Charge 3 loses GPS connection

[Katinkatze]

Hi,

Recently I've noticed that my charge 3 takes some time to connect to GPS before going for a bike ride or walk. Once it finally connects and 'go' is clicked, it starts all ok for the first half a minute or so, then loses the connection, and doesn't record the rest of the ride/walk. This hasn't happened before, however for the past 10 days or so this has started happening.

Batteries of both mobile and charge 3 have been well charged, both have been restarted on several occasions. The app has also been uninstalled and reinstalled. Bluetooth has been disconnected and reconnected, and the charge 3 has been restarted.

I am using a Xiaomi 9 pro, on Android 10.

What might be happening? Thanks.

Moderator edit: format

[JuanJoFitbit]

Hi @Katinkatze, it's great to see you in our Fitbit Community! I'm sorry to hear that the GPS of your Charge 3 loses connection and it won't record the rest of your exercises. I totally understand how you feel about this and I appreciate the time spent trying to get this issue resolved before contacting our forums.

Please try the troubleshooting steps that are listed at the bottom of this help article. This article contains steps that you already tried but you can skip them and proceed with the rest.

Finally, monitor the GPS feature of your Charge 3 and see if the issue gets fixed.

Keep me posted on the outcome.

[Katinkatze]

I managed to get it to work again through an uninstall and reinstallation of the app again. it worked for a day. this morning it registered the start point and end point and drew a straight line through the map. so seems like its not really keeping a connection throughout. I'm at a loss as have also tried the recommended steps as suggested. 

[Don_Ediccini]

I'm experiencing the same problem. It's only started since a recent software update to the Charge 3 itself. Have you also recently updated the software of your Fitbit tracker?

[SeanMcDub]

I also have the same issue. It seems to have started after the latest Fitbit update.

Restarted phone

Restarted fitbit

Wifi off

Gps on

Connect to gps from fitbit 

Connection drops and a few meters is recorded or nothing at all.

[Katinkatze]

Yes it started also after the recent update. I think the last time it had
worked without any difficulty was back in July. Then I semi worked ok about
2 weeks ago last.

[sroundco]

I am having the same issues. Sometimes I don't get a connection. Sometimes it connects but only for a few seconds. Sometimes if it stays connected the map is not all there. This just started a week or so ago. I have contacted customer support multiple times, followed all of their instructions and still not resolved. 

[Cmad08]

This is incredibly frustrating for me. For the first few months of owning the charge 3 it connected for runs quickly and tracked accurately throughout. Now it doesn't connect unless I open the app then loses connection shortly after starting the run. I can see on the map that it doesn't track my path like it used to so this feature is now useless and I basically have a heart rate monitor... not what I paid for. I tried all of the troubleshooting steps that are out there.

[SeanMcDub]

Hi Juan,

several people have now confirmed that the steps advised do not resolve the issue. It does appear that the latest Fitbit update has caused the problem, so can you advise what Fitbit is doing to resolve this urgently?

Thanks

[Katinkatze]

Now the only way it "works" is to reinstall the app every couple of days. This is very unsustainable and seems like from the feedback, the hiccups started from the latest update...

[Uzulnomo]

I can confirm the exact same problem, with my Charge 3 and the Android app. The tracks are not registered anymore although the connection is confirmed by the Charge 3.

Very disappointing.

[Gloria65]

My Charge 3 stopped recording accurate maps with my stats on August 19.  Since then I sometimes get a pink dot on a map, or lines angling across areas that I've walked, but not following the actual path I too.  This is very frustrating.  I have pretty much given up on my Fitbit and started using Map My Walk - which won't connect with my Fitbit app anymore - to get a map of my walks with true paths and distance recorded.

[SeanMcDub]

I reinstalled the app on my phone and I gave plenty of time for the Fitbit
to connect to GPS before going for a run. It has worked for the last few
days, recording the route ok. I'll keep an eye on it though.

[FartyTom]

I have exactly the same issue and looking at a number of articles and people reporting the same issue, it appears to be linked to the last update. Is this going to be looked into?