Systems and methods for improved user experience with rechargers for implantable medical devices. An external charging device for providing power to a rechargeable implantable device can determine a firmware state of the external charging device during recharging of the rechargeable implantable device, display a searching indication using a light indicator when the firmware state is determined to be in a searching state, display a charging indication using the light indicator when the firmware state is determined to be a charging state, and display an error indication using the light indicator when the firmware state is determined to be an error state. An optional user device application can provide complementary graphical user interfaces according to the firmware states.