Battery drain/Notifications - Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+

[AlessFitbit]

Fitbit Update: 09/3/2017

Our team is still actively investigating the root cause of this battery drain with Blaze and the Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+. I'm sorry that many of you are still having issues with a shorter battery life, but rest assured this is being looked at as high-priority for our team. My apologies for the inconvenience, and thank you all for your patience! I will provide an update as soon as there is more information available. In the meantime, please continue manually syncing your Blaze trackers only when needed. This will help preserve the battery-life.

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Fitbit Update: 08/14/2017

Hi everybody!

Thanks for reporting your experiences with a rapid battery drain on Blaze trackers and your Android device - Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+. Our team is aware this is affecting Blaze users and they are investigating the root cause. I will update this thread when there is more information available. 

As a temporary workaround, turn OFF "Always Connected" and the "All-Day sync" features. Make sure to manually sync your devices at least once a day.

Thanks for your patience! 

[ErickFitbit]

At this time, the Samsung Galaxy S8 is currently not on our list of supported devices. This means that our Android team has not yet fully tested it for compatibility and added it to the list. I recommend setting up and syncing via a device listed as supported or using a computer. 

Our Android team is always working to test and add more Android devices to the supported devices list, so keep an eye open for updates! I will also make sure to update everyone in this thread when the Samsung Galaxy S8 is added to the supported devices list.

[Howardta]

Can we get a notification when a fix for this is established. This battery drain is terrible for the Galaxy S8.

[Johnny_Tapia]

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@ErickFitbit wrote:

At this time, the Samsung Galaxy S8 is currently not on our list of supported devices. This means that our Android team has not yet fully tested it for compatibility and added it to the list. I recommend setting up and syncing via a device listed as supported or using a computer. 

Our Android team is always working to test and add more Android devices to the supported devices list, so keep an eye open for updates! I will also make sure to update everyone in this thread when the Samsung Galaxy S8 is added to the supported devices list.

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Erick,

Is there an ETA for when the S8 and S8+ will be officially supported? A month? A year? Never?

Thanks for any help! 

[highon2str]

I too have just switched over to an S8 for around 2 weeks now and went from 5 days charging to 2-3 days now. Shame they aren't compatible.

I'm going to set it up to sync with the win10 fitbit app and see if it goes back to my usual 5 days of battery life.

[Howardta]

It's a shame. It's one of the most popular phones. It's not like Fitbit new it was coming. I will take this into consideration the next time I buy a new smart watch.

[NickBlaze88]

Time to switch to the Samsung Fit2 I guess. Its a million times better anyway. Sorry FitBit you lost me and probally a million others

[NickBlaze88]

Yup I got my replacement. First they offered me 25%  off then fifty then the whole watch. even then the link offered me 50% off any item in the store or a new blaze...guess which one I went with. and yes the new one drains just as fast

[Johnny_Tapia]

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@NickBlaze88 wrote:

Time to switch to the Samsung Fit2 I guess. Its a million times better anyway. Sorry FitBit you lost me and probally a million others

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Yup, I have held out for a while waiting for Fitbit to address this issue. Looks like it's not going to happen. I literally just ordered a Samsung Fit 2. Sorry Fitbit, you lost a long-time customer today.

[Darling679]

With my Samsung S7 Edge I had 6 days with all day sync on. I never had a problem until I got the S8+ and then my battery drained in 1 day. I completely disagree, this is a Fitbit issue. I have had every Galaxy since Galaxy S3 and have had Fitbits since the Fitbit Force and this is the first time I have had a problem. I was a proud owner of the Force, Charge, Charge HR, Surge and now Blaze. I have absolutely no other issues connecting anything to my S8+ and only have battery issues with my Blaze since I got my 8+. Powerbeats are connecting perfectly without battery draining, car is connecting perfectly, Alexa is connecting perfectly, all home automation(cameras, garage door, front door lock, alarms) is connected and working perfectly. Kind of points to Fitbit being the only thing that will not work properly with the S8+

[ColoRiah]

I contacted about the same thing they sent me a pebble only replacement had to charge every 2.5 days I contacted again after a week this time I get a complete unit. We in box and it's dying everyday. Sooooo disappointed in fit bit. I know it's a compatibility issue with the s8 and it does me no good when I have to charge it so much. If this isn't resolved I will find a new family to join lol

[highon2str]

Well, 3 days have passed since I last charged my blaze and posted here. I've unpaired it with my S8 (leaving the android app installed) and paired it up to sync with my win 10 laptop using the fitbit app from the windows store. My battery level is now "medium" whereas before (when paired with the S8) it would have been dead by now. 

This seems to be a reasonable workaround for now. If you have the windows fitbit app and Bluetooth on your computer, no extra dongle is needed. Use the computer to sync with your blaze. You can still access the data on the fitbit app on your S8 (even though you've unpaired it with the phone). As long as you are logged in, it pulls the data from the fitbit servers.

[WesA]

This is not a solution. I purchased the Blaze because I wanted calendar notifications, text notifications, etc. Syncing my activity through my computer will not provide any notifications. If I only wanted to track my steps and tell time, I could use a Charge.

[ChapsG]

Got my new unit in on Saturday. Unpaired the one that had the "defective battery," paired the new one and charged both of them up to full. I've already had to charge the new one again. The "defective" one is still showing 100% battery 3 days later. Granted I'm not wearing it, but still.

[WesA]

Hey Fitbit! Can I have a couple extra chargers for my Blaze? I have been charging it in my car, at home, and at work. My charger has become something that I have to carry around in my pocket.

[SunsetRunner]

Awesome, I will try that. They sent me a new one and I can't even get that one to sync with my s8. I appreciate the help.

[FXOjafar]

Don't sync with your S8 unless you like bad battery life. You will also have terrible issues with Bluetooth streaming to other devices.  

I just got a Garmin Fenix 5x. It syncs with the S8 beautifully with zero issues. 

[joecagle77]

Seems like horrible advice to get another device. Im already embedded into the fitbit community. I'd rather wait for a fix than or charge it here and there. While Im at work on my pc it takes less that 30 minutes to charge this thing. 

Moderator edit: word choice

[Johnny_Tapia]

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@joecagle77 wrote:

Im sorry you feel that 

"At this time, the Samsung Galaxy S8 is currently not on our list of supported devices. This means that our Android team has not yet fully tested it for compatibility and added it to the list. I recommend setting up and syncing via a device listed as supported or using a computer.

Our Android team is always working to test and add more Android devices to the supported devices list, so keep an eye open for updates! I will also make sure to update everyone in this thread when the Samsung Galaxy S8 is added to the supported devices list."

Is considered "resolved" or a "solution". This is not different than buying a car and later taking it back and telling them you cant drive over 40 with out it making a noise and the dealer saying "well dont drive over 40". The GS8 has been out since April 21, 2017. So unless fitbit developers have been sitting around picking their butts then Im missing something. 

I for one would like a full refund for mine and my wifes. I spent ALOT I MEAN ALOT of money on the Blazes and I also paid the stupid 50 a year for the so called premier crap. Im already pissy that the food database is crap. All I know is fitbit is making tons of money but not doing upkeep on it. Basically I feel like fitbit thinks "I've got your money so what are you going to do" 

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Agreed. It is NOT resolved. They aren't even acknowledging that they're working on a fix--they're just giving the standard robotic customer service response without any details.

[TWGator]

I got a Samsung GearFit 2 last week. I love this thing. I *was* in love with my Blaze, and had no intention of giving it up...until I upgraded to the Galaxy S8 and was told, basically, by Fitbit, "tough luck" when it wouldn't work with my new phone. 

Used Fitbit for years until that. 

I don't imagine I'll ever be back. 

[heatherRiff]

Do we have an ETA on when testing will start or be completed with Galaxy S8? The hard part is not knowing.