Fitbit Blaze Bluetooth Issues with iPhone 6s iOS 10.2 on car and headset

[kayvebear]

Hi All,

I am having major issues with both my plantronics bluetooth headset and my new Subaru Outback in regards to my iPhone.  I am now realizing that all of this started when I got my Fitbit Blaze 10 months ago.  I don't know how I didn't connect the dots until now (I have been blaming iOS).  

Problem:  When phone calls come in on either headset, or car (two different cars have same issue, one a 2013 Hyundai Sonata and the other a 2017 Subaru Outback) or my head set (two different headsets as I spent money buying a newer plantronics headset when this issue started happening on my older plantronics headset).....  my entire phone and the bluetooth system will completely freeze for 10-30 seconds.  I will be unable to answer the call, hang up, or do anything.  Both my phone, and the car screen ,or the bluetooth headset completely lock up.

I am now realizing this issue might have started when I got my Fitbit blaze.  Here I have been blaming everything except what is likely the culprit.  (I blamd both cars, I blamed Apple, I blamed both bluetooth headsets).

Help!  Does this mean I have to throw away my Fitbit?

[Julia_G]

If you think your Blaze is causing this your best bet may be to "unpair" your Blaze to your phone (do this in your BT settings).  Turn off notifications and turn off all day sync. When you next sync your phone will probably ask you if you want to "pair" your Blaze to your phone.  Say no.  You can still use your Blaze and sync without pairing.

[kayvebear]

But this would also mean I no longer get to see notifications on the blaze such as who is calling, text messages etc, correct?  

[Julia_G]

Yes, that is correct.  When you are away from your car and not using your headset you could re-pair if you want and then unpair again when necessary.

It is probably worth a try, unpairinf and turning off notifications anyway, just to confirm it is the connection with the Blaze that is causing the issue.

I had a similar problem with my Microsoft band -- when I paired it with my phone my BT hands free head set wouldn't work.  I don't know the technical details but I believe it is because the phone and the tracker (Fitbit and other makes that can send notifications from the phone) creates a unique BT bond so notifications only go one way.  

Someone else may be able to suggest a different work around.

[kayvebear]

Bummer.

Having texts and phone calls display on my fitbit is probably my favorite part.

I guess I will have to retire this device.  

[Julia_G]

Unfortunately, as I mentioned with my MS Band, you may find that other devices work in a similar way.

Anyway, best to experiment and see if unpairing your Blaze solves the problem.  Then you can confirm it is the pairing with the Blaze, and move on to seeing whether there is another solution or if another device would give different results.

Keep us posted!

[kayvebear]

I now have the Blaze unpaired from bluetooth.  We will see if that fixes it 😕  

No real point in having a blaze though if all it is going to do is track my steps

[kayvebear]

I now have the Blaze unpaired from bluetooth.  We will see if that fixes it 😕  

No real point in having a blaze though if all it is going to do is track my steps

[Julia_G]

Let us know if that fixes it... to be fair, though, the Blaze does quite a lot more than just track your steps, even without notifications.  (Since I am a Windows phone user I have never had notifications... but I enjoy the many other features.). And if it does turn out that the connection with your headphones and car BT are the issue, you can have the notifications when you are away from the car and not using your headphones, as long as you turn notifications back on...