Turn on location to find your fitbit?

[Dobbs33]

With the new update sync keeps asking to turn on location to find my fitbit - why?

Fitbit HR's work with Bluetooth and therefore do not need to know my location in order to sync and this has always been the case in the past.

Is Fitbit now tracking my location everytime I sync?  I've not given Fitbit permission to use location information so why does the app need it to sync???

Please advise.

[SunsetRunner]

This was added to the mobile apps for those using the Fitbit Blaze as it uses your phone's GPS for tracking during biking and running. If you are using a different tracker it will not use that permission. There is only one mobile app (Android, iOS or Windows) for all of the trackers to use.

[troj]

Pat... I'm sorry but that's not an answer to the question.

I am having the same problem. I don't have a tracker that needs, nor do I want my phone to track my location. The location services for syncing needs to be OPTIONAL.

What can be done to change this?... What is being done to fix this?

Thanks,

~ t.

[kalimm]

@troj Look at step 3 of the requirements on this Help page. Needing location services to be on was Google's decision, not Fitbit's.  

[troj]

Thanks for the information, that is very useful. However I feel this is easily correctible with a new app release...

"To access the hardware identifiers of nearby external devices via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi scans, your app must now have the ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION or ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION permissions:"

"Allows an app to access approximate location."... Which can be done through the Wi-Fi data. This does not require "fine location" which is "Location Services".

The app should be changed to explicitly use "coarse location".

Thanks,

~ t.

[Dobbs33]

Update - actually I'm not sure why the Turn on Location message appears anyway - If you press on Sync Now and wait, fitbit will update itself anyway after a short delay.

I hope that this remains the case - users should have the choice regarding GPS tracking.  For several reasons (battery consumption, privacy etc.) I don't have GPS enabled unless required.

Give it a try and let us/FItbit know if it works for you.

Thanks,

Dobbs.

[Dchend]

I've been using fitbit from the start including my entire family. I'm on my 3rd device, the HR charge. I do not wish to be tracked at all, if location is going to be a requirement moving forward I will be finished with this product which will include the rest of my family and I will be looking for a refund on all of these producta.

[BolletjesH]

With my fitbit One and Samsung Galaxy S6 the app doesn't function anymore without turning on the location service. I am very upset about this. If it doesn't change I will really consider to stop using my fitbit. 

[troj]

Update... two app releases and neither have addressed this issue.

[SteveH]

Problem is @troj I'm not sure that fitbit see this as an issue to be addressed. It appears to be a requirement rather than a design decision. I can understand that this will not be acceptable to everyone and that they may wish to stop using fitbits and find an alternative.

[troj]

SteveH... understood, but here is the code they should be looking at;

If "DeviceType" = "ChargeHR" then "Access Coarse Location" else "Access Fine Location"

I realize I am oversimplifying the code, but this isn't too difficult to implement.

All I can say is, I certainly hope that Fitbit sees past this requirement and accomodates those of us who like the product but dont need or want GPS (location services) to track us.

Please remember that when I say we don't need this... it's because our tracker doesn't offer this option. So, don't require it!

[SteveH]

I'm not an expert in apps but I wonder if any part of the app requires location services then it has to be active even if that part of the code isn't used in every situation. Having different apps would certainly get round the issue but perhaps having a single app for all fitbits makes this issue difficult to get round.

[HannahBax]

I only have the flex and with the most recent update, it is requiring location for me too. I run on a treadmill and don't need or want to be tracked while doing so. If this is going to be continuous, I will look into other pedometer options, which is sad because I have really loved fitbit this past year.

[troj]

Numerous updates and still there is no solution. Clearly fitbit is not wanting to address this directly here.

I will be the first to say that I have now stopped using my fitbit because of this issue.

The requirement for "fine location" services is not necessary for most of the trackers. And turning this function on for the phone only serves to reduce the battery life of the phone.

By the way, if you don't turn it on... You will not recieve any notifications from your tracker regarding battery life, badges, daily status, or any other functionality where the app needs to communicate with the tracker. So why bother?... Exacly.

Moving on.

I hope someone from fitbit sees this and eventually decides to make a change.

[Kaeo]

Power saving mode on s7 turns off location which turns off fitbit sync and generates this error msg. So useless I want to Destroy both devices. Cept s7 is prettier so bye bye fitbit

[chunky1234]

Guys, this is killing my phone battery (Samsung S5 now running Marshmallow 6.0.1).  Always have location off unless I am out and about and need mapping.  So, forcing me to turn location on is just not an option!!  Come on Fitbit, you have always been great so get this fixed!!

[amarurecor]

Where is fitbit support?  It seems odd that they haven't responded to this because this is seriously a dealbreaker.... even for someone who has almost 10 million steps and has recruited a dozen other users.

[SteveH]

I wouldn't expect a response from customer support in this forum as they do not monitor it. If you want to discuss it with support then you'll need to contact them directly.

[troj]

Folks,

Please voice your concerns directly by sending an e-mail, tweet, or calling...

Visit: http://help.fitbit.com/?l=en_US&cu=1&fs=ContactUs

Thanks,

~ terry o.

[troj]

Folks, please be sure to send your concerns to the development team...

"Hello Terry, Thank you for letting us know about the concerns about privacy and security being discussed...   We will pass these information to a higher department. Please let us know if you have any more questions or issues we would be glad to assist you.

Sincerely, Cristopher G. and the Fitbit Team."

Hearing our needs should help to drive some changes.

Thanks,

~ terry o.