Brightness Auto Setting not working

[DoC0427]

Hello,

I think there is a "bug" in the Charge 3 with regard to the AUTO Brightness setting.

I have mine set to AUTO, and it appears to me that the response in this setting is backwards.

In bright daylight, the display seems to switch to a dim setting, and conversely at night in a dark room it comes on at a very bright setting.  To me this is backwards, isn't it?

Before you say it's me or my eyes not adjusting to the environment, it's not.  In bright daylight for example, it comes on at dim then it will brighten up when I go into the settings and manually change it to NORMAL from AUTO.  And the opposite in a dark room happens.

If this is "normal" for how the AUTO feature is supposed to work, then can someone explain to me the logic behind that?  So annoying when moving around at night and it turns on with 1 billion candle power!  (ok, slight exaggeration but I'm not the only one complaining about this according to several other posts in this forum).  I would think the AUTO function should fix this problem???

Thanks...

Doc

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity

[Amin82b]

My auto bright doesn’t work at all and it’s always bright . Restarted based on what you said and still the same. I had a charge 3 and I returned it because of mapping bugs, I heard that bug is fixed so I got a new one. Now The new one has the amazon bug plus the not working auto brightness .! Looks like there are some bugs case to case

[Topcat31]

I’ve now changed from the Charge 3 so hopefully all will be good



Sent from my iPhone

[Airborne2501]

I switched to a Garmin Vivioactive 4. Works great.

[SunsetRunner]

I have same issue,  please add me to notification when this is fixed. Thanks. It makes it useless when I'm outside running. 

[ShaShe7204]

I have the same issue, please add me to the list of people for them to contact!!!

[ItsASamThing]

I've just now started having this issue too, just noticed it the past couple weeks or so. I've had my fitbit for a little over a year and didn't previously have this issue.  it appears there are other users with this issue on other threads. https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Charge-3/Charge-3-Brightness-Issues/m-p/3593286#M77797 
https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Charge-3/Charge-3-screen-is-very-dim-after-the-update/m-p/4516692#M1...

On one of them it suggests that fitbit will send a replacement. @LizzyFitbit  is this true? or would we need to return to place of purchase? is a year and half too long to remedy this issue?

[Airborne2501]

I gave up on the fitbit and got a Garmin vivioactive 4, which is also a great golf watch. Nice and bright .

[SunsetRunner]

Mines was 18.months old they said my warranty expired and offered me a discount from tge store.  The items provided was limited and for me did not include the newer charge 4.

I ended up going to Amazon and buying a 4

v/r

Moderator edit: personal info removed

[Clamonmar]

I contacted support, they couldn't help me with my black screen, I had tried all their suggestions.  At the end, their advice was to buy a new one because mine was basically garbage, out of warranty, very disappointing.   Then, I saw your post and tried what you said, the only difference was that I had to swipe 4 times to the left to get to settings and fix the brightness to normal.  My fitbit is working again thanks to your post! Thank you so much.  It was a key advice to be in a dark room.  Thanks!!!

[BethVoermans]

I’m having the same issue!  I’ve rebooted several times. Anytime there is the least bit of light my screen is not visible. From the number of comments here, something is wrong with the Charge 3. My Charge 2 was working well, but I bought the Charge 3 because I wanted the water resistant feature. Please have customer service contact me as well!   Thank you!

[Lazy_lizard]

I have the same issue as everyone else. I have had two fitbits but after this experience with the charge 3 I am really disappointed. Mine is permanently dim so utterly useless as a watch or fitness device when out, only use is the information it provides to the app on my phone. The only time it lights up is when the calendar function is activated. Text messages no longer appear either. 
It was a gift otherwise I would return it. 

----------------------------------

After posting this it magically improved - now call me cynical but… it coincided with a software update maybe 

 If it doesn’t stay sorted I’m off after a Garmin

[PinkBun]

This is exactly the same for me.  I cannot read the screen at all when I’m out of the house, it’s too dim.  I’ve tried the auto setting, that seems to darken the screen when I’m in bright light.  The normal setting is too dim to read outside of a dark room.  The dim setting is completely black. 

Ive tried resetting it and restarting it.  This issue really makes it completely useless - I need to see the screen when I’m swimming at the pool and it’s totally impossible. 

if your tech support can offer advice, that would be helpful. 

[Mando94]

PinkBun. 
Did you get any help for your charge 3??

Seems like a very common issue with dim display and no final resolution. 
tech support help??

[SunsetRunner]

No. I ended buying a charger 4.

conrado

[57dk67]

Is there a fix for the Change 3 display issue outside? Very frustrating not being able to read my Fitbit outside?

[CindyMFitbit]

Hi everyone. It's good to see you participating in the Community Forums. It's nice to see new faces around!

Thank you for taking the time to report this issue. I appreciate your efforts and the additional details shared. I recommend making sure that the Sleep Mode option is disabled on your Fitbit Charge 3. When the sleep mode setting is on:

• Notifications don't cause the tracker to vibrate or the screen to turn on.
• The screen's brightness is set to dim.
• Turning your wrist won't cause the tracker's screen to turn on and you need to press the button. 

To turn off Sleep mode: Press and hold the button, and swipe left to access the quick settings screen. Tap Sleep to turn it on or off. When you turn off the setting, the icon appears dim with a line through it.

Hope this helps. 

[PinkBun]

No. No help from tech support. It’s still really hard to read - so dim in daylight, impossible to even see.

[Tc63]

I experienced the same but didn't give up as thought it was just a setting I'd touched.when it was night I went in with my charger and in an unlit room with a magnifying glass could make out the pictures I managed to get to the settings to change the brightness again. It had made a difference but  the reason I went to the brightness settings was because the screen was looking very dim in the daylight and that has not changed. I do think the charge 3 has this fault as its the 2nd one I've had in 2 years

[Topcat31]

I am also on my second Versa 2 now I am losing faith with Fitbit which is a shame as Indont really want to switch to an Apple Watch as I like the fact I can have challenges with my friends who have Fitbit but if this replacement fails within a year I will be done

Sent from my iPhone

[Alohoa13]

I've tried rebooting to no avail , I wouldn't buy  fitbit again .