What exactly is "Device Lock"?

[SunsetRunner]

I have been going through the online user manual, and this stopped me in my tracks:

To help keep your Fitbit watch secure, turn on device lock in the Fitbit app, which prompts you to enter a personal 4-digit PIN code to unlock your watch. If you set up Fitbit Pay to make contactless payments from your watch, device lock is turned on automatically and you’re required to set a code. If you don’t use Fitbit Pay, device lock is optional.

So............  What the heck exactly is "Device Lock??"  Am I going to have to input an infernal code every time I look at the display??  Am I going to have to input an infernal code every time I want to access any of the apps on the watch??  THIS IS A DEAL-BREAKER FOR ME, if I'm going to have to sit there and input a four-digit code EVERY TIME I WANT TO USE MY WATCH.  But it sure isn't clear when you have to input that four-digit code.  Thanks in advance if anyone could clear this up for me.

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity

[bbarrera]

Device lock is suppose to prevent a thief from using your Ionic to pay for things. You need to enter the code when putting watch on your wrist. So enter the code  after charging, or if you take Ionic off to give your wrist a rest or protect it. 

[hs100789]

Device lock is only required if you are using Fit Pay. If you don't have cards set up to use with Fit Pay then you don't have to worry about it. And from what I understand, even if you have cards set up, you only have to use the PIN when you try to purchase things. 

In short....no, you won't have to input a pin every time you want to look at your watch.

[bbarrera]

---

@hs100789 wrote:

you only have to use the PIN when you try to purchase things. 

---

No.

You only enter PIN after putting watch back on your wrist. To prevent someone from stealing your Ionic and then going on shopping trip using your credit card.

Here's how it works - take Ionic off, say to charge it or protect it, then after putting it back on your wrist you will be required to enter PIN to interact with Ionic.

The above only applies if you put a credit card into Fitbit Pay, or manually enable device lock.

[hs100789]

Really? I could have sworn that I saw a video that a reviewer did, and he had to put in his PIN as he bought something. But I could be wrong, I watched it a while ago.

But the answer to the main question about whether you will have to input a PIN every time you want to view the watch is still no. 

---

[bbarrera]

Here ya go:

https://youtu.be/kPhPmA9OweU

---

@hs100789 wrote:

But the answer to the main question about whether you will have to input a PIN every time you want to view the watch is still no. 

---

---

LOL, in the ridiculous (silly Friday!) the answer is yes but only for those folks that constantly take Ionic watch off and only put back on wrist when they want to view it. LOL.

[SunsetRunner]

This is what is frustrating about "Fitbit User Manuals."  It says nothing -- absolutely nothing whatsoever -- about the requirement to enter the code when you put the watch on your wrist.  It does say that you won't need to set a code if you don't use Fitbit Pay, but that's it.  Though, when you get to the Fitbit Pay part of the manual, it says that you must input your code when you use it to pay for something.  Which clearly was NOT the case in the video that has been posted in this thread.  Looks like really, really poor product documentation to me.

But thanks for the information about inputting the code when you put the Ionic on your wrist -- again, the manual only served to confuse the situation.

[bbarrera]

good user manuals are hard to find anywhere these days

glad that helped. From the DCRainmaker review it works the same as Apple Pay. Device lock is intended to prevent other people spending your money if they somehow get your Ionic (stolen, or you leave it somewhere). Requiring an unlock when you put back on wrist is a simple mechanism to reduce risk of unauthorized credit card use.

[Dinozof]

currently testing the watch right now and sometimes after quite a lot time you don't use it (even if it's on your wrist ) it lock itself. At least this happened to me 🙂

[SunsetRunner]

Interesting.  Thanks for the feedback.

[DevanH]

so how can you turn the pin code off?

I dont have wallet or pay setup, but its not allowing me to remove the pin. Kinda sucks to be honest.

[Jorkal]

Fitbit App on your phone,

you can disable device lock.

[GySgt_Seidell]

This link from Fitbit should provide everything you ever wanted to know about Device Lock and more:  http://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/2250

Good Luck and Happy Stepping!

[melby]

Good vid and great sense of humor

[Twignest]

Thank you for the link!  This was the most helpful of all the replies.