Can I connect the Charge 4 to Windows 10?

[WicklowWolf]

Can you connect a Charge 4 to Windows 10 using a USB Bluetooth 4.0 Adapter? I can see the Charge 4 in Bluetooth device list but cannot connect to it. The Fitbit windows app can't see the Bluetooth dongle. 

Any suggestions?

Moderator edit: subject for clarity

[CKJ411]

Why is the answer that Fitbit devices are getting worse over time? This was a such a pain to setup I'm ready to just return it and go back to my Charge 2. Let alone the fact it now longer works with one of the main ways I sync the thing. And Windows App sure says it can sync and doesn't prevent me from trying. If it's incompatible, why doesn't the app bother to tell me that before I waste hours?

[dws_32]

My Charge 4 was working fine with Windows 10 app up until a couple of months ago. I to remember it saying on the box and in the product review page it says it works with PC. I like having the app up on my computer more than I do my phone. When I'm doing my yoga exercises, I want to see my heart rate on a computer screen rather than my phone.

[JampaKing]

Well, this is not correct - at least in my case - admittedly I'm running recent hardware. It *is* possible to sync your Charge 4 to your PC, but only indirectly. Here's what I've found:

1) I can sync my Charge 4 to my iPhone 11 when they are connected via Bluetooth and the iPhone is running the latest version of the FitBit app. The FitBit app must be open on the iPhone of course.

2) Then I can sync my iPhone's FitBit app with my Windows 10 PC running the latest version of the FitBit app for Win 10, with the iPhone connected to the PC using the BlueTooth on my MSI Z40 motherboard (not the FitBit dongle - I've found that doesn't work reliably in this configuration). The FitBit apps on both the iPhone and the PC must be open. 

So, the sequence is: make sure your Charge 4 is on > make sure BlueTooth is running on your iPhone > the iPhone and FitBit are connected > the FitBit app on your iPhone is open > the FitBit is synced to the iPhone > make sure BlueTooth is running on your PC > the iPhone and the PC are connected > the FitBit app on your PC is open > the iPhone and the PC are synced.

I know, it's a pain, but it works. 

[JampaKing]

Sorry, the MoBo is a Z490. 

[SunsetRunner]

That doesn't freaking well help if you've already purchased the **ahem** thing.

[spinn1]

I recently learned my Charge 4 would not sync with my desktop running Windows 10 Pro, but found out my laptop would. The difference being my laptop has Bluetooth. When I tried to sync, it asked if I wanted to pair my Charge 4 with it, and then it synced. My desktop does not have bluetooth; I thought the dongle was supposed to provide the bluetooth connection.

[CADA81]

Wow, I agree 110% with Dr. Hawley.  So frustrating having and finding out that the Charge 4 only works with an android or phone.  I have also tried to connect it to my iPad to no avail.  Senseless, consumers should NOT be hoodwinked into thinking that they are purchasing a product which they cannot use due to needing a particular device.  Furthermore at no point did FITBIT offer another solution other than you need a phone to set up a device. I was under the impression that when my Flex 2 crapped out that upgrading to the Charge 4 would be better but to no avail. Great job FITBIT of misleading consumers!!!!!!

[CADA81]

phmurphy, I agree. This is part of the corporate culture to ignore small issues until someone does something drastic.  In the middle of a pandemic when individuals are struggling and FITBIT does not want to implement an interface, how much sense does that make. FITBIT has enough "Smart People" to make this happen.  

[JampaKing]

I decided to give it one more try. First I turned off my iPhone bluetooth. I inserted my USB bluetooth adapter (NOT the original FitBit dongle, but one I  purchased commercially for under $10) into my PC. I tried to connect from the Windows bluetooth settings page. It *sees* my Charge 4 but never connects.

Next I fired up the FitBit app on my PC (the downloaded version for Windows, previously installed). I clicked on the sync button (the little Charge 4 icon, upper right). It connected. It synced. 

So, it's a very specific sequence, but it works. I tried to upload the screen grab of the successful connection, but I do not have permission to upload images, and don't know how to get permission... 

[Lukearse]

I was able to download and connect to the FitBit app on my Windows computer (both 10 & 11 versions). I went to the Windows App Store, typed FitBit, downloaded the app. I had already created an account on my phone so I was able just to login. I had trouble syncing my FitBit watch to the Windows FitBit app which connects via Bluetooth. I then discovered the reason it was not connecting was that my FitBit watch was already connected to my phone via Bluetooth. So I turned off Bluetooth on my phone (if you have several devices with Bluetooth access to your FitBit such as an iPad you will need to turn off Bluetooth on these devices also), then I went back to the Windows FitBit app, clicked on Sync and the FitBit watch connected with my Windows computer in seconds. It was a very simple process. Having access to all this data on a proper computer instead of a phone is a huge bonus. It's also so much easier to look at the data on a big screen. Anyhow this Windows app is my new way of checking my FitBit data.
𝐼 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑡, 𝑚𝑎𝑦𝑏𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 2 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑡, 𝑀𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑜𝑓𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑊𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑠 𝑎𝑝𝑝.

[JampaKing]

I just downloaded the updated version of the Microsoft Store FitBit app. It
doesn't seem to have solved the problem of multiple BlueTooth connections to
the FitBit, so I think the FitBit (Charge 4) simply doesn't allow more than
one connection at a time. It is really a simple matter to leave the FitBit
connected to my iPhone and let the sync happen that way (assuming you've set
up your iPhone FitBit app to connect to the FitBit website, of course). When
you fire up your Windows FitBit app, it will simply sync to the web-based
FitBit site, and that is really pretty painless - just takes a few seconds,
so not worth wasting any more time over, LOL!



Thanks for your reply.

[Opa-Nick]

I think there could be a charge of criminal negligence. I bought the Fitbit Charge 4 to monitor my heart rate and my sleeping cycle. I need this information to monitor my base information after having had heart treatment. It worked perfectly well not many months ago. Now I cannot pair my Charge 4 with my computer. I am also not able to handle a mobile phone. Moreover, I cannot do a screen print from a mobile phone.

This a case of a company having become strong because of our support and once having become powerful to withdraw the services we pad for, It is a breach of contract.

Opa-Nick

[Jimbo1234]

Connect Laptop Wi-Fi to Phone on mobile hot spots in connections settings go to phone settings share

swipe top phone down and select Laptop and blue tooth. you might have to double swipe from top to get it. on pc search internet  ,,,,WWW.aka.ms/your pc        Then on android  Advanced features then link to 

windows and turn on mobile data  Screen share The screen on your laptop will be the size of your say J10 but then i dont have a blue. also you can pin =your pne on Task bar  tooth tv so i connect tv from laptop via cable and change source on tv to 

Laptop and now i can do work out not having to hold phone. or use Lap top screen still good on Table but Tv is bigger. I am still researching for a better way 

[Jimbo1234]

I suggested in Jimbo1234 directions www.aka.ms/your pc and use wi fi as same on phone etc 

[Jimbo1234]

If you have fitbit ap on Laptop you can link your phone to pc on the same wi fi on pc and phone  www.aka.ms/your pc/ or You tube for detailed instructions as I did and then i plug lap top to Tv for Premium content from app on phone Screen share

[SunsetRunner]

same problem here.

Windows cant connect. It can see 'charge 4' in the device list, but it can not make a connection.

From the fitbit app (after it did an invisible update so the charge 4 is in their device list).

It sees my change4, it shows the security number on te charge 4, I type in the number and then it says it can't connect.

I've tried for an hour. Am ready to send this back to fitbit and get my money back.

[Rich_Laue]

@JampaKing fitbit no longer updates the windows version of the app. 

What you described above are these steps. 

• Sync the tracker through the phone. This sync sends your data to the cloud. 
• Open the windows app on the computer. 
• The app then goes out to the cloud and retrieves the latest data that recently synced through the phone. 

However, if the computer has a BT 4.0 or above, the tracker should sync. 

@spinn1 any BT 4.1 or above dongle that supports Low Energy Bluetooth will work. 

[SunsetRunner]

I got android 7 on my phone, so I can't use it. The phone app need android 8. (which was not corresponded when sold!!).

Which is exactly why I want the tracker to connect with my laptop with windows 10 via bluetooth.

My laptop has got bluetooth 4. So this should work.

Com'on fitbit. fix the app.

[JampaKing]

Yeah, I just tried it again with my Charge 4 and Bluetooth dongle on my
Windows desktop 11 (not the FitBit dongle, which I no longer have). Tried
connecting it both with Windows Bluetooth only and then with the Fitbit app.
Neither worked. I also tried it on my Windows 10 laptop Bluetooth (I don't
have the FitBit app installed there), and it still doesn't work. Only works
with Bluetooth and the FitBit app on my iPhone. Sorry.

[Rich_Laue]

It has been a few years since Fitbit updated their Windows app. This is why there is nothing in their documentation about supporting Win 10-11