software version

[Jefthro]

My wife's charge 5 was still having problems with sleep and O2 levels.  I had to reset the charge 5 every week or two.  I finally called fitbit again and was told to uninstall the software and reinstall it.  When I tried to reinstall I couldn't find the fitbit app in the playstore.  I called fitbit back to be told my phone software version is not a high enough to use the fitbit app.  It worked fine (except for the sleep issue) with the version she had.  I have the older software version on my phone and it works fine!  We set up our fitbits in December and had no trouble with the software and now suddenly we can't use it.  So now I either get a new phone or the Charge 5 is nothing more than a door stop which doesn't even do that well.  Have had 3 fitbits and my wife has had 2 and this is the worse one of the bunch.  I guess I will eat my loses and go to Garmin.
Garmin.

[SunsetRunner]

@Jefthro Are you not able to update the smartphone so that it is compatible with the app again? Garmin's Connect app may also have this limitation you are experiencing as it needs at least iOS 13 or AndroidOS 7.0

Whereas the fitbit app requires AndroidOS 10.0 (although google play store says 8.0) and iOS 13.4.  

https://www.fitbit.com/global/us/technology/compatible-devices#:~:text=The%20Fitbit%20app%20is%20com... 

[Jefthro]

But why is it working with my phone running 7.0?  And why did it let us set up her Charge 5 with 7.0 in January? Why did Fitbit tell me to uninstall when they did not know what android version I was running rendering my Charge 5 unable to sync to the phone?  Can I install an earlier version of Fitbit that was compatible to adroid 7.0 like I have on my phone?

[SunsetRunner]

@Jefthro The fitbit app has been updated a number of times since January. It was likely in January the app was compatible with the phone. Apps overtime in order to maintain security will no longer support older OS versions.  An android device known to get the longest and quickest update schedules are Google Pixel devices (current models are the Pixel 6 & Pixel 5a). Before purchasing new equipment check to see if you can update your smartphone to gain compatibility with the fitbit app and current improvements & security features.  The current Android OS is now 12. Android 7 was released 5.5 years ago. While switching to another brand may yield compatibility, it will only be for a limited amount of time before updates will affect compatibility once again.

[Jefthro]

Thank you for replying so quickly. It is appreciated. I guess I was too quick to upgrade to the Charge 5. My wife and I would have stuck with our older Fitbit devices. By demanding the newest versions of Android be on people’s phones to be able to use Fitbits you will be keeping people like me from upgrading our Fitbit devices. New phones are quite expensive. Again thanks for your responses and I have enjoyed the 7 years I wore a Fitbit!

Sent from my iPad

[SunsetRunner]

I understand - however even the older fitbits would have had issue once the fitbit app updated.

Sorry I couldn't be more help. 

[Odyssey13 · Accepted solution]

Hi @Jefthro  you and the wife can share your phone to sync and check stats. It's just when you remove the older app that you can't get it back on your phone. Maybe that would help you for a while so you can make a decision on what to do. I have Android 9 myself and know if I need to uninstall the Fitbit app, that I'll be stuck. My Samsung 8 is eight years old, so these do work with the app for a long time before we need to get new phones.

[Jefthro]

Thanks Odyssey13. That's a good idea. I would just log off and let her log in to get her stats.  Fitbit help had me uninstall her fitbit software which I did but couldn't install the new version.  Fitbit supported Android 7 in January but now it has to be Android 10 if you are putting on new software.  I will have to be more cognizant of that in the future.