Failing to sync after Android 13 update Samsung Flip/Fold

[StrikerJaken]

I updated to Android 13 today.
From then on, no sync possible anymore.
I already:

• Restarted my phone
• Shut down the phone completly
• Force quit Fitbit
• Deleted and reinstalled Fitbit (should be the newest version)
• Reset the Charge 5
• Shut down Google Assistant (apparently that's a problem with the Sense and Android 13)
• Restarted Bluetooth several times
• Hard Reset the Charge 5

Now I'm stuck with a watch that can't be connected anymore and is stuck in install mode.

Edit: To clarify. The Charge 5 is being seen via bluetooth, i get's found by the app, but it doesn't complete the connection.

[gosioux]

Still a problem in US as of today.  It's been nearly two weeks.  Come on guys, get it working.

[Hp513]

I'm not really seeing any urgency in a fix. We returned a Charge 5 to the store and I'll probably buy a Garmin tracker tonight to replace the Luxe that is out of the return time frame. Maybe an update will come in the next few hours..we're on At&t in the U.S.

[Luxor12]

Same here, Canadian user and I still see now update in the play store. When will the app update be available in Canada?

[sutty61]

Check for Samsung updates as well as app updates as the Samsung update
fixed mine

[MasterKylan]

Well, the issue has been fixed for me. Not sure what updated but my Z Fold 4 can see my Charge 5 again. I have the December security patch on my Fold.

[AshleyFour]

I have the December security patch on my Flip as well.  However, neither my Charge 5 or my Luxe will connect to it.  Luckily for me I have an iPad so I am able to sync with a device, just not my primary one. 

[dandabald]

For Ladyb6574:

I, too have a Fitbit Charge5 FW ver 57.20001.188.58 which quit syncing with my Samsung Galaxy A12 Serial # SM-A125U1/DS

Thursday afternoon (01/12/2023) at 1:30 CST

Software on the Samsung A12 is Build # SP1A.210812.016.A125U1UES4CVJ2

Question for you:

"They are saying by next week the fix should be completed"

Exactly who are  "They" ? ? ? ?

Samsung or Fitbit?

Thank you in advance . . . .

[ms203]

Same here, giving up and moving on after daily looking for either Samsung of Fitbit updates.  Fitbit get on with it already...android is supposed to be your audience and primary customer base.  Stop giving false hope and fix this issue already, our fitbit has been useless for over a month.

[bumbleklutz]

Update:  The Samsung update has "mostly" fixed the issue.  My Sense will now pair with bluetooth and the disconnects are down to 2-3 times per day as opposed to 10 to 15 times per day.  Additionally, the watch re-connects by manually syncing without a restart or force quitting the app.  Hopefully fitbit 3.73 will completely solve the issue.

[ms203]

75,000 views, 1250 comments.  Seriously FitBad get your priorities right!

[BitFit9]

Fitbit is an absolute joke for this abhorrent client service. Unbelievably terrible product management, damage control and communication.
They are ostracizing and abandoning a subsection of clients who purchase top-of-the-line devices. Each notification posted by yet another confused customer who bought a premium device from them only to realize it is useless at its core functionality is like salt in a wound. #BrilliantFail 

👎 👎 👎 👎 👎 👎 👎 👎 👎

[Gretrev48]

As of this week, I finally got the Samsung update that is supposed to help. I have not yet tried it to see if it revives my Charge 5. Maybe some day I will. Until then, I’m getting used to and enjoying my Samsung Smart Watch which works like a charm with my Z-fold phone. Too bad Fitbit, I did enjoy you for 8 years, but almost 2 months of down time and total apparent lack of true concern put me over the edge.

Sent from Mail<> for Windows

[Hp513]

I'm looking at the Oura ring. It does most of what I need... Oh, no updates available for me yet, Samsung or Fitbit. At&t Zflip3 and a Luxe that hasn't worked for a month.

[losigan]

Throughout this forum there have been various posts of Fitbit devices failing to sync with Samsung Flip/Fold phones. It was announced by a fitbit moderator on 1/9/2023 that the update to fix this issue (specifically ver. 3.73) was now available on the Play store. It has now been 5 days since that announcement and that version is still not available. Various users have stated that updates such as these are on a "rolling basis," which apparently means not everybody gets them at the same time. 

To clarify, I like my device (a Charge 5). Its been almost indispensable for me as I exercise and set goals for myself. It allows me to keep track of my goals and my improvements. In my enthusiasm, I purchased two more fitbit trackers (for my spouse and for my adult son) However, this device has had two issues since I purchased it on April 2022. I used it to swim laps once and the display died. Fitbit was considerate enough to issue me a replacement. This is the second issue, the inability of the device to sync with my Samsung Flip 3. Customer support has been adamant that a fix was coming but as I read through the different threads of this forum, I cannot help but notice the sheer number of issues this and other fitbit devices have. I understand some of these issues may not be valid but even if I filter only the valid ones, there is still an unacceptable level of issues. 

In lieu of waiting for the update, I'm told by moderators and customer support to either get another phone/tablet to sync my device with, and I'm at that point where I'm now trying to find an older phone so I can resume my tracking. But my frustration with this issue has now reached a point where I have now canceled my premium subscription and will undoubtedly cancel the two other subscriptions for the two other devices I purchased for members of my family.

This experience has been incredibly frustrating and frankly, so disappointing and the lack of a clear and exact solution has definitely soured me on Fitbit and for that matter, for the new Pixel watch which I was hoping for as an upgrade when this one eventually dies. I'm actively researching for a new device, preferably one that does not require a subscription. 

[jamesgerboc]

Good for you. Why are you promoting a Samsung watch on this forum? Samsung tech support tried talking me into their watch and I explained that for $400 I want a watch i don't have to charge everyday. That's why I bought a Fitbit and need it to work. 

[RodrigoMFitbit]

Hello everyone!

Thanks for your feedback. I totally understand your perspective. The situation was reported back then and it was confirmed that a solution was in the works. We try to keep you updated. However, currently we moderators have no further information on this matter, other than it is being worked on. As of now we can only ask for your patience and if possible sync your device with another smartphone until this is resolved. 

Have a nice day!

[Talahthas]

@losigan Welcome to the Fitbit community!

I'm sad that you and others have trouble syncing their Fitbit devices with different Samsung phones lately. But although I understand your and other's disappointment wholeheartly, I'm appealing to everybody's reason. Those Samsung phones were working fine with Fitbit and the corresponding devices. Then Samsung has rolled out their implementation of the Android 13 update. And suddenly there were Fitbit devices that couldn't be synced with those updated phones any longer. There was exactly one step that led to misfunctioning Fitbit devices over night. And it was done by Samsung, not by Fitbit.

I still have no proof, but as far as I could investigate that, Samsung has drastically changed their implementation of Bluetooth in their implementation of the Android 13 update.

So, is it really fair to blame Fitbit for what happened in this regard?

[Teeunited]

Like everyone has multiple phones and are happy to carry 2 devices around
with them!

What absolute utter rubbish! Please stop advising people to do this.
If like you say you have no information from Fitbit as their support is
totally non existent, then please say nothing.
Stop pedalling this unhelpful advice!!

[losigan]

Thank you for your reply. I will summarize my issues:

1. Moderator stated that a fix was available on the app store on 1/9/2023. It was not and it is now 1/14/2023 and still not available on the Play store. No explanation that this was a "rolling update." I heard that from other users on this forum by scrolling through threads, not from a moderator/customer support. So no clear explanation/guidance from Fitbit.

2. Customer support solution: Basically get another phone. 

I grant that the initial fault was Samsung. But according to Fitbit, this was a known issue. And to date, no fixes are still available, an issue that has been going on since December 2022.

As for assigning blame, I don't assign blame. But if I am paying for a service and that service has been unavailable for an extended period of time, then it is time to evaluate whether that service is worth it. My point is, communicate clearly when a fix is due.

In the end, I have devices and corresponding subscriptions that are not working as they should and there has been no clear communication from Fitbit if and when this issue will be resolved. If Samsung is the culprit and needs to be the one to resolve the issue, then Fitbit should communicate that to users as well. The response to this issue has been less than satisfactory and unfortunately, my subscription after cancellation is not until October 2023 so I and all the others affected are stuck with these devices.

[SunsetRunner]

What other phone? We don't all walk around with multiple smart phones,especially at $1100 a pop.