention was to "[remove] this FREE feature and will allow you to hover over the new macro bar to see the macro percentage with a PAID subscription."<ref name="forum-announcement-test"/>

Despite the feedback, MyFitnessPal staff indicated they would proceed with the changes, posting on October 3 that they would "be making changes over the next few weeks" based on feedback, just before the full rollout began.<ref name="forum-announcement-test"/>

==Incident==
Starting around October 3, 2025, MyFitnessPal began forcing the update on its user base.<ref name="help-article-intro"/> The official announcement on October 15 described the update as a "thoughtfully reorganized for a better user experience" and a response to a "long standing feature request."<ref name="forum-announcement-rollout">{{cite web |title=Introducing the Brand New _Today_ Tab! |url=https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10950333/introducing-the-brand-new-today-tab |website=MyFitnessPal Community |date=2025-10-15 |access-date=2025-11-05}</ref> The comments section for this announcement was closed, preventing public discussion.<ref name="forum-announcement-rollout"/>

The update removed several key features, including:<ref name="help-article-intro"/>
*Copying meals from previous days
*Intermittent Fasting tracking
*Custom Nutrient goals
*Diary Notes

To compound user frustration, the new interface for paying subscribers included a persistent advertisement to upgrade to a new "Premium+" subscription tier.<ref name="report"/> The company also moved the ability to view macronutrient percentages, a previously free feature, behind its Premium paywall.<ref name="help-article-intro"/>
Users have reported that the update is "very sluggish" and that "switching days takes seconds, adding food takes seconds, etc."<ref name="reddit-sluggish">{{cite web |title=New update very sluggish /u/lidomerk |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Myfitnesspal/comments/1oizha1/new_update_very_sluggish/ |website=Reddit |date=2025-10-29 |access-date=2025-11-03}}</ref>

==MyFitnessPal's Response==
MyFitnessPal's official communications framed the update as an improvement based on user feedback, despite the negative reception during the public testing period.<ref name="help-article-intro"/> The company acknowledged the removal of features but offered only vague promises for their return, stating they were "being rebuilt" or "will be available again soon."<ref name="help-article-intro"/> For the removed "Copy Meals" feature, the company suggested a cumbersome workaround that did not replicate the original functionality.<ref name="help-article-intro"/>

The company has been definitive that it will not roll back the change. In response to the question "Can I go back to the old design?", the official FAQ states, "The new Today interface is our path forward... We encourage you to give it some time."<ref name="help-article-intro"/>

Contradicting the significance of the changes, the official App Store release notes for the update (version 25.10.2) stated, "No big fixes or changes to report!" This led users to question the company's transparency regarding the disruptive rollout.<ref name="reddit-explain">{{cite web |title=Explain This |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Myfitnesspal/comments/1o8mfev/explain_this/ |website=Reddit |date=2025-10-17 |access-date=2025-11-03}}</ref>

MyFitnessPal has offered refunds to some recently subscribed users but has denied them to long-term annual subscribers, citing a policy that limits refunds to the current billing period.<ref name="premium-plus-article">{{cite web |title=Premium + |url=https://support.myfitnesspal.com/hc/en-us/articles/34347930588557-Premium |website=MyFitnessPal Help |date=2025-10-30 |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref> However, some users have reported successfully obtaining refunds by requesting them through their device's app store, such as Google Play.<ref name="reddit-refund">{{cite web |title=I got a refund |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Myfitnesspal/comments/1o7qhj3/i_got_a_refund/ |website=Reddit |date=2025-10-16 |access-date=2025-11-03}}</ref>

===Technical Rollback Capability===
Users have observed that the previous, functional user interface still exists within the application's code, controlled by a feature flag. Some have reported that unsubscribing from the paid service causes the app to revert to the old interface. This suggests that a rollback for all users would be technically straightforward, but the company has chosen not to do so.<ref name="report"/>

==Consumer Response==
During the test phase, users expressed frustration that their feedback was being ignored, with one user asking, "Why go ahead with this change when you've had quite literally no positive feedback so far?"<ref name="forum-announcement-test"/> Another noted that the company had attempted a similar unpopular redesign in the past and had to revert it, asking, "Did they not read the forum from the last time they tried to change it and had to change it back because it was so bad??!!"<ref name="forum-announcement-test"/>

Following the mandatory rollout, the consumer backlash intensified on social media platforms. Many users, some of whom have used the app for several years, feel that critical functionality was removed without warning, disrupting their health management routines. The company's response has been described by some as "gaslighting," as support channels allegedly blame user devices or deflect criticism by creating support tickets that go unresolved.<ref name="report">{{cite web |title=User Report on MyFitnessPal Update | url= https://gist.github.com/jmorgannz/00411b1cc24648932f8eb4d0075932c4 | website=Github Gist |date=2025-11-03 |access-date=2025-11-03}}</ref>

The company's official "Known Issues" pages for its Android and iOS apps make no mention of the widespread complaints regarding removed features or poor usability.<ref name="known-issues-android">{{cite web |title=Known Issues: Android App |url=https://support.myfitnesspal.com/hc/en-us/articles/360032274332-Known-Issues-Android-App |website=MyFitnessPal Help |date=2025-11-01 |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref><ref name="known-issues-ios">{{cite web |title=Known Issues: iOS App |url=https://support.myfitnesspal.com/hc/en-us/articles/360032274552-Known-Issues-iOS-App |website=MyFitnessPal Help |date=2025-11-01 |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref>

Due to the perceived decline in usability and the company's refusal to roll back the update, users began actively seeking and recommending alternative food tracking applications. One user, after receiving a refund, noted the end of their "700+ day logging streak" and recommended "Chronometer" as a free alternative.<ref name="reddit-refund"/>

==References==
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[[Category:MyFitnessPal]]
[[Category:Digital restrictions]]
[[Category:Feature paywall]]
[[Category:Subscription services]]
[[Category:2025 incidents]]