RESOLVED 06/16/2018: "Notification service not running" error

[AlessFitbit]

Fitbit Update 06/16/2018

Thank you for reporting the error is not longer showing in the Fitbit app. This issue has been resolved with the release of the Fitbit app for Android, version 2.73. If you're still experiencing issues receiving notifications. Make sure to confirming that you're updated to the latest app release and following our notifications troubleshooting tips provided in this help article.

I'm moving forward in closing this thread as the issue has been resolved and there is no need to post future updates. If you have questions regarding the Compatibility of your phone, refer to this help article: Which phones and tablets can I use with my Fitbit watch or tracker?

Thank you for your continued patience as we worked to get this resolved.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Fitbit Update 05/09/2018

Hi, Android users!

Some of you may be seeing the following error message inside of the Fitbit for Android app:"Notification service not running. A phone restart is required to re-enable notifications on your tracker." Even if you perform a restart, the error message persists. 

Thanks for reporting! Our team has been notified and are investigating. We will make sure to update you all if we receive more information. In the meantime, we appreciate your patience. 

[Toyjunkee]

I get a similar error about notifications, but it's not exactly the same.   I think this recent update is very buggy because now the app also crashes if I try to look at a recently finished challenge.  Anyway, in regards to the details about the notification error, here you go:

Samsung Note 4

Android 6.0.1

Error "Restart your phone.  Fitbit cannot forward Android Notifications to your tracker.  Restart your phone to continue getting notifications on your tracker."

Blaze

It affects all notifications.

I would attach a screenshot, but clicking on the camera doesn't give me an option of choosing a file.

[bronzepony444]

I am still getting the notification error after attempting all rebooting options for my Blaze.

I have a Google Pixel with 8.1 Android software and recently updated to FitBit 2.7 (2193270) with a firmware version 17.8.402.1.

Not that I'm blaming FitBit, but, today was the first time my Blaze did not adjust for time zone changes and I was late to work this morning.  I was able to still receive phone calls and my alarm did eventually go off... But it was still in PST and I was physically located in EST.  I haven't had this issue the past 6 months that I've been traveling between these time zones every other week.  

I am every disappointed at how unreliable FitBit is appearing to be.  

[PaulHaines]

@RobertoME

Thanks for driving this - I hope you can get the development team to prioritise !

Just to be sure to capture my info:

Phone: Asus Zenfone 4 Max

OS: Android 7.1.1

Tracker: Ionic

Fitbit App version:  Tested on 2.68, 69, 70 - failure on all versions

The error starts anytime between 1 hour up to 2 days after a full clean install and setup.

Once it has occurred, then only solution is a full un-install of the app, re-install and re-configure.

[TedSch]

Same issue for me. "Notification servuce is not running. A phone restart is needed.. ". Restarts do not help but notifications sometimes goes thru anyway. Please fix, notifications is one of the reasons I bought the Fitbit Versa. My phone model is:

Huawei P20 Pro

Android 8.1 (EMUI 8.1) with March security patch. 

[djurkash]

For me:

Xiaomi Mi Note 3

Android 7.1.1

Error "Restart your phone to restore blabla.... 

Ionic

Now, in my case, notifications are usually working, except for phone calls, which are mostly significantly delayed, and sometimes totally absent, without any visible pattern...

[KarinaWho]

- Samsung Note8

- Android Version 7.1.1

-Type of error in the notifications-Same error message stating Notifications are not working and a phone reset is needed

- Type of Tracker paired in the account- Fitbit Ionic

- Is affecting all notifications in general or only partially? All notifications for me

[TedSch]

All for me. But then all of a sudden it works for an hour and then goes
away for the rest of the day. I returned my Ionic because if this issue 6
months ago. Assumed the new Versa would be better but no....If it is not
fixed soon I will return this too.

[PaulHaines]

---

@KarinaWho wrote:

- Samsung Note8

- Android Version 7.1.1

-Type of error in the notifications-Same error message stating Notifications are not working and a phone reset is needed

- Type of Tracker paired in the account- Fitbit Ionic

- Is affecting all notifications in general or only partially? All notifications for me

---

In my case, and with others who have reported - it is all notifications

[litetaker]

Uninstalling and reinstalling fixed the problem with the app for me. Also the Fit Notifications app has been updated to work better with the latest version of the Fitbit app. 

[djurkash]

I wouldn't be that sure litetaker, given that it would , in my case at least, fix the things for a couple of days, and later continue with the well known issues

[moreten]

I have the same problem, the notofication from my phone to my Fitbit ionic works for a while and then it stops. Then I have to go to the Notification access setting on my phone and turn OFF Fitbit Notification Service and then turn it ON again. After that it works for maybe an hour again and then I have to do it again.

I have a Xiaomi Mi5 with Android 7.0 and a Fitbit Ionic paired to my phone.

[KarinaWho]

I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling and still nothing. If anything, I began to have the issue WHEN I updated the app

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

[PaulHaines]

---

@litetaker wrote:

Uninstalling and reinstalling fixed the problem with the app for me. Also the Fit Notifications app has been updated to work better with the latest version of the Fitbit app. 

---

Yes that fixes temporarily.  But at some seemingly random period between an hour to day or two, the problem will reappear and can only be fixed by a uninstall/reinstall/reconfigure again

I suspect the killing of the notification service, then re-enabling it with appropriate permissions is behind the problem.  When you re-configure your newly reinstalled app, it asks you to give permission to the notification service, and then things start working again (for a while)

[litetaker]

@PaulHaines no, it appears more permanent that that for me, as of now.

[Renato_ND]

Hi @litetaker,

Great to see you here. Can you help me to understand how to set-up filter into your app? I want to filter WhatsApp and Telegram groups by name, so I don't receive notifications when someone sends a message in a group. I only want to be notified for private messages.

I triedo to do

"-Group1Name; -Group2Name"

but it didn't work.

[StevenHB]

It seems that notifications is a source of ongoing frustration for Fitbit.  My details:

- Mobile device model

Samsung Galaxy S5

- Android Version

6.01

-Type of error in the notifications

Same error: Restart your phone to restore ... / Fitbit cannot forward Android notifications . . .

"Notification service not running. A phone restart is required to re-enable notifications on your tracker"

- Type of Tracker paired in the account

Alta HR, firmware: 26.26.63.2

Fitbit Android app version: 2.70

- Is affecting all notifications in general or only partially?

All notifications from the phone to the tracker

[Renato_ND]

I am having the same issue here with a Motorola Moto Z Play and a Fitbit Ionic.

I was receiving notifications and all of a sudden it has stopped. 
I rebooted the phone several times and it didn't work. So I reinstalled the app, and now I'm receiving this error message but the notifications seems to be working. Also, there is a test notification for calls but there is none for App and Messages notifications. this should be added as well, so we can test the notifications and ignore the error message in case the notification works anyway. 

I moved from a Xiaomi MiBand 2 to a fitbit Ionic, and I'm regretting this so bad right now. A product that costs 20 times a chinese band, works 20 times less.  

[LanuzaFitbit]

Hello everyone! 

Thanks for responding to @RobertoME's post and questions. We truly appreciate it. As soon as we have any updates on the matter we will be sure to let everyone know and post about it in here.

Feel free to reach out with any questions.

[Chisoshiangel]

I am having the same issue. It keeps asking for a restart but no matter what I do, what I do or don't have checked, what I refresh, reconnect, or restart this warning won't go away. It's been like 2 weeks... It's annoying especially because I actually don't use the Fitbit notifications.

Phone: Galaxy S7

Fitbit: charge

Help me turn this off?

[PaulHaines]

---

@LanuzaFitbit wrote:

Hello everyone! 

Thanks for responding to @RobertoME's post and questions. We truly appreciate it. As soon as we have any updates on the matter we will be sure to let everyone know and post about it in here.

Feel free to reach out with any questions.

---

Thanks Fitbit guys. As you can see the problem is very widespread, even with very high end mainstream phones. We really appreciate you hearing your tracker owners and look forward to your updates to resolve the issues.