Charge 2, pixel 3 - Unable to connect / sync

[zapata1971]

My Charge 2 disconnected from my app early October and it will not reconnect.  I have followed all suggestions in the forums many times (each) and none work.   When reconnecting the device in the app, I get to the point of adding the 4 digit code, which indicates the device is found, but then it will not connect.   

Looking for a solution.... I have tried... 

- Turning Bluetooth on / off (yes, Charge 2 removed from bluetooth devices)

- Restarting phone

- Uninstall / Reinstall app

- Rebooting Charge 2

... and all of the above combined.  

The tracker is fully charged, no other trackers nearby. 

Fitbit firmware 22.58.00

Phone:  Pixel 3, Android version 11

Fitbit staff - have you noticed how many recent posts there on this same Charge 2 topic?  Possibly an indication of a device issue, not user? 

[Dr.Pumpkin]

Hi. I am in the same situation.

I have this Charge 2 for 2 years.

Recently, after update my Pixel3 to Android 11, my Charge 2 disconnected and only show www.fitbit.com/setup.

I tried to reconnect the Charge 2 to my phone unsuccessfully.

I have remove Charge 2 from my device, from my fitbit.com account, from Bluetooth paired devices. 
I restarted my phone, restarted Bluetooth, restarted Charge 2.
Firmware of Charge 2 is 22.58.00.
Version of fitbit app is 3.32

Everything seems to start smoothly, but I get stuck on the connecting/pairing screen and never pass it. Charge 2 is found: https://ibb.co/Yh2k0wx
Charge 2 is trying to connect: https://ibb.co/wpr2JB1
Charge 2 never connect and app send this message: https://ibb.co/8rL3zhY

I have exhausted my options and would need some help.

[Dr.Pumpkin]

Up

[zapata1971]

Bump.

Bueller, Bueller

[joggerj]

Same phone and fitbit.  I gave up trying weeks ago after wasting hours .  Still not happy about it.  

[pcservicing]

Fitbit Charge 2 won't sync battery is lasting only 2 days. Tried uninstalling app, restting device checking bluetooth evrything suggested in the forums. tried to redo the setup process and It connects to my phone gives me a 4 digit code which I put in but won't pair. My dashboard is a mess at this point.

What I have done:

Fitbit app has been reinstalled and is up to date.
Restarted the fitbit
Do not have another device to try pairing with
Permissions for location are on.
The app is set to all day sync
No other any bluetooth devices registered.
The Fitbit and Phone is fully charged.
Cleared Fitbit App cache and Data
Stopped and started bluetooth and restarting the fitbit
Tried deleting data
Tried starting a new setup gives code but won't pair.

Dashboard is now a mess

[Dr.Pumpkin]

up. Please take a look a the first two message of this thread.

[GianChaz]

All of the above applies as steps taken in attempt to get Sync to work (Charge 2, Pixel 3xl).

FitBit lists last sync Oct 25 at 2:49 PM, Battery 80%.

That's the last time a full Sync occurred, i.e., steps, HR. sleep, etc.

Since, always receive a Sync error yet it shows current Steps & BP on Pixel, nothing else. The battery, even though at 100%, will show 80% on Dashboard yet Battery Full under Account.

The next day, prior days are empty - no history back till Oct 25.

The Charge 2 does not show being connected in Bluetooth yet current Steps & HR show on Pixel. Also, I receive Text Msgs on Charge 2, from time to time. The Charge 2 also does not show under Prior Connected Devices in BT.

Too many members of this Community have this issue for it to NOT BE just an individual user's FitBit/Phone.

Please assist.

[Sharka]

same for me 

[JennyPennyLola]

Same here, pixel 3axl and my story is identical to ask if your experiences. I've even tried to sync my son's charge 2 to my fitbit app and his is doing the same thing. Please fix fitbit! I was thinking of getting a new Fitbit for Christmas but I may reconsider it now. 

[rcreque]

This is exactly what is happening to me.  I have wasted so much time trying to fix it.  Please help us Fitbit.  I have had one Fitbit or another for the past 5 years. I have always had a great experience. This is extremely frustrating.  

[RustyMutt]

I had the same issue - Charge 2 with Pixel 3a, tried all the steps indicated and had the same results.

I FOUND A WORK AROUND reading through all sorts of guides online. Find another device - I used an old phone (an original Pixel) - and install the Fitbit app on it and then set up the Charge 2 as a new device. I followed all the steps, but instead of failing at the 4-digit code it accepted the 4-digit code and connected. It was then paired with my old phone and would sync beautifully. This updated the Fitbit online account with the device.

I restarted my current phone (Pixel 3a) and the Fitbit app. The app did a sync with the online Fitbit account and the Charge 2 appeared as a connected device. Another device also appeared, but I've since removed it without issue. No issues syncing since.

My sync initially stopped on Sept 27, 2020, and I performed all the above steps on October 10, 2020. I've been able to sync fine with my Pixel 3a since this. I turned off my old phone and it hasn't been on since.

HOWEVER, prior to Sept 27, I would easily get at least 5 days on a full battery charge. Since reconnecting, I have about 30-35% battery drain daily, which means I have to fully charge it every other day to avoid any 'low battery' notifications. When I open the app, it seems to have current status/details without a manual sync, and I can't find any option in the app to prevent it from being constantly connected. Old version of the app had it, but I contacted support via the chat feature today and was told the feature to disable all day sync is no longer in the app. I wonder if the new app version update couldn't handle the conflicting settings if 'All Day Sync' was previously disabled, like mine was.

Finally, my wife has the same Charge 2 and a Pixel 3a as well, and she has not had this problem.

[Dr.Pumpkin]

For everybody information: 
I also contacted directly fitbit support for this issue.

I asked:

(i) if anything will be done software/firmware-wise to fix the is issue

(ii) if voucher could be issued

Here their response for point (i)

"Hi Dr.Pumpkin
Thanks for getting back to us with your inquiry.
Our technical department is always working to improve and also to fix issues with updates on devices and also the Fitbit app, but at this point since all the troubleshooting steps have been performed and the issue is still happening we can't assure that the device will set up in the future.
If you have doubts about your Fitbit or services, visit help.fitbit.com
Sincerely,"

Regarding point (ii), becuse I bought my charge 2 in November 2017, my warranty is void. Thus I was issued a 35% discount to use on fitbit store (non applicable to Inspire2, Ace2, so basically only Charge4). Please let me know if you get a better deal by contacting them.

[Dr.Pumpkin]

up for any updates

[GianChaz]

Zapata 1971, et al,

The Charge 2 is now an old timer and there are many newer versions available - perhaps Fitbit/Google does not want to waste resources when the user-base could buy new ones.The holidays are coming and maybe they think we'll get an upgrade gift like a Charge 3 or Charge 4 or switch.

Except, we don't know exactly what Google has in its plans. Will Fitbit continue or, will it be assimilated by Wear OS? Or will there be a hybrid?

Google hasn't shown any new direction with Wear OS.

Why buy a new watch when it becomes unsupported in 2-3 years?

Thoughts, opinions, observations, comments?

[joggerj]

It was $150 for the Charge 2.  It does all the basic things I need it for, heart rate and steps.  I'm not in the position that I want to spend the same amount (or more) for another product.

This is simply a software flaw that Fitbit needs to fix.  It's not a hardware defect or user damage to the product.  

We put our faith and money in a company's product, and it'd be nice for the company to extend the effort to fix software issue.  Perhaps a couple of days or week of development time to show their customers that they care enough to fix their product goes a long way.  If it has happened to the Charge 2, will it happen to the Charge 3 or 4, should we just buy a new model for 35% off every time this happens?

Years ago my Logitech mouse stopped working properly and I simply emailed them to ask how to fix it, and they actually shipped me a newer model of the mouse instead.  My mouse was at least 2 years out of warranty at the time.  It was a $100 mouse and they certainly showed that they cared about their customers.

[zapata1971]

Appreciate the response and what you're saying, but, and no offense intended, I'm here looking for a solution not a debate on built in obsolescence.  

[Dr.Pumpkin]

I agree that a fix is what we need. 

Yet i do not believe at this time the community of consumers or fitbit forum moderators (which have been absent of this thread btw) will be able to do anything, because it is not at a level we/they can fix.

The Fit app probably need an update to fully recognize and pair the charge 2...

I would recommend at this time to focus your effort on calling/chatting with fitbit directly. Maybe one of you will get better info that i received (which are - we will do nothing).

[rcreque]

I just paired my fitbit with a different device and allowed it to sync and update. I then deleted my Charge 2 from my app on my phone and set up as a new device again. I did lose a couple of days information for some reason but it is now syncing with my phone again. Good luck everyone. 

[joggerj]

I also tried and managed to connect the Charge2 on my older phone and it seems to have worked. The charge 2 was then found on my pixel 3 without extra work. This is far from ideal, but for those of us who have a spare phone to do this, then I think this should work.

This just means that this really is a software issue and if Fitbit wants to save us the extra trouble, then they should fix the software.