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! 

[dvnorty]

Might have stumbled into an admittedly kludgy workaround for the syncing issues on Android.  I tried all the resetting options suggested here to no avail.  But my Fitbit battery ran out completely while I was on a trip without my charger, and when it powered back on it was able to sync again.  Note that you must let the battery completely drain down --- to the point where it shows the Fitbit logo and restarts when you attach it to the charger (not simply display the low battery icon).  Support may be able to weigh in with another way to force a hard reset of the watch, but this seems to be one way.

[sneezyH]

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@dvnorty wrote:

Might have stumbled into an admittedly kludgy workaround for the syncing issues on Android.  I tried all the resetting options suggested here to no avail.  But my Fitbit battery ran out completely while I was on a trip without my charger, and when it powered back on it was able to sync again.  Note that you must let the battery completely drain down --- to the point where it shows the Fitbit logo and restarts when you attach it to the charger (not simply display the low battery icon).  Support may be able to weigh in with another way to force a hard reset of the watch, but this seems to be one way.

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Wouldn't that be hard on the battery over time? I would assume you would stress it out and then you would have problems with the battery keeping a charge.

[Cazald]

Thank you I shall try this it cant fo any harm, cheers for that!!! 🙂

[mattdm]

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@dvnorty wrote:

Might have stumbled into an admittedly kludgy workaround for the syncing issues on Android.  I tried all the resetting options suggested here to no avail.  But my Fitbit battery ran out completely while I was on a trip without my charger, and when it powered back on it was able to sync again.  Note that you must let the battery completely drain down --- to the point where it shows the Fitbit logo and restarts when you attach it to the charger (not simply display the low battery icon).  Support may be able to weigh in with another way to force a hard reset of the watch, but this seems to be one way.

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Yes, this is exactly what works with the Zip by popping the battery out. A similar thing works by forcing a reset on the One. But this only works one time. After the device goes to sleep again, you need to reset again to get another sync, so this is not a sustainable workaround, let alone a solution.

[pham7]

Hi,

I've been having tons of troubles updating my new Fitbit Alta HR from my Nokia 5. I know Nokia 5 is not on the compatibility list yet but having read this post on troubleshooting with Android 9 (Pie) so I'm hoping that perhaps it might work. I followed the steps suggested here and changed the battery setting to "Not Optimized." The only difference so far is that the exclamation point has not immediately popped up on my Alta HR. BUT, the update seems stuck at the first dot for the last 15 minutes. What's going on?

Thanks for any insights you might have!

[LanuzaFitbit]

Hello all.

Thank for  your feedback. Please know that we take all comments seriously and that all of your comments will not go unnoticed. 

For the ones that have not, please try to follow the steps that were listed in the first post in the thread. It is possible that they can help your Fitbit and Android 9 phone sync ince again.

Thanks for your patience and understanding.

[pham7]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply!

I only asked after having followed the steps in the first post of the
thread -- to no avail. I've also contacted Fitbit and had a customer
service agent (again) work with me with the update/sync issue. It didn't
work either.

I've spent enough time and energy trying to make this work. I'm returning
my Fitbit and will go with another tracker.

[pham7]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply!

I only asked after having followed the steps in the first post of the thread -- to no avail. I've also contacted Fitbit and had a customer service agent (again) work with me with the update/sync issue. It didn't work either.

I've spent enough time and energy trying to make this work. I'm returning my Fitbit and will go with another tracker.

Thanks!

[MattJ71]

My wife stopped wearing her Versa.  She has a Google Pixel 3XL running all the latest software.  The Versa is just collecting dust now since it doesn't tell the right time, or sync, ever.  So it can't even be used as a watch.

[Cazald]

Its shocking how many people are our there having issues! I'm afraid I'm about to do the same thing, sick of it now. It can collect dust for all care now 

[pham7]

I read some more posts on this topic just now. It's shocking indeed that the firmware update/sync problem has existed for quite some time (and abundantly made clear to Fitbit) and yet there's still no solution. As Android devices make up the (much) larger percentage of the smart devices, one would think that an issue like this would have to be resolved very quickly.

[Cazald]

I totally agree, I guess you have to be iPhone lover to have a Fitbit! Makes no sense to me why this has gone for so long ! 

[BenInTx]

And if you have an iPhone, you'll probably get an Apple watch.

[LanuzaFitbit]

Hello everyone.

Thanks for trying the steps I recommended and sharing your feedback.

If you have the option, perhaps you could try to use a computer or another mobile device to try and sync your Fitbit to your account. Click here to get instructions on how to sync with other devices. We understand that this is not a permanent solution, but it can do as a temporary workaround.

Thanks for your patience and understanding.

[ZINZIN]

This is beyond ridiculous. I shouldn't have to carry around my laptop to
work with my Fitbit.

How long will we have to wait until you are willing to provide full
refunds?

[ScottKilbo]

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@ZINZIN wrote:
This is beyond ridiculous. I shouldn't have to carry around my laptop to
work with my Fitbit.

How long will we have to wait until you are willing to provide full
refunds?

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Fitbit doesn't do refunds unless you're within the purchase refund period.  Sometimes you'll get lucky enough to get the right support person working on your case and they will get you a replacement device.  Given how this is a widespread issue with Android P, I'm not sure how a new device would make a difference.  The only time I ever remember them doing anything close to a mass refund was when their watchbands were causing rashes and burning in people with nickel allergies.  Actually injuring people leads to large lawsuits.  These types of issues will not lead to lawsuits, so they're not worried about it.

If you have this device, are having problems, and are within your return period, return it now and move on to a stable device.  If you don't, you will likely regret holding out for a fix.  

[GranthamHR]

I am also very annoyed. I have had my Fitbit Charge 2 since January 2018. I have a Nokia 6 phone, which is up to date and which now apparently is 'incompatible' device. However, it was absolutely fine until the end of April 2019 when Android upgraded to 9 Pie. They will not help me anymore, as they said my phone is not a compatible device. Instead, I am supposed to purchase a compatible phone or sync with my laptop which I refuse to carry around. This does not solve the issue of no longer getting alerts on my Fitbit from calls or texts anymore. My Fitbit now just about syncs my steps when it feels like it, but I need the text/call notifications!!!!!!! Everything was flippin fine and dandy until the end of April 2019 when 9.0 came along........ So how is this being blamed on my incompatible device when SO many people with 'compatible' devices are having the same issue as me!!!

[pham7]

I agree that if it happens to be within the return period, folks need to return their Fitbit ASAP. I have TWO to return. It was beyond aggravating trying "fixes" here and there.I really wanted it to work and ended up wasting so much time and energy.

After doing some research for (mainly) a reliable heart rate tracker that is NOT a Fitbit, I decided to go with an Honor Band 4 which cost less than half of the Alta HR I'm returning. I got it earlier today. Updating the software and and syncing the Band 4 with my Nokia 5 took about... 3 minutes. Everything seems to be working flawlessly. Enough said!

[ScottKilbo]

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@pham7 wrote:

I agree that if it happens to be within the return period, folks need to return their Fitbit ASAP. I have TWO to return. It was beyond aggravating trying "fixes" here and there.I really wanted it to work and ended up wasting so much time and energy.

After doing some research for (mainly) a reliable heart rate tracker that is NOT a Fitbit, I decided to go with an Honor Band 4 which cost less than half of the Alta HR I'm returning. I got it earlier today. Updating the software and and syncing the Band 4 with my Nokia 5 took about... 3 minutes. Everything seems to be working flawlessly. Enough said!

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Congrats.  Though you would be hard pressed to find anything that is anywhere near as big a disaster as these things are.  I've had my Ionic for a year and a few months now.  Syncing was very unreliable for the first four months.  They were sending new ones that actually worked out to people who were having syncing issues but I was never able to get one.  Then some update that they released made it mostly work.  And I was about 75% happy with it until my phone got the Android P update.  Now it will sometimes sync if I force it.  I get nonstop "restart Bluetooth" messages and I often have to restart the app or the phone to get it to sync my sleep in the morning.  I never get notifications now.  I used to get about 90% of my notifications and now I get 0%.  Before this thing, I had a Surge that never worked well.  Besides the software problems, that thing had hardware issues as well.  The watch band was part of the device and it would bubble and the Bluetooth antenna (that was under the watch band) would stop working.  My wife had three replacements in a 1.5 year period and her last one was starting to show signs of having the same problems when we bought the Ionic.  The only reason that mine didn't have the same problem is that I only wore it when walking and wore my Samsung Gear 2 for everything else.  Before that, I had a Fitbit One.  I still have it and wear it every day.  That was a sturdy device but it too was never able to sync reliably.

I guess I'm a Fitbit sucker because I keep coming back for more.

The point is that it is unlikely this will ever be fixed.  And if they do manage to get lucky and put something in place that does make it work better, it will just be broken again by some phone update in the future.  It's amazing that these guys are still a big player in this market.  They are coasting on brand name and well-done advertising.  Fitbit was one of the very first in this wearable fitness tracker market and they have brand recognition on their side.

[Gc66]

I finally give up.   Have a Zip and a Flex2.   Zip has never sync'ed in S8/Android Pie, Flex2  has been troublesome but has always worked. Fitbit App had an update on the 22nd May, and now neither sync with my Android.

Agree with previous posters if you have the option to return your device for a refund - Do It!