Blaze won't display text messages

[JDabbs]

Hello all,

I just purchased the Blaze last night, and got everything up and going on it. The phone call notification works, calendar notification works, but it will NOT display any incoming text messages to my phone. It appears to be syncing but not my texts.  Any help is appreciated.  thanks

[sbecertified]

I know they've said that about the s10. If everything else functions ok for you except for this issue, I'd say when they fix this bug(hopefully soon) your watch would work fine with the s10.   Mine too!

[RemWin]

Same problem with my Blaze and they tried to tell me it was my phone.  I explained that was interesting since it seems to be a common problem per their Forum.

[Smsculley]

Yes I believe I'm DONE. I have uploaded the old version 2.90 app yet it works but every evening it States New update. I said NO. Now its started disconnecting from my phone every time I walk out of the room. I believe this is the end of the Fitbit for me. Samsung watch is looking better and better. 

[CYBERSIS1]

You have to turn off your auto updates, and you should not have a problem.

[Smsculley]

I have and yet it still tells.me a new version is available. They just need to come up.with a fix.

[sbecertified]

Wow.....

If you've gone into the app play store, found the Fitbit app and de-selected the auto update feature and you're still getting nagged about updates?  That's a head scratcher.

[AlejandraFitbit]

Hello all, thanks for your participation in the Community.

I am sorry for the delay in respond and appreciate all the efforts in trying to fix this notifications issue. @e-m-m-a, @Smsculley, @MomOfDVan, @CYBERSIS1 and @317_topchef, thanks for the input.

@shrtstf, @chevygirl10, @Heather_U1, @Melissa2017, @JuddRanch, @sbecertified, @BRUNx, @Aprildixon1998, @RemWin and @Sligh, if you are having problems with your notifications, I recommend taking a look at the help article: My Fitbit device isn't receiving notifications from my phone and follow the instructions provided there.

Also, I recommend checking the article: Which phones and tablets can I use with my Fitbit watch or tracker? and see if your phones are compatible.

If the issue is directly with the Textra app, as mentioned previously, our team is aware of the problem and are working to resolve it as quickly as possible, sorry for any inconvenience it's caused and appreciate your patience and look forward to getting you back on track.

@SunsetRunner, if you are seeing a pending update, I recommend updating your app by following the steps in the article: How do I update the app to the latest version?.

I will see you around. 

[SunsetRunner]

I really hate to get rude but I guess the situation calls for it after the ridiculous canned responses we keep getting.  People time and again keep saying they get notifications, just not TEXT notifications.

@AlejandraFitbit Why the heck would I update the app to the latest version when I and many others have plainly demonstrated the latest versions of the app (anything at or beyond v3.0) is what is CAUSING the issue?!? I am definitely done with Fibit. I really liked the two I had over the last 3 years but this has gone on for too long. Had the community not discovered a fix OURSELVES my device would be borderline useless and its obvious that Fitbit has no desire to fix this in a timely manner, if at all (which I believe more and more everyday to be the case). If they had said early on we are going to no longer support it, it may have been understandable but for them to not even acknowledge a screw up is unacceptable. We have already replaced my wife's device with a Samsung one and I will be doing the same myself.

[sbecertified]

This is a slightly redacted email correspondence between myself and Fitbit that I cut and pasted here.

I took the time to again remove Version 2.90 software and reload Version 3.2 and followed their listed procedure to ensure that I wasn't missing a procedural step in getting this to work.  Being a retired electronic / broadcast engineer I can still follow directions, I think.  Their request is at the bottom part of the email, My conclusions are listed within my response to their email.  Since I don't have access to the app code nor do I want it, I can't tell you where the error is.  But somewhere along the line the app developers have made an error in the communication protocols between the phone software and their app.   Now if this is all a ploy to get me to purchase new product, they're goin about it the wrong way! (Entice me with additional better features. Not take one away from existing product.)  One of the reasons I purchased the Blaze was to receive sms notifications on my wrist.  I personally like the features of the watch and that's one of them.  My watch still works and I would like ALL the features to work.  It did until the software updates.  Having to reload old version software is usually not the way to resolve an issue, but in this case there is no alternative for me if I want working sms messages on my wrist. I did take the time to send screen setup pictures from my phone to show them my setup (not included here).   (Good thing I'm retired!  Spending way toooo much time on this bug!)  For now, myself, I can live with Version 2.90 running in my phone.  Not happy about it though!  It will be interesting to see how long it takes for Fitbit to supply a Version patch to correct this.   It is possible though, in writing new app code to coincide with newer Fitbit product, the later version software may NOT be backward compatible with older product and Fitbit R&D will not want to spend time/money to resolve this issue.

   That's frustrating but I know it happens.  We'll see.  (That last thought would most likely steer me away from any future Fitbit product.)

(OR......MAYBE WE'RE ALL LIVING UNDER A MASS HYSTERIA THINKING ALL OUR PHONES ARE NOT WORKING RIGHT AND THE SOFTWARE IS FINE!!!!!!!!!)  Yea.......I don't think so!

Hello Marx A. and the Fitbit Team,

Ok.  This is what I did.

1.  I unpaired my Blaze with my phone.

2.  I went in under the Fitbit app and cleared the cache and user data

3.  I uninstalled the Version 2.90 Fitbit software

4.  I installed the latest version Fitbit software from the Play store.

5.  I logged into the Fitbit program and set my Blaze watch up with the software.  (Went through the pairing

     procedure.)

6.  I set all the notifications in the Fitbit app the way I wanted them;  calls , sms utilizing Textra, calendar,  no emails.

7.  I went into my phone setup and set all permissions to on.

8.  I made sure the lock screen shows content.

9.  I restarted my phone and the Blaze.

Conclusions:

     I sent many test text messages from my wife's phone to my phone.

     I switched back and forth between the Galaxy 8 Message sms program and a 3'rd party sms app (Textra).

     Fitbit recognizes this app as a choice in the sms notification selection area.

1.  Using the Galaxy 8 + sms app (Messages), NO SMS NOTIFICATIONS ARE SENT TO THE WATCH.

2.  I made sure all parameters were set up correctly in the phone and the Fitbit app.

3.  I switch my phone to a 3'rd party sms app (Textra) making sure the Fitbit app sms notification is selected

     correctly to Textra,  a single notification is sent to the watch when receiving a text message.

     ANY SUBSEQUENT MESSAGES SENT TO MY GALAXY PHONE ARE NOT COPIED TO THE WATCH.

     I have to clear the messages out of my phone before the watch would receive another message.  But then it 

     would only receive one more message.  Any subsequent messages are not received by the watch until the 

     phone is cleared of the messages.  THE PHONE MUST BE CLEARED OF THE MESSAGES BEFORE THE

     WATCH WILL RECEIVE A SINGLE TEXT AGAIN.  THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE OPERATION.

IF I REINSTALL VERSION 2.90 FOLLOWING ALL THE PROCEDURE YOU SENT ME, ALL WORKS FINE.  ANYTIME MY PHONE RECEIVES A TEXT, IT IS TRANSFERRED TO THE WATCH.

-----Original Message-----
From: https://contact.fitbit.com <https://contact.fitbit.com>
Sent: Wed, Jul 31, 2019 3:03 pm
Subject: Re: Blaze - Notifications - #31514129 [ ref:_00D40N2lj._5000b1Vacz0:ref ]

Hi,

We do apologize for the delay in our response. Let's continue to work together in regards with the notification issue of your Blaze.

Upon checking our system, we can see that the last time your tracker synced was on the 31st of July with zero notifications.

In order for us to further troubleshoot this issue, we recommend you to follow these steps in exact order:

1. Unpair your Versa from Fitbit account via Fitbit app.
2. Unpair your Versa from mobile device's bluetooth settings.
3. Go to your mobile device's settings.
4. Tap on "Apps".
5. Find and tap on the Fitbit app > "Storage" > Tap on "Clear Cache" and "Clear User Data".
6. Restart your phone and restart your Versa.
7. Make sure your Location and Bluetooth setting are both turned "On" on your mobile device and you are wearing your watch.
8. Open the Fitbit App (it may ask you to login).
9. Pair the Versa again to Fitbit account.
10. Make sure notification settings in the app are set preferably or correctly.
11. Sync your Versa.

In addition to that, we would also need to make sure that the permission on your Android device is set correctly. To do that, you may follow these steps:

1. Go to your mobile device's settings.
2. Tap on "Apps" > Fitbit.
3. Tap on "Permissions" and make sure everything is set to "On" (Contacts, Phone, SMS, Storage, Location).
4. Go back a page and click on "Notifications" and make sure "Allow notifications" is set to "On".
5. Make sure that the lock screen is also set to "Show content".
6. Restart your phone and Versa if any changes were made.

Once you have set the permissions correctly, please send us a screenshot so we can also see it.

We will be waiting for your response. if you have any questions or other concerns, feel free to let us know.

Sincerely,

Marx A. and the Fitbit Team

[Melissa2017]

I received a troubleshooting response here, which I tried to no avail.
Pretty disappointed as everything was working fine until a few weeks ago.

Thanks!

Melissa

[CYBERSIS1]

You moderators should know by now the problem is with the  updated version of the Fitbit app.  And that is the only problem.  Fitbit needs to admit that and fix it.  Do you not look at the post here.  When people uninstall the new version and reinstall the 2.9 version we start getting our messages again.

[Rich_Laue]

The problem is only with certain phones. Or maybe just some versions of the OS. 

For many notifications work fine with the latest app. 

[sbecertified]

If you read through my previous dissertation ( yes, I know it was long!)  I mention that my understanding with new software there is the possibility of it not being fully backward compatible with older product and that Fitbit R&D may not want to expense the bug fix for older product. If that's the case then there should be multiple versions of software available. But that would be expensive also. I don't know what they'll do.  I just know that my watch works fine with Version 2.90 and if that's the way it is then, oh well. I don't feel like plunking down $200 -$300 for another watch.

[SunsetRunner]

Looks like version 3.3 has hit the Google Play store. Anyone want to be the guinea pig? Personally I don't really want to.

[sbecertified]

I may give it a whirl but in looking now in my Android Play Store I only see Version 3.2 as of yet.   If I do I'll post unless somebody beats me to it.   My curiosity is itchin to see if they did anything to retro the Blaze notifications.

[drake0517]

I have the Samsung 9 and with the update it is doing the same thing for me as well, this has to be something with the update, I have also check and did all the required steps to my phone and fitbit.

[Melissa2017]

I've heard nothing back from customer service. How do I go about
installing the earlier version?

Thanks!

Melissa

[drake0517]

I still have not heard anything either just waiting to see what the fix might be.

[sbecertified]

This forum won't let me post the name of the website I found it, but if you Google "Fitbit Version 2.90" the first website that came up is the one I used. The website had several versions available all the way from Version 3.2 back through Version 2.89.  I downloaded 2.90. I have an Android. Your phone will fuss that the software is not coming from the play store. I scanned it with Bitdefender and decided to use it. I completely removed 3.2 and installed 2.90.  Works fine. I also went into the play store, brought up Fitbit App, and opened the upper right corner 3 dots. Unselected auto-update.

Yep.  Silence is not golden in this circumstance!

Moderator edit: merged reply

[Danielley1]

Hello,

I have been following this thread and looking for the older app version when I found  "Fit Notifications (for Fitbit) app by Smart Dinosaurs entertainment. It give me 6 steps - turned it on and every text message is working with previews.

Good luck all. I cant wait until this is fixed.