Charge 3 Bluetooth connection keeps dropping

[PaulG66]

Hey! Well, searching through the forums it appears like I’m not the only one with this issue.

I have just got a Charge 3 for Xmas, replacing a Surge, paired with an iPhone 6s. Everything seems to be working ok apart from the Bluetooth connection. When the watch is initially set up it works fine, I get notifications.

However, after a few hours or after I have connected to my in car kit, the Bluetooth connection between phone & watch appears to be lost, i no longer receive notifications & I can no longer access the notification menu on the app or select all day sync. When I try to access it I am told I need to pair my phone to the watch before I can use this feature! When I try to set it up I will receive a warning after 5ish minutes informing me the Bluetooth set up has failed! If I go into my phone Bluetooth settings it tells me I have a connection to the watch, but the app disagrees! 

The only way way I can get the notifications working again is if I forget the Bluetooth connection on my phone, forget the Charge 3, uninstall the app & start all over again! This will make the notifications work again, but only for a few hours or until it receives another Bluetooth connection.

To say it’s a pain is an understatement, I have seen people saying it could be down to multiple Bluetooth connections, which strikes me as odd, why can’t this watch & phone handle multiple connections? I only have the one Fitbit synced to the one phone.

I’m not an expert in Bluetooth or Fitbit technology but it seems like the Bluetooth is turning off, for some reason, & the only way to turn it back on is to put  the watch back into set up mode! Is there a menu on the Fitbit to physically turn Bluetooth off & on or put it into pair mode? 

Come on Fitbit, I want to keep & use the Charge 3, but this issue is frustrating, my Surge worked a lot better than this! Is it time to return the Charge 3 & return to the Surge?

Moderator edit: subject for clarity

[tpreston]

Good luck! I gave up last February and bought an Apple Watch. No
complaints. It works first time every time.
--
Terry

[ypease]

My husband just bought me an Apple Watch. It’s fine, however it’s a watch with some fitness tracking capabilities. I want a fitness tracker with a watch. And with the watch, I’ve had to load 3 different apps to be able to use my scale. What a pain!

From my iPad

Moderator edit: personal info removed

[Davyboy007]

Apple Watch?

I think that’s good advice!
That’s going on my Christmas list

[SunsetRunner]

You can restart your charge 3 without the cable. just scroll to about, then restart, then touch the check mark. This gets mine to reconnect .

[ypease]

Yes, I understand that. However, my Charge 3 does not stay connected constantly ike my Charge 2 does. I have to reconnect the bluetooth to my Charge 3 (with or without the charging cable) every time I wish to look at my steps, etc. I also have to manually sync it after reconnecting, every single time. I bought my Charge 3 retail. Their warranty coverage is different if you buy retail. No returns. No refunds for a faulty device. Wow, they don’t tell you that at when you buy from someone else! Actually, I don’t think retail sellers know. Oh well, now I know.

[Jillocharge3]

Thanks, I’m k connecting but unable to receive notifications or do the all day sync .

Sent from my iPhone

[Jillocharge3]

Thanks, mine was a retirement gift from work colleagues so I’m really hoping that someone can come up with a solution . Thanks everyone .

Sent from my iPhone

[SunsetRunner]

I bought my C2 from Best Buy a couple of years ago. Before a year went buy,
I had problems so called Firbit. They ask me to send them a photo of my C2.
Fitbit then sent me a replacement C2 w/o the wristband. I merely used my
existing wristband. If it's within a year of purchase, you should be able
to get a replacement.

[Soupiej]

Ok I have done all of these things and blue tooth drops. I believe there is a glitch in your software. Too many people are having this issue. Can you make a concerted effort to resolve this. I have been told it’s a hardware problem it is not. If on charger Fitbit lights up clock tapping moves to steps screen etc. this is ridiculous if I buy another I’ll still have the same problem. Fix this

[Soupiej]

Mine is doing the same thing. They need to fix this! I have done everything including reset of fitbit

removal and reinstall if Fitbit to the Fitbit app

checked the app is updated

checked the iPhone is updated

[SunsetRunner]

try removing it from the bluetooth list on your phone. then pair it again to the phone.
That fixed mine

[ypease]

I agree! My Charge 2 stays connected to Bluetooth perfectly. My Charge 3 doesn’t stay connected, no matter what. CS keeps telling me it’s my phone. If that were the problem, then why does my Charge 2 not have the same problem. Well, now that Google has bought out Fitbit, I’m sure they simply won’t care anymore.

From my iPad

Moderator edit: personal info removed

[Soupiej]

I did. Removed from Bluetooth then removed it from Fitbit app then reinstalled on Fitbit app then set back up on Bluetooth and app just says looking. Bluetooth says not connected. Isn’t this crazy? I think it’s
a bug. It works perfectly attached to charger. Says Bluetooth connected and Alta connected all the screens come up when tapped but about 10 seconds after I remove from charger it goes dark. Says not connected Bluetooth and looking in Fitbit app. So it’s not my hardware.

Sent from my iPhone

[ypease]

Same here! Customer Service said it was my phone. Not! As my older Charge 2 still connects and you can read it like real time. Then I got an email telling me that the problem had been reported to the technical department and they were looking into a fix. Now, doesn’t that sound like they are aware of this problem? Or am I really that special? Hmmmm........

From my iPad

Moderator edit: personal info removed

[Soupiej]

You see. Works with one and not the other. That’s not right! It’s really aggravating me and I have since ordered a Versa lite now I’m wondering if I should just get out of the Fitbit line altogether? I loved and still do my Alta. But if they are not going to work jeez.

Sent from my iPhone

[Soupiej]

No to Apple Watch. I have one sitting on my counter to be returned. I loved my Fitbit so efficient and gave me what I wanted. The watch is no where near being a fitness tracker so to speak. I had to buy another app in order to get what I wanted. Too much money if you are just looking for the fitness aspect.

[Passion72]

*I have been having the same issue  for the last 2 weeks. Ihave a Fit bit Charge 3 and run it with a IPhome XR. Each time it looses the bluetooth connection looses a lot of Time. Extremely frustrating.

[Soupiej]

Driving me nuts!
They have done something so we all buy new ones!
I have done everything they said and still not staying connected

Sent from my iPhone

[Soupiej]

They have a problem mine works as long as connected to charger take off charger it drops!not my Fitbit! Some bug!

Sent from my iPhone

[ypease]

I’m with you on this. Be careful what you select if you leave Fitbit. Ask yourself if you want a fitness tracker with a watch? Or, a watch that tries to act like it has a fitness tracker. I received an “i” product for Christmas. I now have 3 new apps that I have to utilize to do what 1 used to. And they don’t all sync to each other. Still working with it, but not very happy.

From my iPad

Moderator edit: personal info removed