Alta HR is cycling through the displays

[Bazza383]

my Fitbit is about a year old.  it started cycling through all of the displays I have setup and won't respond to my taps.  I've tried charging and resetting the device but it keeps doing the same thing.  because it is cycling the charge gets depleted in about 4 hours.  any way to fix this problem?  thanks

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity

[Nikki_B1010]

My experience too this week!  Less than 2 years old - it's a replacement for another one that broke inside warranty.  I don't want to be buying a new one every couple of years!

[Nikki_B1010]

I'm feeling the same.  Mine has just broken after less than 2 years and it was already a warranty replacement for one I bought 27 months ago that died of a different software issue within a few months.  The agent couldn't say this won't happen with newer models and I don't feel like giving them more cash to find it happens again a little outside the pitiful warranty.

[Rintac]

Same thing happened to me. I accepted an update they sent, and it started
cycling through the screens. Fitbit service had me restart the watch (alta
HR), and when that didn't fix the problem, they were out. They offered to
give me 40% off to purchase a new one. Since the device had only been in
service 14 or 15 months, that was a completely inadequate response. Also,
their update seems to have caused the problem.

[Nikki_B1010]

That's terrible! I don't know what caused mine. I synced on Friday then
Monday after netball it went screwy. I don't know if an update happened in
between.

[JakeSC]

So this just hit my daughter's alta HR.  Contacted customer support.  I got no help at all.  Went through the "please reset it" after I had already told them I did that.

After that I was told that the fitbit was broken and there was nothing they could do.  The warranty expired a couple months ago.  The support agent, Kenneth, told me "Upon checking in the system, it looks like the warranty as expired in your Fitbit Alta HR, therefore, I'm not able to proceed with your replacement. You can check the store here. https://www.fitbit.com/us/products"

Seriously?!?!

I checked out the store and the alta HR has been replaced with inspire HR, but listed $30 more expensive there than on Amazon.  I asked him about that and his response was "It seems right."

You can't make this up.  I have purchased 10 different fitbits going back to the fitbit one and even have the alta scale.  The response when I have a problem, that seems very common is basically F-off and go purchase a new one somewhere else.

He ended off with "You're going to receive a survey after this chat. it sertainly may take some of your time to fill this out, but it will be most apreciated. Please let me know If you have any other question, I'll be happy to help. It was a pleasure assisting you"

Seriously Fitbit what is up?  No surprise that you are losing market share fast.

Edit: I understand that warranties expire.  That is not what ticked me off.  The issue I have is the whole way it was handled. Especially the whole, just go to amazon if you want a better price.

[Sjkski]

Just happened to my Alta HR yesterday, which is barely 15 months old. I already had to have the band replaced after 6 months under warranty due to whatever defect that was and I was on a third band. This is my third Fitbit to fail after less than 2 years. It is unacceptable that Fitbit products do not last for any material time beyond the warranty period. I expect Fitbit to stand by its products and offer me a replacement or I see no reason to continue wasting money on products clearly not made to last. 

[Sjkski]

Update:  put mine in a Ziploc bag of chia seeds (we didn’t have rice) and 5 days later it stopped the cycling. The battery did run down several times during that period and I tried resetting it several times. I’ve changed nothing about how I use my Fitbit so if it is a moisture issue, the seal has failed. 

[Rintac]

Good to know. Tks

[Sjkski]

Further update. I went for a run yesterday and when I got home I discovered it had stopped working halfway through. Somehow it stopped long enough for me to sync it but it is now cycling through the screens and even worse, this time the green lights won’t turn off. I’m very unhappy. If the seal has failed and moisture is getting in, this is now basically useless. Not to mention that the band fails every 4-6 mths due to a different flaw. There is no excuse for Fitbit to constantly produce products with flaws in them (this is the third to fail after well under 2 years). Maybe you should stop redesigning your product every year and focus on finding one design that works for the long term. Time for me to find a new, more reliable brand. 

[imjudy]

My fitbit Alta HR is also doing the same thing. In addition the green lights on the back stay illuminated and the battery runs out of charge quickly. I've purchased 5 fitbits over the course of 10+ years. I hope there is a way to fix this problem. Thank you.

[Rintac]

Mine did that after 14 months. I never got it wet or assaulted it in any
way. Fitbit's response was that the device was out of warranty. Shocking
that they considered that an appropriate response. I heard that Garmin
bought Fitbit. Garmin's reputation is a lit better than Fitbit's; I hope
that the next gen of Fitbits are better. I like the device but will switch
to a better brand if Garmin isn't able to upgrade Fitbit.

[sgerber]

I did go to a Garmin, and like it better. I've had this one since last
August with no issues. it has more functions that I like as well, and the
price was very similar to what the HR was when I bought that as well. I'd
recommend buying a Garmin if you are buying something new. I wasn't about
to go back to a fitbit.

[Rintac]

Thanks for the info!

[stacie.reed]

My Alta HR is doing this now too. Started day before yesterday. Have tried everything mentioned to reboot or reset the device but nothing helps. Very disappointing for a $100+ device not yet two years old.

[Rintac]

It seems so odd that this happens to so many Fitbit Alta HR's. Like mine,
many seemed to do this after loading an "update" from Fitbit. Interesting.

[SkaterEli]

Mine just started doing this, any idea as to what the problem is?

[janehartley1]

Never did find out the reason but mine righted itself after several resets. If no luck email Fitbit support and if it is still in guarantee they should replace it.

[Marisajo]

Mine started doing this today. It was fine all morning then started going crazy. I have had it just over a year and a half. I was told I had to buy a new one since the reset wasn’t working. 😢 

[rwebel]

I'm so disappointed with this whole process.  Ugghh
Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail on Android

[DHootie]

I keep seeing this same Fitbit moderator text “Welcome back to the Fitbit Community,” but I don’t really see an answer on the page. My Alta HR is doing the same thing described in these posts...cycling through the display screens quickly. I purchased this Fitbit at the end of July last year, so it is less than 9 months old. The same thing happened to the previous Alta HR I had. With the last one, I occasionally forgot to take it off before showering, etc. With this one, I’ve been extra careful. It broke even quicker. That’s low quality.