Fitbit app pops up this message "Location Access & Bluetooth Sharing"

[b1gt]

I receive this very annoying popup every time I open the app. Why??? I do not wish to share this location with Fitbit. I have tried every possible fix and it does not go away. How do I permanently disable this message?

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[MarreFitbit]

Hi there @b1gt, welcome to the Community Forums. Thanks for the details provided in your post about the message you're receiving in the Fitbit app, I understand where your concern is coming from and why you're feeling annoyed. 

Please note that if you’re setting up or syncing your tracker with an Android device, you may be prompted to turn on location services. The Fitbit app needs the locations services option on your phone to be turned on in order to perform the Bluetooth low energy scans required to sync your tracker. For more information, see: Why is the Fitbit app prompting me to turn on location services? 

I've moved your post to the Android App board for organization purposes. 

Let me know if you have any questions present. 

[AddisonP]

I agree that this is a permission issue that doesn't make sense.

[MarreFitbit]

Hello @AddisonP, welcome on board. I understand where you're coming from, thanks for your feedback as it helps us to keep improving. 

As mentioned above, please note that Google added the locations permission requirement to alleviate concerns that Bluetooth beacons can be used to track your location without your permission during a Bluetooth low energy scan, such as the scan required to sync your tracker. By granting the Fitbit app permission to access your location, your tracker will be able to sync, but your location won't be recorded or tracked by Fitbit.

For more information about Bluetooth technology, visit the Bluetooth Special Interest Group's website at bluetooth.com.

For details about the Google permission requirements, see Google's Android 6.0 Changes document.

Hope that answers your inquiry. Have a nice day! 

[Rich_Laue]

Yes @AddisonP I agree that is may not make sense, however Fitbit asks the tracker to identify itself. Until version 6 of the Android OS there was a problem in that during this request an unknown person could gain access and remotely take control of the phone without the owner knowing this. 

Android now requires location services to be enabled during the identifying process this security hole as part of closing this breach. 

BTW enabling location services does not mean that the app requests your location aymore than leaving your door unlock means that all your neighbors will be walking into your house. 

[Ricki314]

Hello. In case you haven't figured out a solution, I had to uninstall the Fitbit app then reinstall it to get rid of that annoying popup. I did not lose any data or friends that I can see thus far. Hope this helps. Take care.

[pmc2]

Thank you Ricki314, I'll try that.

[Rich_Laue]

@Ricki314 as long as you log into the same account, you won't lose any data. This is because no data is ever stored on your phone, and why you can access your data from multiple devices. 

[alexanderrr15]

It seems that uninstalling the Fitbit app and reinstalling stopped the issue. I did notice the second the popup started to appear, after an update where they got rid of the “All day-Sync” option which I am still attempting to locate to this day. 

I’ve definitely noticed my watch not being synced with my phone automatically whenever I opened the app to check my progress, it would be syncing large amounts of data. To offload the data from the bracelet we’re kind of forced to open the app now, to initiate the syncing process manually. Which upon launching the app is accompanied by the banner to enable location access and  Bluetooth services. As annoying as it is, I’ve kind of gotten use to just hitting dismiss. 

I have Fitbit on iOS (iPhone and iPad), and on desktop, as well as my laptop too. I love that I can have access to the data and syncing capabilities from any of my operating systems, while also being able to log into the http interface and adding data there as well. 

[Rich_Laue]

Yes @alexanderrr15 fitbit removed the option to disable All Day Sync. 

Therefore we can not turn All Day Sync off anymore.