Live heart rate not displayed in the Fitbit app

[Lilbiddy]

Since the changes to synching and the latest updates my current heart rate never shows on the tile in the app. All that displays is the resting heart rate.

Does anyone know how to fix this?

Moderator Edit: Formatting

[Odyssey13]

Hi @Lilbiddy  mine shows the current heart rate. Using Android 9 on a Samsung Galaxy 8 phone. I charged and restarted the device last night. Guess you already restarted your device and rebooted the phone?

[Lilbiddy]

@Odyssey13  I've reloaded the app. Turned the phone off and on again. Restart doesn't always do it some how. Deleted the tile and added it back in. 

I haven't restarted my device as I couldn't remember how. It's a charge 2 and all the online information at "Charge 2 101 Guide" and "Charge2 Quick Start Guide" which appear as options in the app now lead nowhere. 

As with the older charge model forum there is a total lack of support. Why do these options still show when they don't lead to any instructions?

As my device is still functioning after 5 years I don't think I'll risk it as there is obviously no desire from Fitbit to keep it functioning.

I used to like to prop my phone up on the treadmill or static bike so I could check my heart rate in the app. but obviously no more.

Thanks for trying to help.

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi there, @Lilbiddy. @Odyssey13 Thanks for always helping our members!

@Lilbiddy Thanks for bringing this to our attention, and for your efforts while working on this matter prior to posting. This is odd and before anything else, may I know if your Charge 2 is syncing correctly? If that's correct, this might be an issue with the Fitbit app not displaying your data correctly. To look into this, could you confirm if this started after updating the Fitbit app? Also, do you have other Bluetooth devices nearby that might be interfering with the connection?

Even though you've tried some steps, please give a try to the following:

1. Log out from the Fitbit app.
2. On your phone's settings, tap Apps > Fitbit > Storage > Clear Cache.
3. Go back one screen, tap Force Stop and reboot your phone.
4. Open the Fitbit app and log back into your account.
5. Pull down on the screen to force a manual sync and monitor your data to see how it goes.

Hope this helps.

[Lilbiddy]

@LizzyFitbit I have tried your suggestion but it didn't work. Everything seems to sync ok. No other Bluetooth stuff close by. The total failure of current heart rate has only happened since I updated to 3.54 app version. But since the overhaul of deleting the earlier app versions for older android phones, the alteration to the synching system (it appears not to be continuous) over the previous couple of app versions I could only get the current heart rate for a brief period. It would then stop updating but would continue to display the last reading along with the resting rate. I would have to manually sync to start it again. Now not even that works. My notifications are functioning and I have got live readings or whatever it's called, in the .com dashboard selected. Even when I got the brief display previously I noticed that the heart was no longer animated and the changes in the readings somehow didn't seem as smooth. I can't think of any other boxes that need ticking, something I've missed. The live display was also useful when practicing lowering my heart rate.

It seems under the new regime that each update brings another disappointment. The cute little 7 day summary went, then the hourly movement stopped allowing the use of the hour up to midnight, now this. I know that the data is available for these things as I have a functional version of 2.67 which was displaying all of it, but I could lose that at any moment. 

[Lilbiddy]

@LizzyFitbit Further to my last reply I found today that I couldn't synch on demand. I ended up having to reinstall the the app.again. I am now getting a current heart rate, hurrah! But the animated heart is only active when the synch has just taken place so is there no longer any continuous live synch? How frequently is the app now connecting to my device? 

Spoke too soon, it's failed again!  Well I am not going to reload the app every time I want to display my heart rate. Another fitbitter disappointment.

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi there, @Lilbiddy.

Thanks for the detailed information, as well as trying the steps suggested above. I understand your point of view about the issues experienced with this and other features, and I'm sorry for this inconvenience. Every feedback shared in the forums is provided to our team so they can evaluate and improve the overall Fitbit experience. Your feedback is truly appreciated and it won't be the exception.

About the Fitbit app not displaying your live heart rate, may I know the model and OS version of your phone? Also is the rest of your data syncing and updating correctly? These details will help me to further investigate on my end.

In regards to your other question, do you refer to the leadership board? If that's correct, you can open the Fitbit app, tap Community > Friends to see your 7-days steps count, and compare your activity with your friends.

Also, with the Hourly Activity, you should be able to choose anywhere from 5 to 14 consecutive hours in the same day and up to midnight to receive your reminders to move. I believe you've done so, but please review this help article and follow the steps described in there.

[charleskn]

If I'm not mistaken, there is a setting in the app to allow live/continuous updates.

[Lilbiddy]

@charleskn There is one in the .com dashboard which I had ensured was selected. But thanks for the thought. 

[Lilbiddy]

@LizzyFitbit  Thanks for the rapid response. I'm using a Sony L4 running Android 9.

While I was checking this my phone suddenly requested to pair with my Charge 2, did that and the current heart rate is back again. All the switching on and off and reloading of things had fouled my connection. It was still synching and data was going through but not paired. I don't pretend to understand this but if it functions I'm happy.

The seven day summary I was referring to used to appear under the settings by the health and wellness heading. It was a rolling seven day overview with little illustrations showing the days you had met various targets. I found it very useful as a quick reference. 

The hourly activity problem started with my not getting any display when I opened the tile. Just two spinning circles. Reload the app, no joy, removed and replaced the tile doing the turn off and on of the phone at relevant stages, no joy. Then another user said that they had solved this problem by not using the final hour starting at 23.00. My 14 hours were from 10.00 to 23.00 so finishing at 24.00. Changed them to 09.00 to 22.00 ending at 23.00 and voilà I can get at the data again. But it does mean that I am losing out on my activity scores as I am an owl and more active at midnight than I am at 9am. Also it really should work if you are given the option to select 23.00. This problem only started when the app was made Android 8 + only and through the subsequent updates. I don't know if it only affects users of unsupported devices. This and the seven day summary are still working fine on an old version that I still have available to me but obviously that is under threat. The data is there and can be used but Fitbit won't let us, very frustrating.

Thanks again for your quick reply.

[Lilbiddy]

@LizzyFitbit  Guess what. It's not working again. Totally fed up with this. Losing any incentive to continue faffing about with this. 

Now have app version 3.54.1. Still doesn't work.

[Zipmouse]

I have same problem with app, shows resting rate, not current rate. I need current rate.