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]

The app doesn't need to scan every Bluetooth device in range. If their programmers want to, they can add a fallback that just talks directly to the devices in your device list. Which is what seems to happen anyway. It would make the silly error message go away at least.

[ALitBitFit]

I hate when apps try to take more than they need from you. Out of respect if they want more data from me why not provide a service that I want first. If it results in me having to give something up to get this service then I am sure more people will be willing to do so. I have a HR. Why would it need my location? Who cares where is am. I don't benefit from knowing this info, or do I?
Btw does anyone know of a third party app that would allow you to sync without having to go through fitbit. Even if it's an app that you have to pay for. Most of the time the data is for me to know so there is no benefit for it to be given to Fitbit.

[Rich_Laue]

@ALitBitFit please scan some of the replies of why on past pages, especially my post explaining why the change was made to the Marshmellow OS. While fitbit does not have to ask the user to turn on location services, this osnot the same as fitbit asking for your location. However with location services off the phone's OS will refuse to send the Trackers ID on to the Fitbit app. It seems that not only Fitbit but Google is concearned about security.

First I want to point out the title is wrong, the app doesn't care where the fitbit is so it does not need to know where the tracker is, and doesn't even ask for the location. 

The app needs to know the MAC address of the tracker and that is where the conflict is. 

Feel free to do your own search, you will find hits like this one.

To answer your last quesrion, no there are no other apps currently for android. Please see my signature, i point out an open source Linux project that does sync fitbit trackers. It should not be hard port over to android. Beware that because of the security limitations Google put on marshmellow, you will still need locarion services turned on.

[Sparksnpa]

I just wanted to give you all a work around for this that my significant other uses since they hate having location on.

Search the Google play store for "fake GPS location", download and install the app.

Open it and it will require you to set the app as a mock location app, (just keep scrolling down the list of settings it opens till you find mock location).

Now set a mock location in the app and turn off your location services.

Your phone will now sync with the Fitbit without location services enabled!

They came up with this method and it works on the Fitbit charge HR.

[Rich_Laue]

This app might give problems if you lose your phone, or need to call 411,-will they it google get the right location?

Fitbit does not ask for your location, but as a courtesy is reminding you that your operating system requires location services to be on, this is not the same as asking for your location.

As stated above, Fitbit not the one that requires location services turned on. Note that location services is not the same as asking for your location, which can be done without, and usually is done without GPS. Google made this move to close a security hole. Could this app be a work around and opening your phone to this security risk?

Just a few thoughts to think about.

I just went to the phones settings - connections - locations, and even though I synced there trackers several times this morning, there is no sign that Fitbit requested my location. However foing to Google Play, shows that they did request my location. Now why does Play need to know it.

[Sparksnpa]

As I stated, this is simply for those that wish to not have location services on.

If by default they keep their location off, spoofing the location is not going to have any adverse effect on their daily lives, not to mention the Android system itself knows it is a spoofed location and most likely will not transmit it to emergency services if requested.

I am not sure why you are so keen on people keeping their location on as many have stated they keep it off for battery drain issues etc.

[USAF-Larry]

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@Sparksnpa wrote:
I just wanted to give you all a work around for this that my significant other uses since they hate having location on.

Search the Google play store for "fake GPS location", download and install the app.

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People should be aware that use of this app will disable the capability of many apps that use location to function, such as Maps, Poynt, Find My Lost Phone, etc., etc., etc..  I just returned home from a 3-week road trip, and I relied heavily on the Google Maps app to find restaurants, campgrounds, etc., which relied on my current location - if I did not have location service enabled, that capability would have been useless.  Additionally, if you use this fake GPS location app, you will not be able to use the Fitbit exercise mode functions for Walk, Run, Bike, or Hike.

There seems to be two different thoughts one why people don't want location services turned on: 1) It will drain the battery, and 2) Fitbit is tracking my location.  Neither of these are true.  On the first issue, location services have virtually no effect of battery life, somewhere less than 1% of the battery useage.  On the second issue, Fitbit does not even request your location when syncing.  So, what is the real reason for not wanting to turn on location services?

[Sparksnpa]

I am done with the discussion.

For those that do not want location on because of tracking, or battery drain (regardless of what one person claims for their one device), or just because you don't feel it should be on (because hey it's your phone / Fitbit use it how you want), follow the instructions above.

My significant other saw it was a voiced concern and issue for people as well as themselves, so they shared the method they found works. Do what you want with it.

[Rich_Laue]

The only time turning location services off saves battery is when it prevents an app or website from reading your location. Leaving on location services in itself won't affect battery drain. Turning it off will affect many apps on the phone including Google search, OK Google, the web Browser, it keeps my Blaze or Fitbit from using GPS, my bank app, even Facebook requires it give give the full experience.There are just too many apps that use location for valid reasons for me to leave it off.

Leaving it off to save energy, but turning it off to keep an app, that doesn't even request the location is something else.

I was just pointing out the reason the OS, not Fitbit requires location services. I've also read several tech articles mentioning the repercussions of spoofing the location.

As the title, and many posters like @Dobbs33 falsely assume that asking for location services to be turned on, is not asking permission to read the location. I've even tried it, revoked Fitbits permission to read the location and the tracker synced fine. It's kind of like leaving a for unlock does not mean that a person wants to walk through it.

BTW Fitbit itself only requires location services to be on when the app is using the GPS, during a sync the app is simply reminding that the os needs it.

For more info see this link.

Feel free to leave your location services off, you cell carrier knows your location either way.

[Paulpar]

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@Rich_Laue wrote:

This app might give problems if you lose your phone, or need to call 411,-will they it google get the right location?

Fitbit does not ask for your location, but as a courtesy is reminding you that your operating system requires location services to be on, this is not the same as asking for your location.

As stated above, Fitbit not the one that requires location services turned on. Note that location services is not the same as asking for your location, which can be done without, and usually is done without GPS. Google made this move to close a security hole. Could this app be a work around and opening your phone to this security risk?

Just a few thoughts to think about.

I just went to the phones settings - connections - locations, and even though I synced there trackers several times this morning, there is no sign that Fitbit requested my location. However foing to Google Play, shows that they did request my location. Now why does Play need to know it.

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I just don't like my location turned on, there is no legitimate reason as to why my location needs to be turned on at all times!  None!  I have no other apps or devices, outside of Blaze, that require me to turn on my location in order to provide basic funcitons, these functions are the only ones I need.  You seem very determined that everyone and their mother keep the location function turned on at all times.  Well, just like your preference of keeping it on, my preference is to keep it off, at all times unless there is a legitimate use for it...like finding directions or mapping my route...just like I use my WiFi function, I turn it on and off when needed or not.  Just because you don't care about it doesn't mean it isn't an issue for others.

[USAF-Larry]

You are certainly welcome to keep Location Serivces turned off if it bothers you, @Paulpar.  You should remember, though, the requirement to have it enabled in order to use Bluetooth to sync your device is a Google requirement, not Fitbit's.  If you want to enable it, check the Google Maps, then turn it off, you can certainly do that.  You can enable it, sync your tracker, and then turn it off, too. No problem here!  Have fun!

[Rich_Laue]

Your not tutning location on, your turning location services on, there is a big difference.

Location services being turned on only onlocks the door for an app to use your location if it needs to.

Fitbit does not ask for your location during a sync, Fitbit however does ask for the MAC of your tracker so that it can identify which account the data should be put in.

There is a BT security hole in lollipop, google closed this hole, but it now requires location services to be on for the operating system to send the MAC  of the tracker to the Fitbit App.

Yes Fitbit does not have to remind the user to turn on this service, but then you would be screaming here that your tracker doesn't sync.

[themuxicbox]

That works for me! Thank you for sharing a solution, was getting frustrated over this. 

[Sparksnpa]

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@themuxicbox wrote:

That works for me! Thank you for sharing a solution, was getting frustrated over this. 

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No problem, just pause it if you need to use your location for real.

[USAF-Larry]

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@wput wrote:

It's been months - has the dev. team responded?

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Responded to what? I don't think Google has eliminated the requirement, since they implemented it to fix a "security hole".

[Rich_Laue]

The dev team does not respond to these posts, they might browse through them.

As @USAF-Larry wrote @wput this change is out of Fitbits hands.

Fitbit does not ask for your location, the app is just letting you know that to continue and sync your tracker Location Services must be turned on.

Of course Fitbit doesnt have to remind you, but then you will be asking why your tracker wont sunc.

This does not turn on location, it simply turns on the service which allows apps to request your location.

It's more like unlocking the door dows not open the door, it simply allows a person to open it if they desire it.

After a sync, got to your request location history, you will notice Fitbit is not on the list.

You can do a search of android +Bluetooth +location services

[wput]

As someone mentioned in a thread - the policy could be for near location
and so you wouldn't have to turn on location services to sync.

/Wendy

[Rich_Laue]

No as mentioned in the thread, this is not a dcision made by Fitbit.

It was a decision to fix a security hole in the Android  Bluetooth by Google.

Fitbit has no control over google, and also does not ask for the phones location. All Fitbit wants is the tracker ID so that its server will know which account to drop the data into.

Google now requires the lication services to be running.

BTW if your phone is running lollipop or older, your BT is still open to hacking.

Also the title of this thread is wrong

[rebdre]

Actually, the title is right, on my phone I have to turn location on on my phone in order for fitbit to sync. 

[USAF-Larry]

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@rebdre wrote:
Actually, the title is right, on my phone I have to turn location on on my phone in order for fitbit to sync. 

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The title is not correct - it does not need Location services enabled to "find" your Fitbit, it needs Location services to "sync" your Fitbit. When it syncs, it could care less where it is located, so it does not need to find it.