Transferring Personal Music to Ionic

[ErickFitbit]

Update 10/6/17 -- Thanks for sharing your experiences with attempting to transfer your playlists onto Ionic. After reading through the discussions in this thread, I noticed some users where successful and others not so much.

Users are running into various blockers that are preventing a successful transfer. I've compiled the complications into the following categories:

• Stuck on "Looking for Ionic" message on Fitbit connect even though Ionic/Fitbit App/Computer on same Network) 

Cannot connect unless a force manual IP address for Ionic is done(entering IP address manually)

• Frozen at "Determining Transfer Time" (check out @xTommyG's workaround here)
• Stuck on "Transfer in progress" (try restarting your Ionic and then reestablish Wi-Fi connection on Ionic)
• Ionic won't connect to Wi-Fi (see Why won't my Fitbit watch connect to Wi-Fi? for tips)

I've created a guide to help anyone that's having issues with this. So, without further ado, let's start transferring some music!  

Requirements

• Windows 10 (PC) or Mac computer 
• Wi-Fi capable computer: Must be able to connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi (direct ethernet connections will not work)
• Must connect to a 2.4GHz frequency network (5 GHz frequency is not supported)
• Fitbit Connect Software (Win10/Mac) must be installed
• Ionic battery life must be above 40% to transfer music (Keeping Ionic charging during this process is recommended)
• Create at least 1 playlist of songs or podcasts in iTunes or Windows Media Player to download to your watch. You can also create playlists in the Fitbit Music app using the drag-and-drop feature to add individual tracks. 
• To download music files, they must fall under one of the following audio file types: 
  • Windows 10
    • MP3 files
    • MP4 files with AAC audio
    • WMA files
  • Mac
    • MP3 files
    • AIFF
    • MP4 files with AAC audio

• If you use iTunes, make sure you approve the app to share playlists with your watch: Open iTunes on your computer > Edit > Preferences > Advanced > Share iTunes Library XML with other applications > OK.

 

• For best results, perform this process as close to your router as possible to reduce any interference 

Transfer Music Checklist

1. Restart computer
2. Make sure your computer is connected to a strong Wi-Fi network (note: personal or work network that requires a password to connect is recommended - 2.4 GHz) 
3. Restart phone
4. Restart Ionic
5. In the Fitbit app go to Account/Media/Manage Wi-fi Networks and remove all saved networks
6. Connect back to your Wi-Fi network 
7. Plug-in your watch to charge
8. On your Ionic, tap Music app and then Transfer Music: 
9. Ionic will show this screen when connection is established: 
10. Open Fitbit Connect and click on Manage My Music 
11. When prompted, follow the on-screen instructions on your Mac/PC to choose the playlists you want to download to your watch. After you choose a playlist, the download starts automatically. Download/transfer times vary based on how large your playlist is (was able to download 1 hours worth of music in about 6-8 minutes).

Note: For faster download times, you might want to avoid large playlists. The more songs you transfer under one playlist the longer download times you will experience. Should you run into an issue please let us know where in the process you get stuck.

Thanks everyone for your continued insight and feedback in this thread. I hope all of you Ionic users get transferred, drop your phones on your dressers and start working out to the music you most enjoy, phone free!

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Update 9/28/17 -- The latest version of Fitbit Connect for Mac is now live! The update can now be found on the setup page. Please update if you haven't already so you can start transferring your favorite tunes to your Ionic!

• Download Fitbit Connect for Mac: www.fitbit.com/setup

• Download Fitbit Connect for PC: http://cache.fitbit.com/FitbitConnect/FitbitConnect-v2.0.2.6954-2017-09-28.exe 

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Everyone -- To transfer music with Fitbit Connect, please click the applicable link below to download and install the Fitbit Connect software:

• Download Fitbit Connect for Mac: www.fitbit.com/setup

• Download Fitbit Connect for PC: http://cache.fitbit.com/FitbitConnect/FitbitConnect-v2.0.2.6954-2017-09-28.exe

With the Music app on Fitbit Ionic, you can store and play several hours worth of your favorite songs and podcasts right on your wrist. After you download playlists to your watch, connect Bluetooth headphones or another audio device to listen to your tracks.

You need a Windows 10 PC or a Mac connected to Wi-Fi to download music and podcasts to your watch. Keep in mind you can only transfer files that you own or don’t require a license. 

If you live in the United States, you can also use the Pandora app to download stations to your watch. 

For full instructions, I recommend checking out "How do I listen to music and podcasts on my Fitbit watch?"

[Runnermike]

I don’t own a computer-only an iPad.  Does that mean Pandora is my only option?

[AnnieMarcon]

Apparently it is much easier with pandora. Fitbit highly recommended this.

Anne Marcon

[Rickvv]

I tried to put music on my Ionic watch, but I did not succeed. The application on my Apple Laptop says:

" Sorry, this feature is only available when you have an Ionic paired to your Fitbit account. To pair, please use the Fitbit mobile app." 

My mobile Fitbit app on my Iphone works. My flyer is even connected. I don't know what to do.

How can I check if my devices are paired?

[indianwin2001]

Weird problem. Hopefully a .moderator will come . on here and help  you

[Rickvv]

yes I hope so...

[WavyDavey]

---

wrote:

I tried to put music on my Ionic watch, but I did not succeed. The application on my Apple Laptop says:

" Sorry, this feature is only available when you have an Ionic paired to your Fitbit account. To pair, please use the Fitbit mobile app." 

My mobile Fitbit app on my Iphone works. My flyer is even connected. I don't know what to do.

How can I check if my devices are paired?

---

Hi @Rickvv,

First, make sure you are logged in to fitbit.com. Then go to this link to check your devices. Is this Ionic showing up there?

[EdsonFitbit]

Hello everybody. @Rickvv @indianwin2001 @WavyDavey It's great to see you in the Fitbit Community.

I moved your posts to this thread to keep the Community more organized. Please be so kind to check out the first post of this thread for instructions to resolve problems transferring personal music to Fitbit Ionic.

@Rickvv I would recommend setting up your Fitbit Ionic as a replacement device by following these instructions:

1. From the Fitbit app dashboard, tap or click the Account icon
2. Tap Set Up a Device.
3. Choose your device and follow the on-screen instructions to continue.

Then, try to put music once again on your Fitbit Ionic.

Keep on stepping.

[SantiR]

@SunsetRunner I hope you're doing well! Thanks for sharing the workaround that helped you out. I'm sure this will help other users as well. Please stay tuned for updates on software update from Fitbit. 

@Bjsquilter I hope you're doing great! I'm glad to hear that you were able to find a solution here at the Fitbit Community. Hopefully, this will be helpful for other users as well! @AnnieMarcon

@Runnermike Welcome to the Fitbit family! Please check this helpful article about Pandora. You will learn how to set it up and how to use it for you to start enjoying that awesome feature!

@Rickvv It's great to see you in the Fitbit family! I'd recommend checking the steps on this helpful article about set up. You will also try these troubleshooting steps if the previous ones don't work for you.

@John1206 I hope you're doing well! Thanks for reporting this and trying the steps provided. I went ahead and created a case with customer support for further steps. Please keep an eye on your email inbox.

See you around! 

[Daleyd]

after countless tries finally got music downloaded on to ionic, so tonight I tried again after having trouble with the app on computer and mobile and when I went to put put more music on it keeps going around and around even though ive done the transfer music it gets so frustrating and the music I had already uploaded has completely disappeared from ionic seems strange when it was on the watch before until the app played up

getting sick and tired of the issues with trying to do stuff not only in the music transfer but incoming messages only does it when it feels like it only had ionic since last Friday 

[SunsetRunner]

Tried all of these things, still soooooooooooo slow.  It might get there eventually, but it should not be this hard!

[SunsetRunner]

Starts, fits, mis-starts, re-starts.  OMG. The Ionic might get there eventually, but it should not be this hard!

[SunsetRunner]

Sadly, due to other issues with my ionic technical support had me factory
reset my ionic yesterday. I'm on the road. I am not looking forward to
spending my Saturday waiting to reload my music onto my ionic.

[Lalbright]

I would love to transfer music to my Ionic, but I cannot get into the Fitbit Application that is downloaded on my computer. It appears that I cannot not even complete the first step!  This is bull!

[DennisWinkel]

Hi, I did not know it would be so complicated to get some music on the fitbit....

I followed the instructions but the fitbit connect software opens up in Japanese language ....????

[Codsworthy]

I discovered the cause of my music quality issues was the somewhat hidden option to “normalise track volume” which basically messed up the audio quality completely!

[SunsetRunner]

I downloaded Fitbit Connect. After downloading I got a pop up that said: 

It's time to update! Download the Fitbit app for Windows 10. With new features including
Challenges, Bluetooth syncing and improved performance. This update will replace Fitbit Connect.

After reading all the issues with the windows 10 app, I am not sure that I want to do this, but my main question is:

Will the app allow me to transfer music to my ionic as Connect does?

[John1206]

No

[SunsetRunner]

Wow, glad I checked. That makes no sense to me, but I skipped the update and I am adding music as I respond. Thanks for your reply.

[crustypup]

Honestly, the transfer ranks as one of the worst engineered solutions I have seen yet. 

[Seb__691]

Seriously, loading music to the Ionic feels so 2005. Like loading playlists to an USB 1.0 portable mp3-player.
PLEASE focus on supporting more music services that are also available outside of the US (spotify, amazon music, deezer, .......)