Difficulty starting exercise timing

[CLWSteve]

Having difficulty starting exercise timing; sometimes have to 'thump' the exercise screen repeatedly and haven't noticed any pattern of what eventually works.  Is there a better way to start the tracking? I miss the button push my other Fitbits used.

[MakMak]

Hi, @CLWSteve! I believe that holding the bottom right button should also work. It definitely works to pause an activity.

[Whistler888]

“Is there a better way to start the tracking? I miss the button push my other Fitbits used.”

Yeah there is an easier way using the physical buttons.

If you move the Exercise App icon to the “bottom left” on the very first page of 4 Apps on the Ionic -> you can then press the “bottom right physical button” to bring up the Exercise list from the watch Home Screen.

Tap Run exercise or swipe right -> then use the “bottom right physical button” to start and pause the tracking.  Use the “top right physical button” to stop tracking.  Then tap to Finish the exercise.

I also position the Music App icon to the “top left” on the very first page of 4 Apps on the Ionic.  That way pressing the “top right physical button” brings up the Music playlists.

So first I get the Music App ON with BT headphones -> then next get the Exercise App ON with GPS and HRM connected.  Works a treat.  Am always using the physical buttons like this.  With the very bright color screen even at “normal” brightness -> the Ionic is very easy to view in near all lighting situations.

Try this and see if it works for you.

[CLWSteve]

Thanks, but that works to Pause, not to Start.

[Whistler888]

Hmm?  Would contact Tech Support in that case.  Def works for me.  Pressing the physical bottom right button Starts and Pauses.  Pressing the physical top right button Ends with the checked flag.  Then must tap dialog box to Finish.

[CLWSteve]

Thanks for this suggestion. Your technique works for bringing up Music &
Exercise with LR button (which is handy for me), but I can't start
tracking with it.

[Whistler888]

Yeah that is weird.  On my watch you can tap the yellow arrow in the bottom right corner in the quarter circle -> OR press the physical bottom right button to START the exercise.  Either method works.

As well to end tap the checkered flag -> OR press the physical top right button to END the exercise.  Does your top right button work to stop the exercise?

[CLWSteve]

Yes, LR button will pause, then top right button will end as long as
I've paused.

[Whistler888]

Ok sounds like all you are missing then is just pressing the bottom right button to START your exercise.  If everything else is working ok on your Ionic -> would not do anything too drastic at this point.  Sounds like you can pause and stop using the physical bottom right and top right buttons respectively -> so that is positive.

You can try a back button and lower right button hold restart once to see if that allows pressing bottom right button to START.  If that works great.  If not try that hold restart button procedure 3x in a row -> to see if that gets the button to START.

Personally would NOT do a factory reset to new.  Was told by Tech Support that you should only do that as a last resort.  Anyways would not hurt to contact them and see if they can help you out further if these suggestions do not work.

[JuanJoFitbit · Accepted solution]

@CLWSteve Welcome to our Fitbit Community! I'm sorry about the difficulties you've experienced with your Fitbit Ionic when trying to start an exercise. I'd like to share this post, which explains how to start an exercise.

The information that shared @MakMak and @Whistler888 is great and helpful as well.

Please let us know if the issue persists and we'll be happy to follow up! 

[CLWSteve]

That's what I've be trying to do since day 1.

As I've stated, (apparently without enough clarity) is that sometimes
exercise 'start tracking' arrow appears after 1 or 2 taps, but just as
often, it was taking 10 or more, and the screen was timing out before
the 'start tracking' arrow appeared.

I wasn't sure what a 'tick' was, but in messing around with it, I've
determined that it responds much better to a 'touch' rather than a
'tap', (which my old Fitbits required).

I think I'm good now.

[JuanJoFitbit]

@CLWSteve Thank you for getting back and thank you also for clarifying more details about the issue that you were experiencing with your Ionic. Please don't hesitate to get back if you see anything unusual and I'll be happy to assist you.

Hope you have a great day!