Blaze won't charge out of box - needs to do update - can't update without charge

[Karalee-77]

This is my 6th - brand new out of box blaze. I'm having the same problem with All of them - not only me but 4 other people in-store all trying to do the same - I first purchased my blaze 10mhs ago - great, no problems at all .. blaze worked perfectly. 4 weeks ago there was a firmware update since then my blaze battery would only last, at best - 1 day & that's with all notifications off! B4 this, it would last 4 days at least and that's with logging my workouts from gym and all notifications turned on! I tried 3 nights in a row doing a full charge each night - it would charge fully fine but the charge would only last 1 day. Knowing something was wrong I returned it to the store I purchased it from. They agreed, something was wrong - handed me a new one (in exchange) - great! Went home to set up new device (this is my 4th Gen Fitbit - not my 1st time trying to use a Fitbit device) - So, 1st deleted the old blaze from both my Samsung S8 & Surface Pro - restarted devices - turned on Bluetooth to begin setup for syncing blaze. Bluetooth on both phone and PC recognised blaze every time no problems there - asked to enter 4 digit pin each time - all fine - next step... blaze needs to do a software update to complete set up -this is the problem -  blaze can't charge b4 setup. Plugged blaze charging cradle directly into USB to charge - Yes, It was connected fine - charged for 3 hrs & nothing - screen still reads Fitbit.com/setup - Checked cradle connection - via connected devices on computer - cradle showing up as a connected device fine! Still, blaze not showing battery charging. Next, tried to charge via usb directly over night - nothing! Blaze screen still says fitbit.com/setup. Tried plugging directly into wall - same! Took 2nd brand new blaze back to shop - exchanged for new one Again! ...Round 3 - Deleted ALL Fitbit related apps from ALL devices and started the process over again from the beginning - still having the same problem - took my brand new computer into store I purchased it from only 4 weeks ago (keep in mind 1st blaze was connected to this device and working fine b4 update) - 3 tech guys working on it couldn't get the blaze connected - All had the same problems - they even tried opening 2 more brand new -out of box blazes and connecting them with other devices in store - Nothing, they all had the same problem! After leaving it with them overnight - they still couldn't get any of the devices to work - 3 qualified technicians can't get any of the 4 brand new out of box blazes connected - All had the same problem - Yes, we know how to reset the device - Yes, we tried different power sources and even tried different charging cradles for ALL of them - Nothing has worked! So, after all this we contacted Fitbit directly - Fitbit sends me out a new device (arrives 1week later)  try to set up - same dam problems! THIS IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM .... No-one at Fitbit knows how to fix it! Everyone is having the same issues! You'd think they'd send out a brand new device with the new update already on the device - considering all the issues we've had - Nope! They send me out another blaze that still requires me to do an update on a device that can't complete setup without charge - can't charge without setup first.... - Grrr I'm so mad!!!! Will be sending this device back to Fitbit for a full refund! The only good thing about Fitbit is the App - the devices are crap and I'm so over trying to get it working! Fitbit need to delete the latest update required - fix the issue then try asking customers to except the update at their own time when an update can be done correctly!        

[Rich_Laue]

I like your one paragraph post. 

The tracker will only display the setup message until it is setup. 

As long as you feel a vibration when plugging it in to charge, it is charging. 

Now after three hours have you tried setting it up again? 

[Karalee-77]

1 paragraph post because I'm typing in a hurry - Sorry, just really over it!

No-one has offered any viable solution to fix this issue so far & I've tried just about everything!

Tracker showing in Bluetooth as connected - As is charger when plugged into USB.

Yes - I feel a vibration when plugging it into the charging cradle - it also sounds on my PC that something has been recognised AKA - is connected! 

We've tried set-up about 30 times - Deleting & restarting from beginning on all devices - tried resetting blaze - lost count how many times I've rest - reset always shows fitbit logo on blaze screen followed by red battery on screen (2 -3 red bars - indicating flat battery)  - plug blaze into cradle to charge screen show's fitbit.com/setup - leave for hours, It won't charge!

I've tried charging via computer USB & wall both. Left to charge both ways for hours at a time - still nothing!

I've tried 3 different charging cradles - All brand new - still nothing! 

Screen on blaze still says fitbit.com/setup - even though its given a pin to connect and says its connected in the Fitbit app! The app is showing blaze is connected with flat battery symbol next to blaze - Under blaze logo in Account app is showing  - "Update is available" - when I click on the blaze icon in app account it says "update your tracker".

When I click to update, it first say's "looking for tracker" ... then says "could not complete update" -  ...blaze battery requires charging - it won't update until charged & won't charge without completing setup... Can't complete setup without charge! ...Double edge sward thing going on here!!!!!  

I've tried doing the setup via Wi-Fi & without - this didn't work 

I've tried with my phone directly - didn't work

Tried resetting - turning off Bluetooth - restarting phone & PC each time- still nothing!

This is the 6th brand new-out of box blaze we've tried - we've tried set-up with 3 different accounts on 5 different devices - All brand new devices - still nothing - tried changing to classic mode via dongle - still nothing! 

Anymore suggestions? Would love to hear something that actually works - So far we've tried every suggestion given in this forum and none of them have worked.

Tried contacting Fitbit - their solution was to send me a new device - Received new device & same problem still with set up!  

Would like to know if anyone in Australia that has purchased a new Fitbit in the past 2 weeks that's been able to setup their device without any problems doing the update? 

[Rich_Laue]

The Blaze will charge without updating. The only notice that it is charging will be the slight vibration when plugging in. 

If you have a win 10 or Mac you may do the update through the charging cable and by pass Bluetooth completely.