Charge 2 not receiving text or call notifications

[Sandyrn07]

I cannot get my Charge 2 to send any text message notifications. This is the 2nd tracker I've had due to the 1st one being deemed defective by Fitbit (syncing issue). I've tried everything on the troubleshooting page. Any suggestions?

Moderator edit: subject updated for clarity

[HeydyF]

Hi @Sandyrn07, it is great to see new members around! I suggest you to make sure that you followed these steps correctly to activate the notifications and receive them on your Charge 2: 

SETTING UP NOTIFICATIONS ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE

1. Confirm that your mobile device is compatible with our notifications feature by visiting http://www.fitbit.com/devices.
2. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled by going to Settings > Bluetooth.
3. Make sure your mobile device permits notifications:

1. Go to Settings > Notifications > Phone.
2. Make sure Allow Notifications is on.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to enable notifications for text messages, calendar events, email, and other third-party apps such as Facebook or WhatsApp.

4. Go to Settings > Do Not Disturb and make sure these settings are turned off because they prevent the mobile device from sending notifications to your tracker.

SETTING UP NOTIFICATIONS IN THE FITBIT APP

1. Make sure your tracker's firmware is up-to-date and that you have the latest version of the Fitbit app.
2. Open the Fitbit app and tap Account > your tracker's name > Notifications.
3. If you've never received notifications on your tracker, follow the onscreen instructions to connect ("bond") your mobile device with your tracker. To verify that set up was successful, look at the list of Bluetooth-connected devices on your mobile device. Your tracker's name should appear.
4. Under Notifications, turn on the types of notifications you want to receive on your tracker (calls, texts, and calendar events). Keep in mind your tracker will show calendar events sent from your calendar app to your mobile device. If your calendar app doesn't send notifications to your mobile device, you won't receive notifications on your tracker.

When you receive a notification, your Fitbit Charge 2 vibrates. Notifications are available for one minute after you receive them but otherwise are not stored on your tracker. the following information may appear on your screen for text messages: 

—Sender's phone number or name depending on the contacts list in your mobile device and the contents of the text message.

To manage notifications:

To see a notification, turn your wrist towards you or press the button on your tracker within one minute of receiving it. Your tracker can show up to 40 characters.
To dismiss the notification, press the button on your tracker.

Please let me know if that works, otherwise, I will give you some other tips.  

[Huck1384]

Hello,

I get my notifications for everything but the texts.  It is selected in the app.  I'm just not receiving them.

Thank you

[HeydyF]

Hey @Huck1384, it is great to see new members around the Community!  Let me ask you something, could you please send me an screenshot of the Notifications settings for the Messages app to verify settings are correctly configured? 

I'll be around! 

[Huck1384]

Thanks

[Marcovitjz]

"3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to enable notifications for text messages, calendar events, email, and other third-party apps such as Facebook or WhatsApp."

Hi,

Sorry, but above statement is not entirely correct. Yes, you will receive text notifications from your iPhone onto your Charge 2 device, but this is for only regular text messages, NOT Whatsapp notications. With iPhone, the selection to receive Whatsapp text messages on your Charge 2 is NOT available, nor will you be given a choice of what type of text messages you'd like to receive notifications from.

With Android phones however you have more choices of what type of text messages you'd prefer to select.

[VictorMora]

I have the same problem. The only notifications I get is when I reached my daily goal & silent alarms. I don't get notifications for calls, texts, hourly reminders, hourly achievements. I just switched from Surge to Charge 2 and not feeling very good about the change. Please help

[Rich_Laue]

From the clock screen hold the button in, this will confirm that notifacations are still turned on.

[VictorMora]

Notifications are ON, and did reset device and phone, and I get text and calls notifications. Not sure if the problem was with the device or the phone, or just the pairing itself. The only one pending to check is the Reminder to Move. I will wait 9 minutes to know

[BertM]

I have the same problem, notifications were working fine about a week ago then stopped (seemed to be related to putting my phone in airplane mode or changing notification settings).  All settings are back to where they were before but I can't get the notificaitons to go from my iPhone 6 to my Fitbit.

I've tried:

- re-pairing the Fitbit to the iPhone

- turning the iPhone on/off

- turning the notification settings off/on again

- restarting the Fitbit

What else can I do to get this fixed?

[Rich_Laue]

@BertM have you turned notifacations off/on from the tracker and nit the app? While the clock is displayed hold the button down. 

Have you checked the ios notifacations panel?

[DerrickS]

@BertM I'd recommend the following;

1. Make sure that you have notifications turned on in your iOS settings. This can be done by: opening your iOS settings > tap Notifications > tap Messages/Phone/Calendar > and toggle "Allow Notifications" on.

2. Verify that you have notifications turned "On" on-device. This can be done by holding Charge 2's button for 2-3 seconds when your Charge 2 is displaying its clock face.

3. For texts, keep in mind that if you have an open conversation on your iPhone, you won't receive a text notification on your Charge 2.

4. If you manage more than one Bluetooth device on your iPhone, I'd recommend the steps mentioned here.

5. If the problem still persists after trying the steps above, I'd recommend the troubleshooting steps mentioned here.

Hope this helps you out!

[BertM]

Turning notifications on on the actual Fitbit fixed it!

I had no idea that setting was there in the device itself, some feedback for the Fitbit team would be to get rid of it since it's confusing to have the same setting in two places (app and the device).

Thanks for the help everyone!

[Rich_Laue]

Yes @BertM i can see it might be confusing,  but this is one of the very much requested features wanted by the comunity. They wanted an easyway to turn off notifacations without having to open the app.

[BertM]

@Rich_Laue - how about letting the app override the setting on the device if the app setting is turned off/on again?  Basically, the last setting wins.

[Alicel037]

Did you get any help?  I am having the same issue.

[BertM]

I fixed mine by toggling the notifications on the actual fitbit device (NOT in the app).

You can turn notifications on/off on the actual fitbit device by holding the button down for a few seconds while the time display is on, that fixed it for me.

[DerrickS]

@Alicel037 The steps below should help you to receive notifications on your Charge 2:

1. Verify that you have notifications turned "On" on-device. This can be done by holding Charge 2's button for 2-3 seconds when your Charge 2 is displaying its clock face.
2. Turn on "Always Connected" in the Fitbit Android App. This improves the Bluetooth connection between your mobile device and Charge 2.
3. Turn on "Enable Notification Widget". This setting can be found with other notification settings in the Fitbit Android App.
4. If you manage multiple Bluetooth devices on your Android device (ie a Bluetooth headset, car multimedia system, etc), I'd recommend the troubleshoots mentioned here.
5. Lastly, if the problem persists, I'd then recommend the troubleshooting steps mentioned here.

Hope this helps!

[jstaats]

FINALLY! Someone with the correct, simple answer! 😄

You fixed my life, lol.

[HeydyF]

Hey @jstaats! Sounds pretty cool that you are getting notifications on your Charge 2. Thanks for the update. If you have further questions, please keep us posted. 😉 

Have a nice day!