Android 9.0 (Pie) not able to sync

[AlessFitbit]

Fitbit Update: 3/6/19

Hello everyone! 

We have some updated troubleshooting suggestions we'd like for all of you on Android Pie (9.0) to try. 

First, turn off Background Restrictions/Limitations: Phone settings > Apps & Notifications > Fitbit app > Background restrictions or Background limits.

Then, disable battery limitations:

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Fitbit app > Advanced > Battery > Battery optimization
2. Change view to All apps
3. Search for Fitbit app
4. Choose Not optimized

Please give the steps above a try to improve syncing with your Fitbit device and Android 9.0 OS. We're still researching and testing out long-term solutions to this ongoing syncing issue. We thank you for all your patience while we continue to work on this effort.

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Fitbit Update: 2/14/19

Hi everyone!

Thanks for all your reports and patience with these Android 9.0 syncing difficulties. We’re aware of this ongoing issue and have been working to identify a resolution as quickly as possible. 

We're sorry for any trouble. We appreciate your patience and look forward to getting you back on track as soon as possible. 

I'll let you know if I receive any additional information on this matter. 

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Fitbit Update: 10/3/18 

Hey Everyone!

Our team is still working on implementing a longterm fix for syncing with Android devices on Pie (9.0). 

For the background syncing issue, I have posted an update in the other floated thread which you can find here. 

We released Fitbit for Android version 2.80 today which contains improvements for that syncing issue. 

I'll make sure to keep you all updated with more information, as soon as I have it available. We're still working on this and I really appreciate everyone's patience. 

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Fitbit Update: 9/26/18

Hey everyone! 

Thanks so much for your patience and cooperation. We are aware of the issue and working with Google on a solution.

I will continue to provide updates here, so keep an eye on this thread. 

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Fitbit Update: 9/10/18 

Hi, everybody! 

Thanks for your patience while our team continues to work on improving syncing for those on Android Pie (9.0). They are actively working on this and for the time being, I recommend you keep the Fitbit app updated on the latest version for best syncing results. Right now that is version 2.78, so if you're not on this version please update! Also, another troubleshoot we recommend is performing a restart on your phone. 

When there are more improvements made in the future I'll announce them here. Stay tuned and subscribed to this thread. 

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Fitbit Update: 8/19/18

We have escalated these syncing issues for those who are now using Android Pie (9.0) to our team for investigation. There aren't any updates at the moment, but rest assured we will keep you informed in this thread when more information is available.

Thanks for your patience! 

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Fitbit Update: 8/11/18 

Hi, everyone! Thanks for stopping by the Community Forums. 

Seems like many of you who updated to Android Pie (9.0) are now having trouble syncing your Fitbit trackers. I'm going to escalate this to our team so they can look into it.

In the meantime, please update the Fitbit app to version 2.76.1 if you haven't yet. Let me know if that changes the syncing behavior. Please follow this thread for updates. I'll keep you all posted here! 

[ZipItGood]

What version of Android Pie are you using?

[zsk240]

Pi

Get Outlook for Android

[Partha1b]

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@HaveACookie wrote:

It worked!! Thanks for sharing zsk240!!! I unpaired some old bluetooth devices, closed my fitbit app, reopened it, tried syncing it and in a couple minutes it synced!

For reference: Samsung galaxy s9+, Fitbit Charge 3.

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This seems to be the ticket. I was going to post but you beat me to it. 🙂

I rebooted my Pixel 3 XL when no bluetooth devices were around and it synced and started to count my steps on my FitBit 1.

[zsk240]

Good to hear, a post from Apple more than a year ago says the spec for Bluetooth is up to seven but practically 3-4 is the limit. All Bluetooth is the same, not unique to Apple.


Get Outlook for Android

[mattdm]

For further reference: the "too many devices" problem is definitely not the issue with Zip or One devices.

[ZipItGood]

That is my experience as well. It does not solve the issue with the Zip.

[Partha1b]

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@mattdm wrote:

For further reference: the "too many devices" problem is definitely not the issue with Zip or One devices.

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But on the other hand, it should be relatively easy to test for this condition and put up a message saying so instead of failing silently. 

Please note that my Ipad has no issues with syncing with the One.

[mattdm]

Please note that my Ipad has no issues with syncing with the One.

My One had no problems syncing with my Pixel XL before the Android 9 update. After the update when it stopped working, I contacted tech support and suggested that there might be a problem. They told me that that wasn't it, made me go through the stupid diagnostic steps, and told me that my device was out of warranty so the best they could do is tell me to buy a new device.

I did that and bought a new device (a Zip), which of course didn't work, and then went through the same tech support hoops. Since this was under warranty, they sent me a new one (!) which, surprise, also doesn't work.

This is why I'm really mystified. What's the value in all the cover-up here? Sending me a whole new device under warranty plus all of the time I spent with tech support can't possibly be cost effective. Tell your support people and update the bots to just say that you don't currently work with Android 9.

[kmak65]

Is there any solution to this as a lot of ppl are having the same problem....

Im fed up With itn it seems fitbit dont really care they got their money from all of us

[Nexxus5x]

Weel having some knowledge of android (having just unlocked my boot loader to downgrade my nokia 7 plus back to 8.1.0 from 9.0) and a rom modder from zte blade / android 2.3.6 gingerbread days, the general whispers on XDA is its a google android 9.0 wide problem (apparently now fixed by google techs for next release) rather than a Fitbit problem, although Fitbit haven't pushed google for a fix or communicated to the public in a timely manner, Fitbit need to realise once you loose customers they don't return and bad mouth the product.....

 fitbit + fit bit app + iPhone 8 plus works and syncs fine

 fitbit + fitbit app + nokia 7 plus  on Android 8.1.0 works and syncs fine

 fitbit + fitbit app + nokia 7 plus on Android 9.1.0 syncs ONCE only unless forget in bluetooth and reset of fitbit.......

[spatula]

I dunno, I was having occasional problems on 8.x on my Pixel 1 too, which were cured the same way- by toggling airplane mode on the phone.  The behavior out of the Fitbit app suggested that their sync process would get deadlocked, and killing bluetooth by cycling airplane mode would un-wedge whatever had gotten wedged.  So I think this is likely to be a compound problem of some kind.

It's certainly the case that Bluetooth on Android is a mess, and has been for a long time.  They tend to break 5 things for every 2 things they fix.

[THX11384EB]

All true, but Fitbit still claims there is no problem and Pie issupported for models just released. I

[fawlty]

I know for sure that resetting Bluetooth etc is not a fix for the Zip sync issues on my phone (OnePlus 5T), but if it works for others I'm glad.

The phone can only initiate a sync with the Zip if the Zip is connected via Bluetooth to my PC. That made me think that I had found a fix after I reset the Bluetooth on my phone, but alas that was not the case.

[Dave_Val]

Guys, I think I got a solution for the syncing issue, I accidentally stumbled on a solution, wanted to share it maybe it'll work for others as well..

1. Install Windows Fitbit app, login with the same credentials as your phone/tablet

2. Add the fitbit device and Sync once on Windows.

3. Disconnect Windows Bluetooth

4. Now restart your fitbit app on your phone

5. Voila it's syncing now 🙂

P.S. have xiaomi A1 and fitbit Alta HR

[ChipCharge]

I'm sorry to burst the bubble, @Dave_Val , but the Alta HR syncs just fine with Pie (I found you have to reboot the tracker once, then it works perfectly). Some of the other newer models do fine also.

Unfortunately, nothing I do with our Zips allow them to sync for more than a few cycles, even though the Alta HRs synch with the same phones (Pixel XLs) perfectly; they even go into the mode where it shows your steps being updated in real time as you walk.

But the results with Zip are zip.

[Dave_Val]

Hey @ChipCharge  it's ok 😉 I was hoping it would work for others as well but was just too excited that my alta hr synced, which didn't happen since Feb15.

Anyway hopefully you'll find a solution soon 😉

[ChipCharge]

Excitement's good @Dave_Val ! I found that rebooting the Alta, pressing the little button on the charging cable three times, was all I needed.

I wish anything like that worked for the Zip and the other models that won't sync. At this point I wish Fitbit would just acknowledge the problem at least, it is very frustrating that they refuse to do so. I wonder what they're afraid of that is making them behave this way.

[spatula]

If I had to venture to guess, I'd guess that they have some agreement with Google that prevents them from disclosing the nature of the bug.

And if I had to guess why THAT is, my guess is that wrapped up in the Android bug is a security vulnerability that Fitbit inadvertently tickled which Google does not want to have disclosed just yet.

Another possibility is that Google is courting Fitbit for an acquisition, or vice-versa, so Fitbit doesn't want to rock the boat in a way that might hamper that discussion.

Note that this is ALL speculation on my part, but any one or combination of these things might explain their strange behavior in not acknowledging that this is a major defect that requires a remedy on the Android side of things to fully correct.

[fawlty]

@Dave_Val

I think it's easier to just let the Fitbit sync with the Windows app as of this point. 🙂 That's what I do. Since it's on a PC that is always on, it auto syncs with it when I am in th same room. It also lets me initiate the sync manually from the Android app as long as the Fitbit is still connected to the Windows Bluetooth.

[bcamper]

I've been following this thread for weeks. Tried every solution. I have a zip and it was working fine until my Samsung S9 updated android to Pie. Since then the only way to get it to sync is pop the battery out, it will sync for a few minutes then stops.

It appears Fitbit isn't able to fix this, or at least they haven't yet and have known about these issues for many months. 

I just ordered the Garmin vivoki, basically the same size and functionality of the zip. I gotta believe I'm not the only one fed up with Fitbit not being able to fix there sync issues.

Good luck Fitbit in fixing this, hopefully you have it fixed before everyone jumps ship to Garmin.