Charge 5 won't connect to my phone's Bluetooth anymore

[dz1234]

The GPS on my charge 5 has been a problem from the beginning--unreliable and dropping frequently. I finally resigned myself to running with a phone and using it in phone mode. NOW the phone mode has stopped working. I try to get the charge 5 to connect and after a brief period of trying, it fails and tells me that it isn't connected. Meanwhile, my phone in the strava app works just fine and can track my runs--so it isn't a signal problem or a phone problem and the bluetooth connection is fine (I can sync through the fitbit app). So, so, so many problems with this device!

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[MarreFitbit · Accepted solution]

Hello there, @dz1234. Thanks for stopping by in the Fitbit Community Forums and trying to troubleshoot the issue with your Charge 5 before reaching out. I understand how you must be feeling. 

In addition to the steps you've done, please try the following in the order listed:

• Unpair your Charge 5 from your phone's Bluetooth and Fitbit app.
• Unpair other Bluetooth devices that you may also have paired to your phone's Bluetooth settings.
• Force quit the Fitbit app.
• Turn off other Bluetooth connections when not in use. This can help to prevent connectivity issues or Bluetooth interference.
• Shut off your phone and turn it on after 1-2 minutes.
• Turn on the Bluetooth on your phone.
• Plug it into the charging cable and open the Fitbit app.
• Set up your Charge 5.
• If there is no connection, restart your Charge 5.
• Once your Charge 5 is paired and syncing, please proceed to set up your other Bluetooth devices to your phone again. 

With the steps above, what I want you to do is to pair your Charge 5 first to your phone's Bluetooth settings before any other Bluetooth device is connected to your phone. 

If the issue with the GPS connection persists, please see How do I use GPS on my Fitbit device?

[dz1234]

This did seem to work--though the on-board GPS is still poor. 

[Rich_Laue]

For clarification, is this issue related to syncing data, or do you want to use the phones GPS (with its larger antenna)? 

If this is the case, make sure that the GPS is set for your phone. If android, on the phone, leave the fitbit app in the background. 

How do I use GPS on my Fitbit device?

[dz1234]

not related to syncing data. I'm talking about using the phone GPS. Yes, my charge 5 GPS setting is set to my phone (my onboard GPS drops so frequently that it is unusable). I should note that I have now had to unpair and re-pair my fitbit a second time, because it happened again. Kind of annoying, but at least I know how to solve it now when it happens.

[JayBee260]

Finally sorted mine after all the usual uninstall/reinstall and restarting device didn't work.

Plugged cable into the laptop and pressed the button three times and it finally restarted and bluetooth now works!

Thanks Jessa Jane C on 'live chat' for the guidance - not that it was her suggestion to use the laptop but as I was using it for live chat, it was just easier!