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! 

[Emujo]

Nothing to do with the sync issues, but more along the lines of Fitbit really dragging their feet when it comes to issue like this..

I just purchased a tracker for my wife, Spade and Co, for around $60..I does everything my Surge does except for GPS (which due to battery issues I can't use). It also does BP, and O2 sats, along with the other features of the Fitbit. She has been using it for 3 weeks and the battery life has just dropped below 50%. It looks nice, display is easy to use and navigate..Did I say $60??? Going to monitor hers for the next 6 months and make my decision on what vendor to go with.

[ZINZIN]

Please keep us updated

[ScottKilbo]

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@Emujo wrote:

Nothing to do with the sync issues, but more along the lines of Fitbit really dragging their feet when it comes to issue like this..

I just purchased a tracker for my wife, Spade and Co, for around $60..I does everything my Surge does except for GPS (which due to battery issues I can't use). It also does BP, and O2 sats, along with the other features of the Fitbit. She has been using it for 3 weeks and the battery life has just dropped below 50%. It looks nice, display is easy to use and navigate..Did I say $60??? Going to monitor hers for the next 6 months and make my decision on what vendor to go with.

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No GPS is a deal breaker for me.  I go on long hikes and walks every day and I use the GPS to get some idea of the mileage that I put in.

The point I'm trying to make is that there are a LOT of players in the fitness tracking market.  There is something out there for everyone.  Because of my reliance on GPS, I'd probably take a look at something from Garmin when this thing finally dies.  For those that don't care about GPS, there are so many options out there to try, and many of them are miles better than what Fitbit is producing now.  And a lot of them are considerably less expensive.

[Mamamegs]

My phone, a Xiaomi Note 5, just got updated to Pie this morning and straight away my Versa stopped syncing and the "Bluetooth issues" message kept popping up. And off course I did not get it to work with the tips given here.

But! *gasp*

I think I've got it working properly now!

This is what I've done: 

Delete Versa from your account. 

Restart phone and watch

Put watch in charging cradle

Go to Network settings on the phone and do "reset network settings". 

Reconnect to your WiFi network 

Add Versa back to your account

It failed to connect the first time, but after I done all this the second time it worked! 

My Versa has been syncing reliably all day and notifications work properly. 

Let me know if this works for you? 

[ScottKilbo]

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@Mamamegs wrote:

My phone, a Xiaomi Note 5, just got updated to Pie this morning and straight away my Versa stopped syncing and the "Bluetooth issues" message kept popping up. And off course I did not get it to work with the tips given here.

But! *gasp*

I think I've got it working properly now!

This is what I've done: 

Delete Versa from your account. 

Restart phone and watch

Put watch in charging cradle

Go to Network settings on the phone and do "reset network settings". 

Reconnect to your WiFi network 

Add Versa back to your account

It failed to connect the first time, but after I done all this the second time it worked! 

My Versa has been syncing reliably all day and notifications work properly. 

Let me know if this works for you? 

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There have been a lot of people who have followed similar steps and have just lost the ability to connect their watch at all.

And this works for you now, but I would be very interested to see how it works long term.  Very few of us have actually been able to get their watches to connect reliably on Android P no matter what they do or try.

I actually feel like one of the lucky ones.  My watch will sync if I force it.  Many times I have to restart bluetooth at least once and there have been times when I have to restart my entire phone.  Sometimes I have to try different things for five or ten minutes, but I can get it to sync.  It will rarely sync on its own.  I have completely lost notifications and nothing that I do will get them back.

Regardless, I don't think that we should have to do all of this to get the product to work.  It's ridiculous that I paid $250 for this Ionic and it virtually takes witchcraft to get it to work.  Every time some Fitbit support person posts their long set of instructions for getting the watch to maybe sync for a while, it makes me angry.  I agree with what others have said - Fitbit doesn't care about this.  They are already on to working with newer devices and developing newer trackers.  This is not going to be fixed.  It seems like people with newer phones like the S10 are having better results.  Great for them, but I am not going to buy a new phone to get a watch to work correctly.

I should have known better because this has happened multiple times.  My Fitbit one barely syncs and the last device it did sync with reliably was a Samsung Galaxy S3. My Surge would never sync with my Note 8.  And now my Ionic doesn't.

It really is past time for me to stop buying these limited time only pieces of garbage and move on to something reliable that can sync with my phone and whatever phone I might own in the future.

[SunsetRunner]

Ten (10) months have passed since my Fitbit Zip and Pixel One stopped syncing. Yes, this was after my Pixel upgraded to Android 9.0 Pie on August 6th, 2018.

As of today, June 6th, 2019, there's still no permanent resolution, only a few temporary workarounds.

- Shame on you Fitbit for not resolving this issue after 10 months.

- It's obvious to me that Fitbit has abandoned its Fitbit Zip users on the Android 9.0 Pie platform.

[MedusaDK]

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@Mamamegs wrote:

My phone, a Xiaomi Note 5, just got updated to Pie this morning and straight away my Versa stopped syncing and the "Bluetooth issues" message kept popping up. And off course I did not get it to work with the tips given here.

But! *gasp*

I think I've got it working properly now!

This is what I've done: 

Delete Versa from your account. 

Restart phone and watch

Put watch in charging cradle

Go to Network settings on the phone and do "reset network settings". 

Reconnect to your WiFi network 

Add Versa back to your account

It failed to connect the first time, but after I done all this the second time it worked! 

My Versa has been syncing reliably all day and notifications work properly. 

Let me know if this works for you? 

---

Hey! I am on a Xiaomi Note 5 Pro + Charge 2.

Got the update around the same time as you did yesterday and haven't been able to sync anything!

Have tried every single troubleshooting option stated on every single community board. Nothing works.

And I have seen posts by people who have been struggling with this for the last 10 months, with no resolution. How can fitbit, a supposedly premium product, be so callous about the service provided?

Why would I ever another fitbit device given how little they care about a basic necessity such as Bluetooth pairing.

[TimZurich]

I just setup fitbit versa with my google pixel 3 xl with android 9.0

I was able to set ut up first but then syncing via bluetooth failed and updating tracker was impossible. 

I followed the steps as well to disable battery optimization but it still didnt work. 

I also paired versa classic via bluetooth manually but then I had 2 bluetooth devices on my phone (versa & versa classic) 

I then clicked on "forget" the Versa device (which was automatically added during the setup) and everything works since then. 

Syncs like a charm. 

[BenInTx]

I did the same with my old Versa and Pixel, but it only worked for awhile, and using the Versa's Classic you lose some functionality. Fitbit is selling something that isn't close to ready for primetime. Nothing should be this much of a challenge across user platforms.

[rejkz]

I had the same with Charge 3 and Xiaomi Note 5. After yesterday update to Android Pie, Charge 3 stopped syncing. Nothing works. Finally I uninstalled app, reseted band to factory defaults. After this band pop-up in BT devices on phone level and i was able to pair it. After that installed app and adding band in app finally worked as should. Maybe this help someone.

[loriandtate]

Tried all the suggestions, the Blaze continues to decline the pairing requests from my android. Are the sync issues limited to the android? Is it paring fine with apple products?

[DrDaveUK]

My Xiaomi Note 5 also stopped working with my Charge 2.  I have managed to get it working again (for the moment).  Removing and reinstalling the app didn't work.  So, seeing that someone else was successful, I was going to try some of those steps.  I didn't need to do as much.  

1. Delete Charge 2 from the Bluetooth section of the phone.

2. Go into Fitbit app.  Remove Charge 2.  

3. Restart Charge 2 using charging cable while plugged in. 

4. Go back into Fitbit app and add Charge 2.  First time it didn't work, but the next time it started the pairing process and the Charge 2 showed a 4 digit number to enter into the app. 

The only remaining issues so far is that HR data from the time of update to Pie (or last sync before update) is not showing up.  I've also lost a bit of data on my number of hours over 250 steps.  My watch says 6 hours today, but only the last hour is showing up on the app.    Let's hope the HR data starts to show up, as that is one stream of data I follow closely.

[Kamleman]

I  managed to get my Charge 2 to sync with my Mi A2 lite by jumping through a few hoops (check my previous posts) though never managed to get notifications to work.

But I will never buy Fitbit again - why?  It's clear that the culture of the organisation is not customer centric and they don't believe that this issue is one that they need to solve.  The strategy is obviously to wait it out till either people upgrade their bands to those that do work or just move on.  After all, this is a fast moving industry and obsolescence comes quickly. 

Now, to those who have bought more expensive devices like the Versa (which apparently does work), the question is what happens when the next Android update comes up and most likely breaks the sync with your device?  Do you think Fitbit will rush to fix it?  Obviously, based on current performance, absolutely not.  That will be next forum topic which will last another year  -  "Android 10 not able to sync".

Which is why my advice to those currently struggling and complaining is to change to any of the many brands that make devices that are cheaper, and at least as good if not better.  No fuss, no bother, and no wasted emotional energy.

Personally I have given up with Fitbit and have moved to Garmin, which paired perfectly, and syncs perfectly all the time. Why bother to stick with a brand that doesn't want to stick with you?

[harpingon]

Yep. I've gone from a fitbit fan, to actively discouraging others from buying fitbit products over this issue, and certainly I won't be buying fitbit again myself.

It's clear they don't care one bit about customers, once they have their hands on your money.

[pampurio97]

I've just written to Fitbit support and they told me that:

We have no reports of any known issue but we take every feedback as a learning and improvement opportunity for our products.

I don't know, are they actually serious?

[reggert]

Sound like a bunch of corrupt politicians. First deflect the issue by always responding with the canned "sync troubleshooting guide". When that doesnt work respond with "we are working hard to resolve this issue as soon as possible". When that doesnt work, just say youve never heard of the problem in the first place. In the case of fitbit zip users, i am waiting for them to start telling us they have never heard of a fitbit zip. What a joke!

[ScottKilbo]

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@reggert wrote:

Sound like a bunch of corrupt politicians. First deflect the issue by always responding with the canned "sync troubleshooting guide". When that doesnt work respond with "we are working hard to resolve this issue as soon as possible". When that doesnt work, just say youve never heard of the problem in the first place. In the case of fitbit zip users, i am waiting for them to start telling us they have never heard of a fitbit zip. What a joke!

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Fitbit has fallen a long way from what they once were.  I've been a customer since 2010.  Back when they were a small startup, they cared about customer service and making things right with the customer.  My original Fitbit died after about two years and they sent me a brand new one, latest model, without question and without my asking.  I understand that they can't do that now, but there has to be a happy medium between what they were and what they are now.  Now you have to fight for hours and days to get them to support their products at all and they show no signs of actually caring about what a big issues this is for so many of their users.  They are now one of the worst companies out there for customer service.  They lose customers every day because of this and it is only a matter of time before the scales tip against them and they find themselves in serious trouble.

[ZINZIN]

Am on chat. Unbelievable

[SunsetRunner]

Charge 2 with Nokia 8, since update to Pie several months ago, reinstalling Fitbit app, "forget" BT device, remove cache from BT... all did not work. Suggestions like workarounds as suggested on several sites did not work. Via PC all worked fine, so I kept my tracker. Until today, my wife HAD a Flex 2 with some accessories, to prove her wrong, I gave it a last chance. Tried all of the above for a last time, until I reset all connections: Setting > System > Advanced > Options for Resetting > Reset Wifi / Mobile and BT. Setting up device and syncing worked again, rebooted mobile, forced BT to turn off, started Fitbit App again, sync asked me to start BT and sync still works. Yes, it did remove all wifi connections, retyping wifi passwords and setup my BT devices again is the least of the issue, at least I don't have to reinvest in another tracker. I hope this may be a solution for someone out there too.

[Tanutamun]

It is strange how different the devices behave. I have also a Charge 2 and Nokia 8. The sync was working after removing the tracker from the app and the device and adding it in the app again.