Apps only work when Fitbit app is open on phone

[jmarcello]

Hi,

I seem to be having an issue where some of my third party apps on my Versa (specifically clue and water logged) only work if I have the Fitbit app open/active on my iPhone. Otherwise they will not completely load and will not let me add new data. I’ve tried turning on/off Bluetooth, resetting my phone and watch, uninstalling and reinstalling the apps, making sure permissions were set, and making sure my watch is set to sync all day.  I spoke with tech support and they confirmed that my watch is syncing automatically every 15 minutes. Has anyone had similar issues or any suggestions? Thanks!

[EmTe]

The iPhone has a nasty habit of force-quitting background phone apps when memory is low, which happens when you open a memory eating app after it like Facebook. And third-party apps like the Water Logger require the phone app to be running in order to access the Internet through it. There isn't much you can do. You don't actually need the phone app open. You can just open it and close it immediately.

[MarreFitbit]

Hey there @EmTe @jmarcello, it's nice to see you here! Thanks for already troubleshooting this inconvenience, nice way to go!

Are you guys having syncing issues with the Apps? If so, I suggest to try the following:

- Make sure you have the Fitbit app running on your phone. Like it needs to be running in the background (can't have it closed).
- You should close out of the pp on your watch and then open it again.

With the second step, I mean exiting the app and just going back in.

Note that some apps require certain permissions in order to work properly, such as access to the internet or the ability to run in the background. Review these requested permissions and tap or click Install to add the app to your watch. Note that some permissions can cause your phone to use more data. If you decide at a later time that you don’t want an app to have certain permissions, you can adjust these permissions later.

Apps on your watch update automatically over Wi-Fi as needed. Your watch searches for updates when plugged into the charger and in range of your Wi-Fi network. To manually check for app updates:

1. With your watch nearby, on the Fitbit app dashboard, tap or click the Account icon () > your device image.
2. Tap or click Apps.
3. In the list of apps installed on your watch, find the app you want to check. You may have to scroll down to see some apps. Tap or click the name of the app.
4. If the app has a pending update, there is a pink Update button next to its name. Click it to update the app.

If you keep having issues trying to sync your Apps, I'd recommend trying to uninstall and reinstall the App you're having issues with. 

Hope this helps! 

[jespere]

This isn't a viable solution. 

I've left the fitbit app open in the background, exited and re-entered the apps, and they still don't work. I've reviewed all the permissions, everything is good there. This seems to hold true mostly for the Hue app, but I deleted the water app because I never got it to work, not even once.

If I need to open my app on my phone to use the apps on my watch, the watch is useless. Please work on this?

[Benedict71]

I have the exact same problem - apps on my Versa (Weather, Nest, etc.) don't work or refresh unless I have the fitbit app open on my iPhone.

I have all day sync turned on and this doesn't make any difference.

I used to use Windows Phone and used to get loads of motivational reminders from the Fitbit app (on my phone and also on my fitbit device) telling me that I was only so many steps away from my daily goal etc. Since moving from Windows Phone to iPhone I don't get them any more and my Versa only seems to sync when the fitbit app is open.