Fitibt Charge 3 stopped syncing and won't re-pair

[SunsetRunner]

In late December I purchased a Charge 3 from Fitbit. I was able easily to pair it to my LG Phoenix Plus (Android 8.1) and immediately started syncing with no trouble.

Last night, sometime after 10:13 p.m., the device stopped syncing with the phone. I tried all of the suggestions in the help article at https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1866/?q=sync&l=en_US&fs=Search&pn=1#android and in multiple threads on this community related to Charge 3 sync problems in particular -- re-starting the app, re-starting the device, re-starting Bluetooth, uninstalling and re-installing the app, etc. Nothing worked.

In desperation I unpaired the Charge 3 with the account, and then went through the process of adding the device through the "Add a device" feature on the app. The device now refuses to pair at all -- it connects with the phone, and by trying several times I can get it to give me a paring code which I enter into the app screen, but then the software attempts to finish the pairing, and throws an error where it tells me to make sure the device is attached to power (it is) and to try cycling bluetooth on and off (which I do, and it still doesn't work). Finally, I turned off the bluetooth on my phone and attempted to pair the Fitbit to my LG V480 tablet. Same thing happens: Pairing gets as far as giving me an access code, but won't finish.

So I've now spent a huge amount of time attempting to solve this problem as directed, and it appears I'm left, after a month, with a very expensive and not very functional watch on my hands, since syncing with the app is required for most features of interest. The fact that it wouldn't pair with multiple devices suggests a problem in the Charge 3 itself. Any suggestions? (Remember, I've tried various kinds restarts, etc., multiple times. And updating the firmware on the device seems more or less impossible if it's not pairing with my device.)

Thanks,

Moderator edit: Removed personal info and Clarified subject

[DSdolphin]

Mine is doing the same thing.if you figure it out let me know thanks

[Samy27]

Having the same exact issue.

[SunsetRunner]

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@DSdolphin wrote:

Mine is doing the same thing.if you figure it out let me know thanks

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Try to change your IP address: switch from WiFi to mobile data on the phone, or use a VPN on a PC. In my case it all helped on all devices. It seems that my provider's IP address was blocked since January 12 and I had the same problems as many people here.

[Angwright]

I am having same problems sometimes doesn't sync all day and notifications have stopped wish I had not bothered my 30.00 pound watch was  much better synced  all day and got notifications fitbit is

expensive crap !! 

[SunsetRunner]

Thanks, Alexei -- I tried turning off Wi-Fi, but the phone still refuses to re-pair. Appreciate the suggestion though.--Stewart

[Jpresley5]

I just got mine on Tuesday, initially paired perfect and I was super excited.  Then there was an update which caused the Charge 3 to unpair from my Note 9 and has not been able to reconnect since.  Super frustrated, I was on online chat for over an hour and did everything they said with no success.  I have no idea how many times I have restarted both my phone and Charge 3, turned on and off blue tooth, turned off wifi, installed and uninstalled the app.  Also got an email that Fitbit is aware of the problem and they are working on it.  

In the mean time even if I wanted to wear the Fitbit as a watch the time is so off it is useless.  Not sure if I should try to hold out for a fix or just return the **ahem** thing!

[Viki2710]

Same issues with s8+ 😡😡

Iv rebooted restarted its a joke... even the time is wrong ?? 

[Motylitsu]

Same problem with my S6 . Work fine something about month. I was able to update to the latest firmware but  wont sync at all . I have seen many postes with the same issue on different phones. 

[Angwright]

Yes I have done the same it's an expensive item that doesn't do what it
says

[Kaveri]

I experience same issue with my Charge 2. Any help in this issue is appreciated.

[SunsetRunner · Accepted solution]

OK -- I finally got on the phone to Fitbit support about this. The representative tried again to walk me through the approach of restarting the Charge 3, cycling Bluetooth, etc., which did not work.

What *did* work was what turned out to be a factory reset:

--Press button on left of Charge 3 to show clock

--Swipe left on screen to "Settings"; select

--Swipe down to "About"; select

--Swipe down to "Clear User Data"; select

--After a minute or so, look for an "Are you sure" type of screen on the Charge 3; swipe down and select the checkmark. (You may need to press the button on the left of the Charge 3 to wake the screen up again.)

--Eventually, the device displays a smiley face and and you have a wiped Charge 3.

After doing all of this, I found that I could re-pair the device through the app, and that it started syncing again. We will see how long it lasts.

I did tell the representative that, in my view, this last-ditch reset option is poorly communicated on the web help for situations when the device doesn't sync, and that they should perhaps include that as a final step if the others don't work. He said he would pass on that feedback.

Thanks to everyone who responded to this thread.

Best,

Moderator edit: Removed personal info

[LanuzaFitbit]

Hello everyone.

I apologize for the delay in my response. Thank you all for taking the time to share your feedback and on the matter. 

Be sure to follow the process shared by @SunsetRunner, as it could definitely work in getting it all to sync and pair correctly. Be sure to let us know how it goes.

Let me know if there are any other questions I can help you with.

[Tracysw]

I've followed all the advice and still nothing, it's as if the fitbit has lost Bluetooth, also 2 hours 2 minutes behind on the time  it's driving me mad

[phlbridge]

I got a Charge 3 for Christmas. I use Android, and I had synch problems right form the start. It seems to be an endemic problem with the Charge 3. If you look at reviews on Amazon you'll see that people either give it 5 stars or 1 star, the latter usually because of synch issues. I tried all of the suggestions about resetting etc to be found on the various forums and blogs, and it solved the problem for a day or so, but the price was losing all of the data on the device at the time of reset. Then I found that the device is useless for one of my main use, which is recording GPS tracks with HR when cycling and running. it would lose synch halfway through a ride, almost every ride, resulting in truncated tracks. Useless. I took it back to the store. The customer service person, who was very knowledgable, just rolled his eyes and said to his colleague 'yet another Charge 3'. He checke my Bluetooth setting were right, then refunded without question. I'd advise anyone having synch issues to try and do the same. There is no 'fix' for the problem at the moment, and you'll be forever banging your head against a wall trying. Maybe wait a year and Fitbit might have solved it.

[Jpresley5]

Yep, still not working.  Is there an update that is currently being worked on by Fitbit?  When will the update be released?

[Jpresley5]

Don't  know how or why,  but decided to try pairing it again and the darn thing worked.  Very happy, since I was about to return it.

[Dan70]

This solution worked for me. It seems like the problem should have been solved by now.