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! 

[THX11384EB]

It's not just step tracking! I relure on notification of mail, text and calls on my Blaze.

And I only turn my PC on once a fortnight at best. Do everything on my phone.

[chilehead]

For whatever reason, the problem I had for a couple months with my Nokia 7.1 went away.   Sync is working fine with my charge 2.

However, all these problems with no official solution has definitely put me off the planned upgrade I had to a Versa.  I wanted to get a new device, but I'm afraid it would result in sync problems again, as whatever I did to my Nokia and Charge 2 is working in a likely delicate balance.

It's been what, 5 months now?  More?

[CardiganWearer]

@chilehead 

yep. for whatever reason my Charge 2 has started syncing with my Nokia 6.0 (TA 1033)

been working a couple of days now, but didn't want to say anything cause, well, u know, sometimes sync works for a bit then stops.

also

because

notifications and "GPS connect" are still not working

I've started to play around with bluetooth reconnects to see if they get solved; but will probably break the syncing now 😞

does anybody know how the sync connection works as opposed to the use of bluetooth for notifications and "GPS connect"?

[JonathanWebb]

There must be something suspicious going on.  It can't take this long to address an issue unless:

1) The team is not actively looking into it (priorities lie somewhere else), or...

2) The team know what the issue is but are unable to fix it (and so are keeping quiet).

Regardless, their brand must be taking a massive hit.  As it stands, after using my Charge 2 for a couple of years and being very pleased with it, I'm now stuck with a Charge 3 which can't even tell the correct time.

Sorry, Fitbit, but Garmin are looking mighty attractive right now.

[GerliS]

So, I have just recently bought a new phone and it uses Android 9 (Pie). And as I have understood, many of us experience the same problem - Versa won't either sync properly OR in my case, I am not able to recieve any notificatonot (calls, emails etc.) on my Versa. Is anybody in the Fitbit team actually trying to fix the issue or not, because I need to find another watch if that's the case. 

[AlessFitbit]

Fitbit Update: 3/12/19

Hey, Android users!

Just wanted to follow-up again and let you know I really appreciate everyone's patience on this matter. As you're all aware, Google made changes in Android 9.0 (Pie) and we have been working to improve syncing with this Android OS ever since it's release. 

For now, if you're experiencing these syncing issues we are recommending you try the following: 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

We're working on a long term solution and once I receive anymore information, I will communicate that here. Please stay subscribed to this thread and keep in mind we appreciate you all following our Community guidelines and keeping the discussion on-topic. Thanks for your cooperation. 

[THX11384EB]

With all due respect, we were made aware of the Google issue by a user post, not Fitbit. This user reported that he raised the issue many months ago and that Google has fixed the defect in Android in their next build which may be many more months away.

Please don't DM your reply, but respond in the forum.

[spatula]

Disabling background limitations and battery optimization hasn't helped anybody, has it?  It certainly hasn't done a thing for me.

[THX11384EB]

These settings do actually exist in my version of Pie (Nokia 8). Battery optimisation is specifically not allowed.

[THX11384EB]

Commenting about the actions of moderators is against the code of conduct you agreed to by joint this forum.

[Webfeet]

Very few products have forums where you can share information and help each other.  I really appreciate that Fitbit maintains a forum complete with moderators. Having a product forum is a gift not a right. I fear that using product forums to attack and try to harm the companies providing forums or attacking moderators will only result in fewer companies willing to host forums.  Modern software, firmware, apps and devices are incredibly complex especially when interactions between different companies and products are involved. 

[THX11384EB]

I don't disagree that the original post was bad form and attacking moderators is counter productive and unacceptable.

I would however make two comments and ask you a question.

1) The fact that Fitbit has for months not even acknowledged that there was an issue with Pie is also unacceptable.

But the moderators are the meat in 

the sandwich here and not free agents.

2) Many product community forums allow 'dissenting' comments and only delete abusive and offensive personal comments.

Q: Are you and Android 9 user?

[Webfeet]

Hi THX11384EB,

By the way I wasn't replying specifically to you but I don't know how to do a general reply to the topic rather than a reply to a previous poster.  Can't seem to find a button for that.   I now have a Nokia 6.1 and a Fitbit Charge 2.   I had trouble finding the device and syncing from the day I bought it when I was using Android 8 and had a Nexus 5x phone.  I brought it back to the store and was going to get a refund when the help desk person was able to get it to pair and sync. It was mostly trouble free.  I then got the Nokia 6.1 and troubles began.  I believe Nokia was too aggressive in trying to save power by killing tasks and turning off Bluetooth. I was having troubles before it updated to Android 9 but it seemed to get worse to the point of being unusable. That was when I started checking out the forums. Around mid February after getting some updates and trying suggestions my syncing problems have gone away except for every couple of days I must restart my phone before the Fitbit can be found. I think the blame can be spread around among Fitbit, the phone manufacturer, Google Android OS and 3rd party apps. That is why everyone seems to be getting different results and different fixes or non-fixes.

[RobinBaker]

Is anyone running Android 9 (Pie) having bluetooth connection/sync issues with any other bluetooth devices? I'm not, and I have 5 other devices that I connect to without any issues.

[Ingineru]

I have the Galaxy S9 and the Fitbit Charge 3. I have rarely sync issues ( maybe one a month ) and i solve it by restarting Bluetooth on the phone.

However, if i activate aggressive battery power saving, it does not sync.

[ChipCharge]

I'm glad you returned your Zips! Evidently Fitbit doesn't own any of it's own with which to test out the preposterous routines they try to get all the Zip owners to do, when obviously nothing works. 

Now that they have two, I'm sure they'll stop doing that.

[RobinBaker]

I have a Zip, and none of the recommended fixes work. I've uninstalled Fitbit from my Samsung Galaxy S9 (with Pie) and am now using Google Fit. The Zip device never did sync consistently,  even under Android 8. I have no problems syncing with my other bluetooth devices with Pie (Android 9). Sayonara Fitbit!

[Kuwha39]

Any update to the android issues? This problem has being going on for a while with the 9.0 Pie not syncing. Any updates on the progress of getting this fixed would be appreciated. 

[JoePaul]

Ummmm....the only thing that seems to work, is the forum. Meaning that everyone can get on here and complain about not being able to use their devices that we all spent hard earned money on. FITBIT has done NOTHING to solve the problem. The moderators put out generic fix solutions that don’t work, and they obviously do not talk to each other, because they all give the same “fixes” that DONT WORK. 

I have waisted enough time and effort trying to get something to work, and not receiving any viable help from FITBIT. They obviously don’t care. It seems that they actually want to phase out certain models of their merchandise, and we are left holding the bag. Time for a new product from another company. Bye bye, FITBIT.

[ghlover]

I give up, I am considering the Vivoki from Garmin