Charge 6 - Restart Phone Every Day to Sync

[dazuli]

Ever since I connected my new Charge 6 to my phone (back in July), the app won't sync within me restarting my phone. It's now to the point where I must restart my phone every day to get it to sync. I've done all the things: Updates, disconnecting, reconnecting, forgetting the device, restarting the device, clearing the cache, changing the watch face, adjusting the settings. Nothing ever works. I can't keep restarting my phone every day just so the app will work properly with my device. I'm at my wit's end!

Moderator edit - updated subject for clarity

[Karendaunn]

I'm also considering switching.  Started to look at other watches. A fix doesn't seem to be a priority for Fitbit/Google.  It's a shame because I've had a fitbit for years. 

[Lapoochi]

Yesterday morning I was pleasantly surprised to see my Fitbit sync my overnight data without having to restart my phone.  I realized it was the first time in awhile I didn't need to restart my phone.  Then this morning was back to the same issue.  The weird thing is the data from this past Monday never synced.  So the overnight sleep data and daily readiness data is just gone.  And that morning I went on a walk and that data too never synced.  That's a first for me. It's one thing if it's just not syncing without the reboot, but this is the first time the data just went bye bye.

[Lapoochi]

I've heard these watches typically have a relatively short life span...? Like 2 years ish...  Mine will be coming up on a year.  I went from someone who never liked wearing watches to someone who wears one 24/7 other than showering/swimming.  All because of the data it spits out lol.  I'm at the point that I know what I need to do in a day to hit my step/exercise goals.  Plus without seeing my sleep metrics or daily readiness readings, I'm pretty aware of how well I slept and how well I'm recovered.  The Fitbit opened my eyes to how much alcohol/weed negatively effects sleep and recovery.  Actually seeing the data made it easy for me to change habits.  Seeing my HRV plummet even on nights I drank moderately was a shock.  That and my sleeping heart rate is typically at 50 to 54 but is at 62 to 64 on nights I drink.  I went from someone who took an edible every night for probably the past 3 years for sleep, to now 100% THC free once i realized it was doing more harm than good for sleep.  The point is, the Fitbit was like the training wheels to make life changes, and at this point I could stop wearing it (take the training wheels off) and I'd be just fine.  My plan has been to wear it until it dies and then not buy another one.  I've almost become over obsessive with the data and I don't think that's a good thing for me.  I will say the things that'd I'd miss are the alarm clock, timer countdown for when I'm working out, and the work out settings.  Especially the interval one as the interval vibrations let me know when to switch from running/walking without looking at the watch.  And when walking, it's nice to be able to see the average mile time.  It helps me pick up the pace if I'm purposely trying to hit a 15 min mile or something like that.  I guess the real question I need to ask myself is, does wearing this watch help me get more exercise in and get better sleep/recovery, Or would I'd still hit those goals if I stopped wearing it?  I'm someone who naturally lives a relatively active lifestyle as is.   So I'd like to think that watch or not, I'd be just fine.

[Tim_H]

I have figured out what causes my Charge 6 to not sync without power cycling my phone.

It's after it's been in the vicinity of another phone with the Fitbit app.

Fitbits have always been able to partially sync through another phone, but they definitely have a bug now.

[TLeafTO]

It's very annoying. I find that if I force close the Fitbit app then it will sync. Maybe try that instead of restarting your whole phone?

[Tim_H]

They might have fixed it with the latest app update.  Fingers crossed.  So far mine's been good today.

[brian10117]

Hi Tim

Which Fitbit App update  is that?

[brian10117]

All

I think the fitbit app update 4.53.1 might have fixed it. Mine has been ok now for about a week, so check your app update. Good Luck!

[Tim_H]

Hey Brian, sorry for the delay.  That's the version I'm on also.

[brian10117]

Great lets hope the problem is now fixed..

[Tim_H]

Agreed.  I see one minor thing.  My Charge 6 is syncing and everything is updating, but when I click on the device (upper left), it says that it synced 6 hours ago.

You can sync from there manually (arrows), it does sync, but still says 6 hours ago.  It used to change to "synced just now".  Force closing the app doesn't help.

Very minor, but odd.  But I'll take it if the other problem is fixed 😉.

[Bucsdg]

Nope. I had to restart twice today. 🤷‍:female_sign:

[Bucsdg]

Its actually updating but doesnt show it?

[Tim_H]

It's acting pretty weird now.  Everything is updating; steps, heart rate updates real time, and all the other metrics.  But I pull down on the Today screen and it just says "release to sync", even after I release it.  If I go to the device screen and hit the curved up and down arrows to sync, it seems to sync, but now it says "Synced 10 hr ago".

Funky.

Additional - Force stop and clear cache has it working normally again.  I'll see how it goes, but it's not looking as good as I thought it was.

[brian10117]

Hi, strange mine worked fine for about 5 days then last night I noticed it said synced 3 hrs ago....so once again I forced stop and it's fine after that. Let's see how long it lasts this time. I nevet need to do anything else other than go to Apps>fitbit>force stop. Then it's all ok again.

[Tim_H]

Mine messed up again tonight.  It acts like the Fitbit is talking to the phone just fine, but the phone stops talking to the server.

Just force stopping the app recovered it.  Looks like they still have a bug.

[Bucsdg]

Mine doesnt actually sync. It says sync'd 5 hrs ago and it really hasn't sync'd. 

I'll try the force stop. 

I hope they get this bug fixed soon. 

[Rich_Laue]

On android, force quitting an app must be done through the phones settings - Apps - App name. 

Swiping the app off the screen will only close the UI of the app. However it will also stop fitbit from syncing. 

[FitCharlotte]

I've had Fitbit app syncing problems for several months as described by others. The details of the sync problem have changed over time and required a variety of interventions. Recently, phone restarts temporarily solve the problem. My phone is a Pixel 7 and my Fitbit device is a Charge 6 and I have all recent updates. I expect my devices to function properly without constant workarounds!