Fitbit incompatible with LG G5

[harbordoctor]

Fitbit needs to re-examine it's design and marketing.  I have had a Blaze for several months and have had numerous hassles with not being able to sync consistently.  Now after the last Android update, my fitbit will not sync at all.  I called customer service and was told that my Android phone (LG G5) is not on their "compatibility list" and they won't provide support.  The service person actually said, "Don't you have an iPad?

If Fitbit is not going to take the trouble to make sure their devices are compatible with usual devices, they need to state clearly on the packaging "Not compatible with many Android devices"  That would have saved me hours of hassles with a useless tracker.  After spending most of an hour on the phone with support and not getting a solution, I returned the Fitbit Blaze to Costco.  The Costco return desk said they are getting back most of the Fitbits they sell recently. Unbelievable!

Moderator Edit: Updated Subject For Clarity / Format

[RobertoME]

Hello @harbordoctor, welcome aboard to the Fitbit Community and thank you for sharing with us your feedback and comments. I understand your point of view and I'm sorry you had to return your Fitbit tracker.

LG G5 has all the hardware requirements to be a supported device, but is currently not on our list of supported devices as you were informed. This means that we have not tested it for compatibility and added it to the list yet. In many cases the difference is we cannot guarantee the behavior of the phone in relation to the Fitbit app and tracker's features. There are other users who are able to use the Fitbit app with non-compatible devices as is based on the same principle I mentioned before.

We have a list available, including all the compatible devices at https://www.fitbit.com/devices 

Not all devices are able to be accessed by apps like the Fitbit App. Nonetheless our team is always working to test and add more Android devices to the supported devices list.

I appreciate your understanding while we work to improve the Fitbit  experience, and encourage you to let us know if you have any additional feedback on this and other features.

[harbordoctor]

Why not inform cusromers on the packaging that this is the case? You could
avoid negative and frustrated experiences like mine. I would never have
bought a fitbit if I knew it would not work with my phone! It's deceptive
to not be open about this issue.

[RobertoME]

Hello @harbordoctor, I understand and I'm sorry you feel in this way. Note that we only want to offer the best to our users. I can see you point to have this information right in the package and I appreciate your feedback.

Having this information printed in the box is not the best from our end. As you may know, this information is constantly changing as our teams keep testing mobile devices. There are different scenarios where a phone is not compatible at the beginning and overtime after all the tests it is added to the compatible list. So having this in the tracker boxes it will provide outdated information, is for the same reason this information is available on our website: https://www.fitbit.com/devices

It is not the intention to be deceptive in any way. One more time I appreciate your honest feedback.

[LeeW1]

@RobertoMEIt's pathetic that a BILLION DOLLAR COMPANY such as FitBit can't be bothered to check and ensure compatibility with the LG G5.  Consider that, according to some internet sources, LG sold several million G5 phones and the G5 is quite similar in features and capability to the Samsung Galaxy.  Not as popular as a Galaxy but FAR from an obscure phone.  And you want us to accept that it's not something you care to do?  It's not a new phone either!  It's well over a year old and even replaced - you've had PLENTY of time to get your hands on it.

I'm especially annoyed because I have a Flex and it was working GREAT with the G5 until TODAY.  When I updated the firmware on the Flex and then Bluetooth started crashing on the phone every few minutes.  This makes my watch, my car tracker, my fitbit, and numerous other devices near USELESS.  I had to uninstall the Fitbit app to get it stable again.

The bigger question is, why does FitBit insist on doing "special" things that make the Bluetooth unreliable?

I agree - labeling the box is unreasonable because there are so many devices and things change... you know what's NOT unreasonable?  Having the App when it's loaded warn you about phone compatibility.  Having the App warn you when you are about to install firmware that could break an otherwise existing and functional connection between a poorly designed and programmed FitBit device and an otherwise untested but previously functional phone.  But that would require FitBit care about it's customers... and we know you don't (having dealt with FitBit on behalf of my girlfriend and unresolved issues that FitBit can't seem to comprehend let alone fix).

[luca85]

---

@RobertoME wrote:

 As you may know, this information is constantly changing as our teams keep testing mobile devices. There are different scenarios where a phone is not compatible at the beginning and overtime after all the tests it is added to the compatible list.

---

No, it's not constantly changing. Between early 2016 and now you have added less than 5 phones in total.

[ttfaraway]

I wholeheartedly agree with you. When it worked 2 months ago and now it doesn't is something ridiculous. To me it shows the developers are conspiring with the phone companies in wanting us to purchase a new phone  to make this option work. They need to make it very clear to customers this doesn't work with certain phones more clear on the website. Oh no, they want us to invest in something that doesn't work with android phones. I am very unhappy they decided our phones aren't important enough to find a solution to the problem. You know they aren't going to tell us when and if they find a solution. 

[MadThylacine]

Is there a list of phones they are working on? Or will be working on? I'm interested in buying an ionic, but after doing some research I'm seeing the same reasons I stayed away from Fitbit before and went with Android Wear. I like were Fitbit is going, I understand that testing everything is quite a feat, but is Fitbit look to ever test the LG G5?

[MadThylacine]

I did get an Ionic. It does work with my LG G5. It also works on the LG G6 with the Versa.

[Sparmy07]

I was able to synch my Fitbit Charge HR with my LG G5 until 6 days ago. Why can I no longer link them if I could before? I have been trying to figure this out for days and now I read that they aren't compatible - ? Then how was I able to do it since ive owned this phone which was about 9 months ago. Totally frustrating and ridiculous.

[Camping]

I bought 2 fitbit versa for Christmas gifts not comparable with my lg g5 had to return to walmart today 12 06 2018 so disappointed bought cyber monday .$50.00 off

[cparnell]

need to know how you are able to get your lg g5 to work with Ionic?  I cannot get my text  messages to show on fitbit

[lelolai4822]

On July 2019 my daughter give me a Versa Lite I did the setting on a LG G5, perfect for about 2 weeks. After that, "can not find divace",  "can not synchronize". After spending hours trying to figure it out I returned to the store and pay the difference for a Versa 2, same problem. Sometimes works fine for a couple of days. And now you are telling me the G5 is not compatible, I'm going to return the Fitbit but I'm keeping my G5.