Fitbit Alta HR not charging after 12 months

[brucelat]

My Fitbit Alta HR is 12 months old. It was working up until today when I allowed the battery to completely run down before recharging. I used the charging adaptor and cable I always use for over 2 hours with no life showing. So swapped to a new charging adaptor for another 2 hours. This time the green led lights worked for about 20 mins but no screen displays and the device wouldn't sync. I've now connected it to my computer and now the fitbit icon and empty battery icon alternatively flash continuously. What does this mean? After half an hour there is no sign of the battery beginining to hold charge. This is my second Alta that has died within 12 months (this one was replaced by Fitbit under warranty when the first died.).

[Julia_G]

Hi, @brucelat, have you tried giving it a restart?  This is often necessary if the Fitbit has been allowed to die completely.  

It will charge much more efficiently plugged into a wall adapter than plugged into your computer, so I would recommend plugging it back in to your usual wall charger and perhaps giving it another couple of hours charge.  

Then try the restart procedure: Press the button on your charging cable 3 times within a few seconds, briefly pausing between presses. The button is on the end of the charging cable that is plugged into your computer. When you see the Fitbit logo and the tracker vibrates, this means the tracker has restarted.

Again, if the Fitbit has been allowed to discharge completely you may need to repeat this procedure a couple of times before it comes back to life.  

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

[brucelat]

Julia_G, it did eventually fully charge connected to the computer (Note in my first message, the chargers I usually use connected to the wall socket didn't have any impact yesterday, despite being used each day to charge our phones). However, once charged,  the display stayed permanently lit and cycled continuously through all the options (time, battery, heart, steps, etc including the Fitbit diamond icon). While it was flicking between screens it wouldn't sync with my phone. I eventually put it under some clothing to avoid the constant glow of the display. By morning the battery was flat once more. Its connected to the computer again as we speak and I suspect this time its charging as it should (the battery icon is showing as it normally would when charging). Yes I use the 3 button pushes quite often when charging the device, including last night and this morning. Fingers crossed.

Well, its now fully charged and the display is working as it should and the device syncs with my phone. But the green leds have completely stopped working - burnt out??? They were functioning yesterday when the unit was misbehaving. At least I can count steps now...

[brucelat]

Wanting to delete this update but best I can do is ammend.