Syncing difficulties with Versa and Samsung Note 8

[SunsetRunner]

So my wife and I each bought a Versa at the same time, and have used it with our Samsung Note 8 phones (read as IDENTICAL setup) since April of 2019 with ZERO issues. So that's 9 months of NO problems. Until this week. The past few days it refuses to sync at random. And I've also noticed the time being off. At first it was around 5 minutes, then it got progressively worse....10 minutes....it's currently 18 minutes off. My wife's setup (Again, it's IDENTICAL) has no problems. I have rebooted both devices, removed and re-added the Versa, uninstalled and reinstalled the Fitbit app, and nothing has changed except now it will get to the part where the 4 digit number displays on the fitbit screen, while at the same time saying Connected in the app with the green check mark, however that is as far as it goes. It ends up saying "This is taking longer than it should, but we're on top of it!" I contacted tech support, and they said my phone is not compatible. If I had a no name phone, I would be fine with that. However a Samsung Note 8 is one of the most popular phones. Also, per their compatible list they STILL support a Note 5. A Note 5! 3 Generations older than my phone. They also support the S8 and the S8+, but not the Note 8 apparently. The Note 9 is on the list as well. But the agent could not tell me why the Note 8 was not on the list, when my Charge HR worked just fine with our Note 8's, and the FACT that for 9 months there was no issue with mine, and still no issue with my wifes. I have not had this a year, and it's basically become unuseable. Anyone else having issues or suggestions as the agent couldn't help?

Moderator edit: Subject for clarity 

[SunsetRunner]

Any luck?

[moonboots]

na my original charge 3 died last night so i bought another

[ionFreeman]

It reports that it synched yesterday at 10:51 AM, just after the 18FEB20 Verizon update. But, not since.

[ionFreeman]

Tonight's update to the Versa looks good. I've been able to synch after installing it.

[SunsetRunner]

I keep getting a "Upgrading Database" This step requires an internet
connection message but it just sits there....

[ionFreeman]

yes, it took a while. I think I had to do it over bluetooth. Now, my fitbit synchs the current day's steps to the app, but not to the web site. And the time won't set. It's 9:38 AM now and my watch says 6:56 -- and won't update the last synched time. I continue to believe this has nothing to do with the Note 8.

[SunsetRunner]

I also agree it is not the Note 8. Fitbit pushed an update last week and
ironically my Versa started to intermittently sync steps and sleep. But
I've noticed sometimes its still off along with the time.

[SunsetRunner · Accepted solution]

So after 3 or 4 days of pretty much no issues,  I believe I have found a solution to the problem with compatibility of the Note 8. Since Fitbit didn't want to help me resolve the issue, I went and experimented a bit on my phone. You may be interested to know that I got my syncing ability back in....FIFTEEN MINUTES.  I've attached screen shots below to help you find the change you need to make in order to have your Fitbit Versa back to syncing as it should. 

Step 1. - You will need to put your phone into what's known as "Developer Mode". The reason for this is you will be changing a Bluetooth protocol version and this is the only way to do it. Don't worry, it won't wreck your phone. On my phone I actually selected the newest version. To do this, go under SETTINGS. Scroll down to ABOUT PHONE and select it.

2 - Click on "Software Information". Then tap your finger on "Build Number" 5 times. You will see a count down until your phone goes into developer mode. This will allow you to see advanced settings on your phone. I would recommend only changing what I show below.

After Developer mode is turned on, go back two screens to your "SETTINGS" screen. If you scroll to the bottom, you will now see the DEVELOPER OPTIONS as shown in the screen capture above.

You want to keep scrolling down till you see "Bluetooth AVRCP Version". (As seen below)

Your phone probably is set to "AVRCP 1.4 (Default)". Mine was. You will need to change it to "AVRCP 1.6". I've tested the other ones and 1.6 is the only one that works for me. If you would like to try the other ones feel free. I rebooted the phone after selecting each one.

After selecting version 1.6, reboot your Fitbit Versa and your phone. I also turned my bluetooth off, waited about 10 seconds and then turned back on. I don't believe you need to do this step but I wanted to be sure. After doing this on my phone, I have had 4 days of syncing with almost no problems. I would say this works 99% of the time. Occasionally when refreshing the "Sync" in the Fitbit app, it will say searching for device, but I just refresh it again and the information pulls in. Hopefully this helps you if you feel you were stuck with a very expensive worthless wrist accessory. I don't know if my family will continue to be a Fitbit customer, but at least I can continue to track my steps and sleep patterns. Good luck!

[ionFreeman]

Excellent news, @SunsetRunner . I followed your instructions to upgrade Bluetooth to AVRCP 1.6. My mileage varied. I had unpaired the pebble and disconnected it from my account. I managed to reättach the fitbit to my account with an old iPad. Now, it'll synch until the next charge, and then start synching again eventually. So, it's definitely better, and once I can get it paired again, I'm hopeful I'll be where you are.

Maybe it caught the virus early....

[DGSmith]

I have an IPhone SE and don't have access to the Developer Mode.

[SunsetRunner]

Sorry about that. I didn't realize you were on an iPhone. I got a lot of
email notifications of people responding to my post. I do hope someone can
find a fix for you apple users. Fitbit has some pretty crappy tech
support/customer service when it comes to supporting their products.

[ionFreeman]

The recent system update for the note 8 on Verizon resets avrcp to 1.3. You have to change it again.

[ionFreeman]

I haven't synched since September 8th, which may have been the last firmware update. How's it going with you, @Sunsetrunner?

[ionFreeman]

OK, that looks resolved.

[Milehimelo]

Thanks for this. I have an LG G6. My versa has been syncing for over 2 years. There were moments when the clock slowed, or the syncing wasn't working, but usually it just required a Versa reboot. Then last Wednesday it stopped syncing. I tried all that everyone else has tried (rebooting, deleting and reinstalling the app, restarting the phone, unpairing all devices from BT, turning off and turning on BT). Nothing worked.

Your trick did IMMEDIATELY - the clock is up to date and it is regularly syncing. Wondering if I should turn some of the auto features off and just sync on command.

Many thanks!

[ionFreeman]

Hey! I imagine you've updated your phone offer wearable in the last 2 1/2 years,  but I haven't. I've synched twice since the last versa Update,  both after hours of beating on both devices. Tuesday was the last time, and I can't reproduce the magic. Are you seeing this?

[ionFreeman]

The Windows Store has a Fitbit app that will sync the Versa. So, I can limp along with that until one day synching mysteriously starts working again. https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9WZDNCRFJ1XX