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?"

[Alex456]

Almost every time I sync music to my ionic on the pc app it says its completed while on the ionic no music shows up only how many music is in the playlist. Also when I go into the playlist it just shows zeros where the songs need to be. 

Please help 😞

[GhoulAsh]

This is painful to transfer music. The device won't sync properly. I cannot seem to new music to show up in the file to transfer - very poor indeed for a $400 device. I wonder if I can get my money back.

[SunsetRunner]

I was able to get the music transferred, but it was a labor some process. It took several attempts. It seems Fitbit devices are not consistent. These devices seem to respond differently for different people. 

[aalborz]

There are so many things wrong & archaic with how Fitbit has designed & architected the music transfer setup, I don't know where to start from:

1- Needing a PC as a go-between to transfer music from the phone to the watch. This is 2018, not 2008!

2- Needing a PC running Windows 10 or Mac. What if you're running neither OS?

3- Here's a doozy one: how are you supposed to get the IP address of the watch? I'm a techie, so I know how, but what about the average joe/non-techie user?

4- Having to have a 2.4GHz frequency WL AP. What if I don't have it? I'm supposed to go shell out more money to get one, kso I can do this? Also keep in mind 5 GHz is the newer WL technology, so that means I'm going backwards technology-wise.

There are other things such as needing to use another app (FitbitConnect), be close to the WL access point, or having to create a playlist, etc., but they can be somewhat managed or excused.

[Runnermike]

@aalborz, I agree completely. It is ridiculously frustrating and the advertising about music on the watch is misleading.  Thanks for summing it up nicely.

[SunsetRunner]

I still agree that the process is poor at best. I was forced to re-upload
my music to my watch this past weekend after having to do a factory reset
and having been through the waiting game before it felt like it worked much
better this time. Patience was certainly the most valuable ingredient.

My setup:

Windows 7
iTunes
PC connected wired and wirelessly
Used the Fitbit Setup app

~dryrunner

[theinternetlife]

Lots of complaints here about not supporting Spotify etc. 

Actually, if the regular transfer of music worked, it would be a pretty awesome watch... but it's not like the regular transfer is working. In fact, it is very decidedly not working. I repeat: transfer of music is not working. Like, at all. WTF.

It would be difficult to be more disappointed in my device. The ONLY reason I didn't return it and exchange it for a Garmin VivoActive 3 was for the music. And here I am two hours trying to get the music working, and I won't be able to go for my run today. WTF. All I want to do is transfer some music. Evidently, I am supposed to restart the entire internet to get this to work. 

Some of the issues are really basic. Like for example, by the time you finish screwing around with your music, the transfer window on the watch has ended and you have to start it over. Arrrgghhh.

[MaginB]

Hi everyone! 

Thanks for your patience to this matter and all the feedback that you have provided. I'd like to provide a general response and troubleshooting to cover everything mentioned, if I'm missing something feel free to post it here.

In regards of the slow process while transferring music please check out this post that I've shared recently about different reasons that could cause the slow transfer of the music, as well as some useful troubleshooting steps that could help with the transfer struggle and the connection to WiFi.  

@Seb__691 @theinternetlife, this is a great idea I've seen a few suggestion in regards of live streaming services. Take a look at this idea, if this is what you'd like to have integrated you can support it by adding your comments and voting for it.  

@DennisWinkel It's weird that the information displayed in Japanese if the installation was in English however you can certainly change the language of your Dashboard, the option should be located at the right bottom corner of the screen. 

I hope you find this helpful! 

[PeteG-1]

---

@MaginBwrote:

Hi everyone! 

Thanks for your patience to this matter and all the feedback that you have provided. I'd like to provide a general response and troubleshooting to cover everything mentioned, if I'm missing something feel free to post it here.

In regards of the slow process while transferring music please check out this post that I've shared recently about different reasons that could cause the slow transfer of the music, as well as some useful troubleshooting steps that could help with the transfer struggle and the connection to WiFi.  

I hope you find this helpful! 

---

@MaginB What's the "expected" (mbps) rate, or what rates do you see/expect, in your labs?

I was measuring about 50-65 kbps (0.050-0.065 mbps), the couple of times I ran a transfer diagnostic.

I can reliably "pull/push" about 350-400mbps, I'm all commercial APs (Unifi), really fast SMB router and switches, with a tablet, laptop, and close to that, with a cell phone, for reference (on 2.4, and close to  a gig, on 5G, to my server).

This was working out to about 1.5-2 hours/podcast, for a one hour cast, if the connection didn't drop.

I returned my Ionic, but I'm awaiting whatever "comes next", and am wondering, what kind of transfer rates are "expected" or seen, by FB test?  I'm betting you guys track this pretty closely (coming from someone who's written a lot of tests, and managed feature sets to test results)?

Thanks.

[smbeach1107]

I was able to put my Amazon music files on my Ionic with no problems. Way back in the stone age before Windows you had to go to where the actual folders and files were on your computer drive. Yeah, I'm pretty old!!!

I did tinker with the instructions on the Fitbit website, but it didn't work so I decided to go rogue/old school!

I did not transfer to Itunes, and I use Windows 10 on my laptop. I connected my Ionic. I created a folder in the "Music" folder on my computer and named it "Amazon Music". (I also have an Itunes folder in the same place. It works the same for Itunes. Been there, done that!) I downloaded the Amazon Music files I wanted and saved them to the Amazon Music folder. I dragged and dropped the music into the Fitbit app. I told it to sync and went to bed. We old ladies need our beauty rest! Voila!!! 111 songs uploaded to my Ionic.

Geezer lady to the rescue!

[John1206]

How come this is marked as solved?

[SunsetRunner]

Lol, good question?.

Steven McCrary
-"ciao," derives from the Venetian phrase meaning "I am your slave." Ciao!

[hankrunsfast]

As usual, Fitbit is trying to sweep a known issue under the rug that is still not solved. Again, they say refer to the first post. After doing everything posted/requested multiple times and trying other ideas, I still can't transfer music or podcasts. But Fitbit says this is solved. as usual.

[SunsetRunner]

I actually got the answer to my question which was: will the windows update which replaces Fitbit Connect allow me to transfer music? The answer was no. That baffles me and as most are posting here, the transfer of music is difficult at best. Fortunately I was able to get the music transferred, but I wonder what will happen when I try to add or delete songs....

[Susan-L]

I haven’t succeeded yet.

[PeteG-1]

---

@SunsetRunnerwrote:

I actually got the answer to my question which was: will the windows update which replaces Fitbit Connect allow me to transfer music? The answer was no. That baffles me and as most are posting here, the transfer of music is difficult at best. Fortunately I was able to get the music transferred, but I wonder what will happen when I try to add or delete songs....

---

Before I returned mine, I was able to transfer (small, targeted, non-DRM) playlists, VERY, VERY slowly.

It was when I tried a podcast, and it took about 1.5 hours (for a 1 hour cast), and about 5-6 tries, that I figure that was about enough of that (I wanted to put several podcasts on it, and didn't plan on devoting an entire day+ trying to get them transferred).

@SunsetRunnerThis was with the Windows Store (updated) app, I think that's what you're referring to?

[PeteG-1]

---

@hankrunsfastwrote:

As usual, Fitbit is trying to sweep a known issue under the rug that is still not solved. Again, they say refer to the first post. After doing everything posted/requested multiple times and trying other ideas, I still can't transfer music or podcasts. But Fitbit says this is solved. as usual.

---

Yeah, this, I got the whole, stupid scripted "walkthrough", when I called and tried to troubleshoot.  Ended with something along the lines of "well your WiFi must not be very compatible", so handy stuff.  I feel about the same with the "rug" paradigm.

[AnnieMarcon]

I’d not try and add to play list as it deletes all already there and starts from scratch.
“”VERY ANNOYING.””
Is there someone on this thread that has actually been able to achieve adding to it without this glitch?

Anne Marcon

[smbeach1107]

Ha!  Thanks,  Steve! 

[SunsetRunner]

@aalborzWhile I agree with you on many points you had a couple misnomers.

1) typically you need a PC or Mac to transfer music to your phone though most let you drag and drop I am not pleased with the playlist mentality of the Fitbit, as it kind of ignores the playlists and if you shuffle, instead of just shuffling the playlist. 

2) You don't Windows XP, 7, 8, and 8.1 allow music transfer not just 10 or Mac

3) You don't need to provide the static IP, it can detect it, static just helps when broadcast fails and isn't the default

4) 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz wireless are the same age.  (802.11a=5Ghz, and 802.11b=2.4) b has evolved into g, and n is not frequency specific working on both 2.4 and 5ghz. AC and AD are newer standards built off of A on the 5GHz but are backwards compatible and just add additional speed.  Regardless of improvements both are backwards compatible to the 11mpbs (or slower) versions a and b standards and really how fast does the transfer from a smart watch need to be, even streaming doesn't require that speed.  5GHz is better for latency which again doesn't affect smart watches it more affects gaming and the difference between latency of 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz doesn't really affect streaming of audio.  What 2.4Ghz does have is better range and improved ability to travel though walls.  Both of which are important for a device with a small weak antenna.  It is also almost impossible to buy wireless router or access point that doesn't offer 2.4Ghz, though many corporate offices disable it for density as there are only really 3 usable channels for 2.4 while 5Ghz has many more allowing more access points to be closer together to allow for more devices to connect to a single access point (typically you want less than 20 devices connected on a channel for congestion purposes) (Yes 2.4 has "11" channels when you look at the access points configuration but it really had 15, and only 3 are really usable.  These are channels 1, 6, and 11.  Because these are really the identifies of a 5x10mhz frequency range meaning when selecting 1, you are really choosing 1-5, 6 is 6-10, and 11 is 11-15.  You cant select above 11 because then you wouldn't have 5 frequencies available in the open spectrum allowed by the FCC and other international regulation bodies.)