Sync Blaze with Mobile Device

[AndiHy]

Was just reading the Specs for the Blaze.  Hoping this is a typo as it states that:

• Syncing to mobile devices requires Bluetooth and Internet connection

This indicates (with use of the word "and" and not "or") that you need BOTH internet as well as bluetooth to sync with your mobile device.  Is this actually the case?  I have never had a fitbit device that required both.

[MakMak · Accepted solution]

Hi, @AndiHy. ALL Fitbit devices require this. Bluetooth allows your mobile device to connect to your tracker and internet connectivity (i.e., mobile data or wifi) allows your device to upload the data to the Fitbit site. You have always needed both of these things to be functional in order to use a tracker, this is not a new feature.

[AndiHy]

I guess I was reading into it as Wifi.  Brain is apparently not at 100% today 🙂

You are right...I do need both internet and bluetooth for my fitbit (either wifi or data/other internet connectivity).  

Thank you 🙂

[heining]

My Blaze gives and (!) and won't sync. It tells me I need to turn on location to be able to sync.

[Rich_Laue]

Are you running the latest Android OS, then yes the Android requires location to be on.

[heining]

Yes, running 6.0... I would expect I don't need the location services as I am not using any of the GPS related features.

[Rich_Laue]

Due to a limitation put on Android 6.0 by Android, location services muat be enabled for your tracker, or any Fitbit tracker to sync.

The app told you exactly how to fix the no sync issue, i don't understand.

[SunsetRunner]

Hi AndiHy!

I would like to comment your good and enlightened post!

I agree that the Fitbit products have a design fault!

I just recently bought a Fitbit Blaze, but it is sitting in it's box until Fitbit has solved the

syncing fault where you need internet connection to make a local sync with your

IOS, Android... device.

Fitbit has made a nice job in making the apps for our mobile units look good and

work fine! I have been in contact with Fitbit support and I don't think they understand

the problem.

Support sent me to this community site to be able to post upgrade suggestions

to their technicians if we are many users flagging the issue.

In my case I dont have internet access 24/7, it is sometimes not possible to reach

the web for days. This means that my Fitbit product does not work properly during this time.

Fitbit will fail becoming one of the players in the "Internet of things" game, if their

embedded fitness products does not work autonomously 24/7 for all users.

The problem is not a technical one, it must be something else?

What a customer needs is to be able to use his/hers training data to manage

health and training. This can be done by syncing with your mobile.

What Fitbit wants and needs may be another issue.

I would like to know why I cannot make a sync between my Fitbit device and my

IOS application at one time and at the end of the week sync to Fitbits servers

(internet connction) and upload the data they wish to see and help me with...

For the moment I find Fitbits integrity statements OK.

For the moment I'm looking at Apple watch to see if I can get the functionality

I want from that device.

I saw the answer from another user here on the forum to your post.

It stated that all Fitbit units need to be internet connected to sync and that your

assumption of a flaw in the specs for Blaze was "naive"; ofcourse it was not!

Your post/question was flagged as "solved" too. THAT was pretty silly 😉

I will nag on Fitbit now and then and see if we can get the engineers of their

a..es and solve the issue and make products that the customers want.

If they have a problem with that, I hereby apply for a job at Fitbit and will

fly over and help them fix it!

[SunsetRunner]

Given the Blaze can store days worth of data, the requirement to sync locally to store locally for a week before syncing with servers is a bit moot.

[Sbaumken]

I agree blaze should be upgraded to sync over wifi. I frequently go without internet for weeks. Most products offer wifi compatibility Surprised the blaze doesn't.

[Rich_Laue]

@Sbaumken I'm not sure what you mean the Blaze only has a Bluetooth connection that can be used to connect to the computer our phone. The . Phone can then use a WiFi or cellular connection to communicate to the Fitbit server.

As with any other internet connected device, they are basically useless or at best as good as a dumb device of they are not able to connect to the internet.

[bbarrera]

@Rich_Laue For example, Wi-Fi connectivity is finding its way into multi-sport watches like Apple Watch and Garmin Fenix 3. So Internet connection is available even if you don't have phone.

[chrisharek]

Me too.  I hate my Fitbit.

[Rich_Laue]

Yes the AW has wifi, but it is only used as a second easy to connect to the iPhone, and for it to work the phone and the watch need to be on the same wifi network.
Watch talks to phone through wifi or BT, phone talks to internet.

Why does someone by an internet connected device, then complains that they have to connect to the internet.

[SunsetRunner]

My Blaze disconnects from Bluetooth daily, maybe an IPhone 6 issue but seems to only connect with one device at a time to BT?

[Kmransom123]

@SunsetRunner  That is correct - the Blaze can only connect to one device at a time.

[SunsetRunner]

@Kmransom123 what do you mean by pairing? A tracker doesn't need to connect to BT to sync?

Sent from my iPad

[Kmransom123]

@SunsetRunner  What I was trying to say is the Blaze can only connect to one device to sync.  For example, if I have it connected to my Iphone, I cannot get it to sync on my IPad without first disconnecting the Bluetooth connection from my phone if they are in close proximity to each other.  (It does require BT to sync.)

Hope that makes sense - 

[DerrickS]

@SunsetRunner @Kmransom123 You can definitely sync your Fitbit tracker with multiple mobile devices, but having a Bluetooth bond (which is required for features like call/text/calendar notifications) will prevent you from being able to sync with a second mobile device.

If you have a Bluetooth bond and are wanting to sync your tracker to a second mobile device, I'd recommend the steps mentioned here.

Rest assured that a Bluetooth bond is not required in order to sync your tracker. 

[Rich_Laue]

Pairing of a bluetooth device to your phone, is simply telling your phone that you trust this device and that it is ok to talk with it.
So yes your Fitbit needs to be paired to your phone to sync. The Fitbit App does this pairing, it can not be potatoes in the traditional way through the phones BT settings.

This is not the bonding @DerrickS speaks of.