Fitbit Versa and Galaxy S9

[Leophir]

Hello, Just bought a Fitbit Versa. The communication with my Galaxy S9 has been horrible so far and I am bringing back to the shop. Is there any devices compatible with the S9 or should I stop using your brand? Thanks!

[AlvaroFitbit]

@Leophir Welcome to the Fitbit Community! It's great to have you here! Sorry to hear about your issues syncing your Versa with your Galaxy S9 phone. Did you try any type of troubleshoots? If you still have the device then you can try going to your phone's bluetooth settings and remove all devices listed there. Restart your phone and restart your device. After this try syncing them. Also, since you are using an Android device, check that your app has the necessary permissions (settings > apps > Fitbit > permissions) and make sure bluetooth and location services (GPS) are on.

Let me know how it goes!

[Leophir · Accepted solution]

So surprisingly enough I've been able to fix the issue by using elements of the guides: I only had to remove the Versa from the list of registered Bluetooth devices. I am not keen of removing half a dozen of other Bluetooth devices I use almost on a daily basis.

Once connected the biggest mistake would be to reboot the phone because that's a guaranteed failure again.

In a nutshell here is what I have done starting from basic "can't sync" situation:

Force close Fitbit app

Remove Versa from the list of paired devices

Disable Bluetooth on phone

Reboot Versa

Upon Versa boot launch Fitbit app

Accept prompt to activate Bluetooth

It should sync.

Note that the actual sync with the S9 is not displayed properly and in real time like on my other devices or a computer (most reliable but useless). The sync happens roughly two minutes before it says it does so your best friend is to be patient and wait.

I'll keep this device, I like it, but the user experience is really suboptimal. The reason is that I value the fitness tracking features over the smartwatch features.

[hmf72]

I tried 4 different Versas, 4 different times, the last time at Best Buy with them trying to load it to my Samsung S9, and NONE of them has worked! I liked Fitbit bit am moving on to a Samsung Gear! 

[hmf72]

No, I'm tired of trying , and yes i tried it all!!! Samsung Gear here I come! Your previous help was of NO help. It didn't work,  even for the people at Best Buy! 

[hmf72]

Get a Samsung Gear. Battery life isn't as long, but so many more useful options available! 

[Leophir]

Yeah I've sold my versa 3 months ago along all my Fitbit gears, android
support is crap. They have lost my business after being a customer since
2012

[hmf72]

Me too,Samsung Gear works for me. Battery life sucks but it had so much
more.

[JoeSaint43]

I purchased the new Samsung Watch and it does not count steps on a treadmill.

[hmf72]

I use the treadmill daily and have never had a problem.

[SUPERSNIPE76]

I just found out a discovery.   I gave my wife a Fitbit Versa for her birthday.   We both have s9 phones.   She loaded the app from Amazon.   She could not connect with the Fitbit Versa at all.  I then loaded the program on my phone but not knowing where she loaded it from I got the app from Google Play.    I then tried to contact the Fitbit and it worked.   We then compared all my settings on my phone with hers and made them all the same.   We used factory reset and reset the Fitbit Versa.   She tried again and still could not connect.    This was her second Fitbit Versa.   When this problem happened the day before, she spent two hours on the phone with tech assistance.   They told her to return the Versa and we should get a new one.   With the same problems showing with the second one, I suggested she delete the app and load it from Google Play.   That was the only difference between our phones.   IT WORKED.  She was able to connect and set up the Fitbit Versa.    There is something wrong with the app from Amazon.   My wife had deleted it and loaded it several times from Amazon while she was working with the tech.    Hopefully this will help others.   I hope the tech community will read this.  

[hmf72]

I've moved on to a Samsung Gear and love out.

[kitd56]

It's a little frustrating at first because there is a lag between the watch and the phone app.  But I've found that when things get in a bind, a loop, or whatever, turning the phone off and on, re-pairing, and/or shutting down the app (or even deleting and re-installing it, which does not lose data) has been helpful.  I love this watch!

[Dr_Salman]

Thank you Leophir for your troubleshooting. Every single thing you said was spot on! Worked for me after a dozen times trying to just reboot/uninstall phone and fitbit.