Brand New Blaze won't power on outside of charger

[KBL22]

Order a Blaze from fitbit directly got it in the mail today. placed it in the charger to power on and sync and update everything runs through great. Battery shows full charge and pop it out of the charger and it wont wake up. Hit every button, swiped multipe directions. NOTHING. 

Was able to set-up and connect while it was in the charging cradle but when its outside of the cradle nothing works. Little frustrating seeing as I havent even gotten to use the thing yet! 

[AndrewFitbit]

@KBL22 Have you tried restarting your Blaze? If that doesn't work, you should probably reach out to Customer Support.

[KBL22]

Thanks for the reply Andrew I had found that in another users thread and tried with no success. I will be contacting Customer Support now. 

Spoiler

[AngelaMa]

Hello @KBL22 I'm sorry to hear about your experience with your new Blaze. Did you reach out to customer support? Did they provide you any additional troubleshoot? 

I'll be arround if you have any questions! 🙂  

[Cupp]

My new Blaze would not work outside of the cradle even after numerous reboots.  I contacted support and was very happy with their professionalism and quick response.  Thank you!

[AlejandraFitbit]

A warm welcome to the Community @Cupp. It's great to hear that you are satisfied with the service obtained by our support team. I guess that you will be receiving a new tracker, so, at the moment of receiving it, do the following to set it up from a computer:

1. Click the Fitbit Connect icon located near the date and time on your computer.
2. Click Open Main Menu.
3. Click Set Up A New Fitbit Device.
4. Click Existing User and log in to your account.
5. Choose your tracker and follow the onscreen instructions to continue.

Happy stepping! 

[Thomaseno]

Yes, but customer support is NOT available when I need it.  I have literally spent about 15 hours trying to get this device up and running.  My official diagnosis is, one which I had previously been told, and foolishly chose to ignore.  That being, that Fitbit Blaze is a worhtless, defective trinket.  It would be more suitable for a Cracker Jack prize, a disappointing one at that, than a respectable work-out tracking device.  I can't even describe the extent of my frustration and disappointment. 

[FerdinandFitbit]

Hi there @Thomaseno. Good to see you in the Forums!

I'm sorry you're having a hard time with your tracker. What is it exactly that you're having problems with? I'll be happy to help on what is possible.

[Thomaseno]

Thank you for your willingness to help and share your knowledge.  It seems that I got 2 "lemon" pebbles, the actual tracking devices, their selves, and one bad kit.  When I finally got to talk to another human being at Fitbit, I believe that my dilemma may be at long last resolved.  They are sending me an entire new kit, including charger, etc., Fitbit Premium Membership, and even a new dongle.  A dongle does not come with Blaze, but IT IS necessary, when one does not have Bluetooth, and I do not. This dongle piece of information was completely contradicted in Fitbit's own instructions for "Blaze".  Fortunately, I had an old dongle from my Fitbit Flex, a tracker, that I had been very happy with.  But that dongle was on no help, anyways.  It was when I decided to upgrade to Blaze, that this current nightmare began.  Thus, to cover all the bases, I requested a brand new dongle, too.  I can't take much more stress over this Fitbit Blaze.  It would be a kick-in-the-teeth to get this new kit over-nighted, and to have it not work, because of an old worn-out Fitbit Flex dongle.  After I recieve my new Blaze kit, dongle, etc., have it up and running, am confident and observe it functioning as a work-out tracker, I will post a glowing appraisal of a useful, valuable product.  At this point in time, I have a ways to go before anything optimistic or positive is pecked-out of my computer keyboard?

Moderator edit: all-caps

[Driver8666]

Almost all laptops and desktops manufactured after Windows 10 came out or in 2016 come with Bluetooth. My Alta came with a dongle, but I have that as a backup and it looks like I won't need it. If it doesn't you can get an inexpensive Bluetooth adapter for less than 20 bucks. My old hp laptop I bought in 2014 didn't come with Bluetooth. My hp Pavilion I'm using now to type this has Bluetooth in the motherboard. Some laptops and desktops don't have this, still. That's why I said almost all. 

As for your contradiction, I have to disagree with you. It says in the instructions "If you are not using Windows 10, you'll need to purchase the dongle". With almost all computers upgraded to Windows 10, you might have the holdouts. 

If you don't have Bluetooth on the computer, you have to plug in the charger. It says that in the instruction manual for the Blaze. 

[Rich_Laue]

The Blaze also has the ability to sync without any Bluetooth equipt computer. 

Simply place the Blaze in its chrger, plug the charger into a USB port on the computer.. The app will sync through the charging cord., this is also true for the Surge. 

[Thomaseno]

It was pointed-out to me, among one of those here, that it clearly stated that Fitbit Blaze requires a dongle.  That both IS and IS NOT true.  When I saw the information, it specifically stated, "A dongle in not needed with the Fitbit Blaze, period"!  The truth of the matter is, that you must have this dongle if you do not have Bluetooth.  I do not.  Apparently, it is assumed by some, that everyone has equal amounts of, and access to, all technology.  Obviously, to me, that is not the case!  I even had to buy Windows 10, which I didn't realize, that I needed for Blaze, until after I had purchased it.  Fitbit Flex was a wonderful device, which worked with my Windows 7, never gave me any problems, in any way, and inspired me to purchase 5 more of that model, and give them as gifts.  For weeks, Blaze has been a nightmare up until a quirk of fate yesterday afternoon.  I can't even get into all the different steps, interactions by email, live chat, and phone conversations with Fitbit reps.  I literally expended about a total of 17 hours of my valuable time, getting this product up and running.  While I will own that some of the issues were due to my own ignorance and lack of computer training, I will only take a some of the blame. This whole process was beyond absurd and ridiculous. I have never experienced a more stressful task in my life than achieving a viable Fitbit Blaze.  Granted, I was quite vulgar and mean, to Fitbit company personnel, but I was at the end of my rope, with wasting my time, and repeating multitudinous steps, that still left me with a device that did not function.  Even when I used a dongle - the one that was left-over from my former Fitbit model - Flex, it did not solve my problems.  There was some issue, experienced by many, many, many others, not just myself, and it had to do with getting the battery to charge! It is only fair to report that the folks at Fitbit worked very hard to solve my problems, were heroically patient, sent me a couple of over-night packages of new equipment to solve my tracker issues, and took substantial abuse from an irate me.  For this, I express my sincere gratitude and loyalty to FITBIT, forever after.  Furthermore, my deepest apologies for my profanity, vulgarity, hostility and abuse of their employess, who were after all, only trying to help me.  Neverhteless, I was pushed into several days worth of meltdowns, while I tried to utilize a product, that had cost me a lot of time, money, and unlimited irritation.  There must be a better way of getting these Fitbit Blazes synced and charged?????  All this is old news now.  Somehow, maybe it was Jesus?  All at once, everything came together in the middle of yesterday afternoon.  Like witnessing a miracle, before my eyes and outside of my control, my Blaze was synced, registered, updated, the battery icon FINALLY appeared, it began and finished charging, and at this moment, I am AT LAST wearing a functional FITBIT BLAZE!  Thank You and God bless.

Moderator edit: all-caps

[AlejandraFitbit]

Thanks for the information @Thomaseno, @Rich_Laue and @Driver8666 thanks for stopping by.  I am sorry to hear everything that you experienced with your Blaze but it is good to hear that your tracker is now working properly. If you need anything else, do not hesitate in posting it.

Catch you later. 

[Driver8666]

@thomseno

Windows 10 was a free upgrade for a year for all Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 users. Everyone knew this. As I said before all computers manufactured after this came out or after January 1, 2016 have Bluetooth in the motherboard.

On the other hand it's good you got your Blaze going.

[Thomaseno]

I feel inclined, once again, to commend The Fitbit Company for enduring the nightmare, that I put them through, while I suffered through getting my Blaze up and running.  Their reps were targets of a lot of abuse from me, which I am not proud of, nor can I excuse or erase.  They sent me product's parts and wholes to make it right, and their above and beyond fairness, makes this commentary obligatory.  It is wonderful, "The Fitbit Blaze", and has been working consistently and magnificently ever since.  I think that I know what the problem was.  I am no genius, but the process of elimination makes this final explanation, the only one feasible.  The fact, that I discovered it myself was merely a matter of chance, and I am not, among-the-technically-inclined, on the computer, or otherwise.  Anyways, even though, I had uninstalled my prior model, the "Fitbit Flex" from my computer, and had installed the new "Blaze", along with "Windows 10"( I only had Windows 7, prior), in order to use "Blaze", there was a remnant of "Flex", interfering with "Blaze".  Somehow, it would not let me power-up the battery for "Blaze", because the power-up for "Flex" was still an issue.  Once I got the { charging-up of old Flex} removed fro my computer, then everything began to work.  Also worth mentioning, is that with Blaze, AND WITHOUT  HAVING BLUETOOTH, you do still have to use a DONGLE!!!!!  I still had one from my old Flex set-up, but the company sent me a new dongle, too, in the event, that this was "an and/or issue" to solve.  In summary, it was a vestige of the charging process for my old Fitbit Flex, still haunting my computer, that prevented the charging-up, and therefore, the use of my Fitbit Blaze!!!!  Thus, should anyone else have this technical difficulty, I hope, that I may have been of some assistance.  I LOVE FITBIT BLAZE*****!

[Thomaseno]

Please see my ultimate explanation for what had "gone awry" with the powering-up of my "Blaze".  Yours was the 2nd email that I got today, and I wanted you to see my, hopefully informative, reply to the 1st email.  It is all about the charging issue, and I only need to assist others, that might yet struggle with it.  I have been dealt with, way more than just fairly, and I seek to payback with information.  Thank You All.

[Driver8666]

@thomseno

It is good that you got it up and going. I'm one of those people who have not encountered anything with my Blaze. Maybe it's because I'm in Canada. Might be the climate. It gets put to the ultimate test when it's 37 below zero outside.

No hard feelings though. No Offense.

[AlejandraFitbit]

Hey guys @Driver8666 and @Thomaseno, thanks for everything tip and recommendation you have posted. This information is really helpful for people that is having a similar problem to yours. If you need anything else, do not hesitate in posting it and if you are having any other inconvenience feel free to get in touch with our support team. For a faster response you can contact them via phone or chat.

Keep the stepping up! 

[Thomaseno]

I have 2 issues yet to be resolved - these being personal issues, with hating waste and needing to make amends.  Because of the way that things played-out, early-on, I still have my own unique situation, regarding the subject of the magnificent Fitbit Blaze.  Since Fitbit ended-up being so extraordinarliy decent and helpful with me, I currently have 2 BRAND NEW Pebbles, that are just lying in a box, unused and wasted.  I am totally green, and I recycle wherever possible.  However, things to be recycled, are things, which have been used-up.  These Pebbles ARE BRAND NEW.  The dilema - what to do with them, in hopefully a way that benefits others?  I would have to problem with paying the postage and packaging to get these two gems into receptive hands?

[Sebrof]

Exact problem for me today as well. They must have sent me the one you returned.... only works in charger.
Customer support must get a lot of these as they imply said to return it.