Ionic won't sync with BOSE Free wireless headset

[com7799]

When trying to use the ionic to play music on my Bose Free wireless headphones it will only sync with  one piece of the headset but the other piece won't. You have to unpair the device, shutdown the ionic and then turn it back on. Then you have to pair it again in order to hear it on both headphone pieces. It works perfectly on my Fitbit Blaze but the Ionic it won't pair it. Is there a update available to correct this issue. 

[MarreFitbit]

It's nice to see you around the forums @com7799! When you add a new Bluetooth audio device for the first time, make sure both the device and your watch are in pairing mode. This is required even if you used to use the BOSE with your Blaze, since you want to switch to the Ionic, both devices need to be in paring mode.

To pair a new Bluetooth audio device, follow the steps below or scroll down to watch the video (English only):

1. Start by activating pairing mode on your Bluetooth headphones, speaker, or other audio device.
2. On your watch, open the Settings app and then scroll down and tap Bluetooth.
3. Tap + New Device. Your watch searches for nearby devices.
   
4. When your watch finds nearby Bluetooth audio devices, it shows a list on the screen. Tap the name of the device you want to pair.
   

   When pairing is complete, a check mark appears on the screen.

   

What has helped other users is performing a restart on the Ionic. Please try this out and then try to pair the headphones once again. 

Hope this helps, I'll be around! 

[JMabry]

Hello,

I have the Fitbit Ionic and Bose Soundsport Free earbuds.  The first time I tried them they winked without a problem.  I just tried them today and Ionic showed the Bose earbuds but keeps disconnecting. I have erased/removed the earbuds from the Bluetooth connection on the Ionic and done the same on the earbuds.  I have also power cycled both.  Now the Ionic shows it had found the earbuds and Ian pairing but just circles/thinks and won’t connect. Please Help.

[StephanieBrelsf]

I am having the same problem. Right works left doesnt and everytime i want to use them you have to unpair, pair again. I cant tell if its the ionic or the bose earbuds but very frustrating. Has anyone found a fix?

[com7799]

Hello. It is the Fitbit ionic and not your BOSE headset. Fitbit refuses to find a fix for it. I am very disappointed with the company.

[StephanieBrelsf]

Well thats really frustrating as that is one of the main features of the ionic that i wanted, music loadable and wireless so as not to have to carry around an ipod!!! Thanks for the reply!

[com7799]

I was thinking the same way. I went back to using my Fitbit Blaze and I don’t think that I will take a chance with the Fitbit versa. I’m pretty much done with Fitbit.

[izlikedat]

This didn’t work. If I had of known this I would have got a garmim.  Fitbit what are you doing to address the issue with nose.  I am on the verge of returning the ionic

[com7799]

I’m hoping that the soon Apple watch series 4 will be stand alone. Then I will ditch Fitbit entirely. I’m pretty much done with them because til this day since the Ionic went on sale, they have not address the issue. Sad but it is what it is.

[izlikedat]

Agreed I actually like the look of the thing and I was willing to deal with no ability to really communicate on it or have app options. The verge looks to much like an Apple Watch. 

[ArcherTC]

I have the Bose SoundSport Free and Fitbit Ionic and I've had a problem that others have reported as well. When the Bose pair with the Ionic only the right earpiece is active.  Some have blamed FitBit but I think it's a problem with the combination.

In fairness to Bose, they work perfectly with my iPhone every time.  However, I think the problem with the Ionic is the way that the two earpieces connect:  the R piece connects to the device and the L is a "slave".  I believe when the Bose connect to the Ionic the R connects but loses its connection to the L.

I've found that if I first connect my Bose Free to my iPhone, then disconnect by holding the bluetooth button on the L earpiece, then tap connect on the Ionic, I get stereo sound.  However, if I put the Bose Free back in the case then take them out and try to connect to the Ionic immediately I only get sound out of the R earpiece.  Note that I've already paired my Bose Free to my Ionic previously (and I've tried removing them, rebooting the Ionic, then pairing to the Bose Free again ... did not help).

Hopefully this annoying problem will be fixed with a future firmware update for one or both devices!

Hope this is help to others wrestling with this problem.

[StephanieBrelsf]

Ive kinda just given up using the ionuc for music. My bose connect perfectly to my ipod touch, so just have to keep carryibg it around while i workout! Thanks for your reply, at least i know its not just my user error.

[Gensul]

Hello everyone.

i have successfully paired Bose free soundsport and Fitbit ionic. Make sure if it doesn’t pair or fails,  that you turn the Fitbit off completely and then restart and re pair.. voila!  

[com7799]

I've done that many times and still it does not work. You have to unpair
and remove the Bose device from the list, shut down the Fitbit, turn it
back on and then pair it again. Not only is it an inconvenience to the user
but it's a lousy work around. I'm done with Fitbit. Awaiting for the new
Apple watch to be a standalone. Goodbye Fitbit, Hello Apple watch..

[ArcherTC]

For what it's worth, I have a pair of Jam Ultra wireless earbuds which pair flawlessly with the Fitbit Ionic, while I continue to have trouble with my Bose Free. (Though the Jam Ultra sound doesn't compare to the Bose).  So, as I noted earlier, I suspect there's a problem with the combination of the Ionic and the Bose and the method that Bose uses setting the R earbud as master and the L as slave.  The problem does not reside solely with FitBit.

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[Rufio81]

Same thing is happening with the Versa I just purchased over the weekend, and I'm also about to return my device.

[com7799]

I've already returned mine. It is not worth the headaches trying to get it
to sync with the Bose free headphones. It's the same old story with the
Ionic.

[Forest23]

Is it just Bose wireless headphones that will not pair with the ionic?

What is the best alternative?

[ArcherTC]

Hello -- I've had no recent problems syncing my BOSE with the Ionic.  If my iPhone is nearby I can cycle through available sources by pressing the button on the L BOSE earpiece.  I think the problem was resolved with a recent FitBit firmware update.

I also have a pair of wireless earbuds that were on sale at at Best Buy for $75:  Jam Ultra.  I had trouble with my first pair, the L earbud would drop out.  I actually bought the BOSE when this problem developed, and JAM was very good about replacing the pair I was having trouble with.  THe new pair also work fine.  The JAM fit me better and don't have the large piece that sticks out of your ears that the BOSE have, but the BOSE sound is significantly better. 

Both the BOSE and the JAM are working fine with my Ionic 🙂

[Forest23]

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@ArcherTC wrote:

Hello -- I've had no recent problems syncing my BOSE with the Ionic.  If my iPhone is nearby I can cycle through available sources by pressing the button on the L BOSE earpiece.  I think the problem was resolved with a recent FitBit firmware update.

I also have a pair of wireless earbuds that were on sale at at Best Buy for $75:  Jam Ultra.  I had trouble with my first pair, the L earbud would drop out.  I actually bought the BOSE when this problem developed, and JAM was very good about replacing the pair I was having trouble with.  THe new pair also work fine.  The JAM fit me better and don't have the large piece that sticks out of your ears that the BOSE have, but the BOSE sound is significantly better. 

Both the BOSE and the JAM are working fine with my Ionic 🙂

Thanks for your input!

I bought a pair of Jaybird Run ear buds, which paired instantly and the sound is very good and the fit is also very good.

£119 

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