fitbit repeatedly insists I download mobile app - charge5

[Hoppinmad]

I have charged the fitbit.  I have downloaded the mobile app called Fitbit to my iphone, twice.    The screen on the fitbit is usually blank, but when not blank it asks me to download the mobile app.   How many times do I have to do that?

I have lots of Bluetooth gadgets in here but none of them can see the fitbit.   including a Mac running Big Sur 11.6..7 and an iphone 8 running iOS 15.6.1.    

There is no obvious way to turn the fitbit on or off, or actually to interact with it in any way.

thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[SteveH]

Are you trying to link to the fitbit via the phone's bluetooth settings? If so, that's the problem - the link has to be made via the fitbit app. Having downloaded the app, run it and it should step you through the process.

[Hoppinmad]

Hi SteveH

I have tried this several different ways.. It took me a while to realize
that clicking on the desensitized icon in the upper left is how you set
the app up. Why desensitized? maybe it was trying to tell me something..

Anyhow, I got several clicks into the setup, briefly sanguine, then hit a
Not working? page on my iphone. its suggestions:


- Turn off Bluetooth on your phone, then turn it on again (OK, I've
fallen for that like 5 times now, always with the same result -- not going
down that path again)
- Make sure the device is turned on and charged to ...20%. (It's at 87%
as I type this)
- Restart the device. Attach ..to..charger and press the button on the
flat end of the charger 3 times....blah blah blah (skipping the last part
because 1. THERE IS NO FLAT END ON THE CHARGER and 2. THERE IS NO BUTTON ON
THE CHARGER. Huh? who wrote these instructions?)

I don't mean to be sarcastic, but I actually build software for a
living and I have kind of a professional disdain for what looks like poor
quality. If you have any other ideas, I would love to hear them; I do
truly appreciate your help.

regards

HoppinMad

[SteveH · Accepted solution]

The button on the charging cable is as hidden as it can be. Check the image in the picture below. 

If it's not there then are you using the original charging cable - the button is missing on some 3rd party cable.

[Exclamation1]

Question my Versa 2 has a red exclamation point what do I do to get rid of it

[Hoppinmad]

SteveH -- thanks for the instruction -- I now see the button.    Turns out I didn't. need it.   The next time I tried to connect the app to the charge5, using the same procedure as before, it JUST WORKED, instantly.    So I didn't need the button.   Bluetooth is often an adventure.

Now I don't have to return it -- thanks again for the help.