Charge 3 not Pairing to Windows 10 Laptops

[SunsetRunner]

I have three new laptops running Windows 10 (updated/patched, in good working order) that will not connect to my Charge 3.  I can still pick up and connect with my old Charge 2 and other devices without any problem, so it's not a laptop/Bluetooth problem...

Moderator Edit: Updated Subject for Clarity

[SantiR]

@SunsetRunner Welcome to the Fitbit forums! Thanks for sharing the experience you are having with your Charge 3 not setting up with Windows 10 computers. Thanks for sharing those details.

In this case, I'd recommend trying these set up troubleshooting steps for Windows 10. That should certainly help you out with this. 

Also, by any chance, can you try setting up your Charge 3 with a different device (Android, iOS)? And let me know if you are able to complete this process with those devices?

If the situation you are experiencing has to do with syncing; please try these syncing troubleshooting steps. Also, try syncing with different devices if possible and let me know the results! 

Thanks again for your participation here. Keep me posted! 

[jetjock]

My charge 3 is not pairing with windows 10 on my computer or my neighbors windows 10. Tech service says they are aware of the issue but did not say when it will be solver.

[2strokestu]

REALLY - so Fitbit sell products not compatible with Windows 10. Does anyone know if I can return my charge 3 as I only have Windows 10 products?

[dancer82]

Charge 3 does not work with my  Windows 10 app either.  It does work with my Samsung J model.  My windows 10 app says "looking for tracker" then it says to disconnect from any other device (this is ridiculous) and then to reboot.  I don't want to disconnect from any other device because I was told by tech support there was a problem with re- pairing after you unpair.

  My Samsung Bluetooth is off and so it the phone and it is more than 20 feet away from the laptop. It still will not connect.  The Charge 3 is visible and paired with the bluetooth on my Windows 10.  I have uninstalled and reinstalled the windows 10 app and followed all other tips except unpairing as I was advised by tech support of the known issue of re-pairing. 

THis is the first I have heard of a known issue with windows 10 app. You'd think that Fitbit would make these "known issues" public so we don't waste hours of our time trying to solve problems that can't be solved right now. It would also be helpful if they would let us know when the "known issue" is resolved. 

[linasz10]

my Charge 3 was working fine with my Android phone.  The phone died and I have been trying to sync this to my windows 10 desktop to keep it going.  I have bluetooth, the fitbit app sends the 4 digit sync code, I enter the code and the sync fails.  I have the chard cradle connected, I have a bluetooth dongle, I have the fitbit "base station" showing up (not entirely sure what it's for as I also need a bluetooth dongle).

when the devices are syncing, the eco-system works well. when something stops working..... the eco-system really sucks.

[jetjock]

Fitbit support told me in mid December that they were working on this issue and would have it resolved soon.I am still unable to sync on Windows 10 computer. Does any one have an update?

[linasz10]

i was having a similar issue. I'm not sure but I believe that this goes
along with the FitBit compatible devices. One win10 desktop, with a
Bluetooth dongle, would not see the Charge 3 at all. I went to a laptop
(Lenovo T430) that has native Bluetooth, the Charge 3 synced right away.

It's something in how the Bluetooth is implemented I believe. Not a clue
beyond that guess.

Also, Samsung Galaxy A6 synced with no issues. Samsung Galaxy Mega, no
way. Kyocera Duraforce Pro, was syncing OK, received an OS "upgrade" and
the Bluetooth went screwy and stopped syncing (it then caught fire, but
that's a separate issue I hope ;-)).

Moderator edit: personal info removed

[dancer82]

I think I have understood the problem with the windows 10 situation at
least for my charge 3.  If you sync with your phone and then try to sync
with windows 10 it doesn't work right. You have to go to bluetooth
settings on windows 10 remove the charge 3 and then close the windows 10
app and then reopen and then let the app re-pair with the charge 3 -
this happens almost automatically except that you are asked to allow it
to pair and you say yes and then it syncs. What I do is turn off blue
tooth on my phone when I am around my laptop so that I don't cause the
problem to happen again. It will update your phone app via internet and
sync that way.  I hope this is understable!

[rays54]

I was having the same issue with my windows 10 laptop. I did what was suggested.

With the fitbit app opened

1- removed the device in  the Bluetooth settings

2- closed the fitbit app

3- reopened the fitbit app

4- after about a minute a popup box appeared asking about pairing the Charge 3, hit ok

Charge 3 was successfully paired and a successful sync occurred.

Thanks for the solution!

[BWYOONG]

I have similar sync issue with Windows 10 with my Alta HR and I did some tests on more than 5 different PC. I think the issue is there is some kind of incompatible or setting between Fitbit and Windows 10 1809 release. I have a Lenovo laptop that just gone through a brand new fresh install with the latest version of windows 10 it failed to connect to the fitbit. It was working fine with the previous version of Windows. 

I wondering anyone else out is having similar issue? 

[John_van_Ommen]

The solution posted by Rays54 worked for me.

I'm no expert on this, but I think there's a few things happening here:

1) it looks like *Windows* has a hard time pairing with the FitBit app via the Control Panel

2) it looks like the FitBit app is able to properly pair the device.

So basically, you have to pair it via the app, not via the control panel. To complicate things further, if your phone has Bluetooth on, you may not be able to pair the FitBit with your computer. (Since it may already be paired with your phone.)

On top of that, it was difficult to determine which FitBit was the right one, since there were two in the room with the exact same name. (My wife's FitBit and mine.)

Pairing is a bit of a mess when there's two phones, two fitbits, and one computer, all running BlueTooth at the same time.

[ElderlyFitLady]

Rays54: Thank you so much. That worked for me. All my other bluetooth devices in the house were paired and working except by Charge 3. This stuff can drive me mad.🤔👵

[dunnbob66]

Apparently you simply cannot set up or synch a Charge 3 with a Windows 10 PC. I had my old Charge HR synched but could not set up the Charge 3, even after trying multitudinous 'solutions' found on the forum. I gave up when I noticed the the fine print in one setup or download window that said that the Charge 3 and a couple of other models can only be set up on a mobile device.  I wish Fitbit had been more open and forthcoming with info.

[SunsetRunner]

Ok, here is my experience.  For Windows 10 you need a bluetooth adapter that is Bluetooth 4.0 with LE (Low Energy) support.  Older bluetooth chipsets won't work with the Charge 3.

The dongle supplied by Fitbit isn't fully compatible with the Charge 3.  It can only read the Charge 3, it can't send anything to it, so you can't change clock faces, for instance.  For full function you need a genuine Bluetooth 4.0 connection.

If your computer does not have built in bluetooth this bluetooth dongle should work.  The brand is "Plugable" and the model is " USB-BT4LE", it has a Broadcom 4.0 LE chipset.  Available for about $13 on Amazon.

As far as laptops with built in Bluetooth, I couldn't get it to work at all, but my laptops are older.

I have a Sony laptop (5.5 years old) with Bluetooth 4.0 LE, Intel chipset built-in, and it will not connect to the Charge 3 period.  Even disabling the internal bluetooth and installing the above "Plugable" dongle, it still will not connect to the Charge 3.

I have an even older HP laptop (windows 7 vintage upgraded to 10) with Bluetooth built in, but it is not 4.0 LE bluetooth.  It also will not connect to the Charge 3, even with the external dongle.

It seems the external Plugable Bluetooth 4.0 LE dongle only works with the Charge 3 on computers that don't have built in Bluetooth, like many desktops for instance.

All the windows 10 testing was on version 1903, Win 10 Pro 64 bit.

[SunsetRunner]

Ok, here is my experience.  For Windows 10 you need a bluetooth adapter that is Bluetooth 4.0 with LE (Low Energy) support.  Older bluetooth chipsets won't work with the Charge 3.

The dongle supplied by Fitbit isn't fully compatible with the Charge 3.  It can only read the Charge 3, it can't send anything to it, so you can't change clock faces, for instance.  For full function you need a genuine Bluetooth 4.0 connection.

If your computer does not have built in bluetooth this bluetooth dongle should work.  The brand is "Plugable" and the model is " USB-BT4LE", it has a Broadcom 4.0 LE chipset.  Available for about $13 on Amazon.

As far as laptops with built in Bluetooth, I couldn't get it to work at all, but my laptops are older.

I have a Sony laptop (5.5 years old) with Bluetooth 4.0 LE, Intel chipset built-in, and it will not connect to the Charge 3 period.  Even disabling the internal bluetooth and installing the above "Plugable" dongle, it still will not connect to the Charge 3.

I have an even older HP laptop (windows 7 vintage upgraded to 10) with Bluetooth built in, but it is not 4.0 LE bluetooth.  It also will not connect to the Charge 3, even with the external dongle.

It seems the external Plugable Bluetooth 4.0 LE dongle only works with the Charge 3 on computers that don't have built in Bluetooth, like many desktops for instance.

All the windows 10 testing was on version 1903, Win 10 Pro 64 bit.

[TheMekon]

I find it hard to accept the solutions offered so far, because basically, they surmise that the Charge 3 doesn't work with Windows 10. I was given a Charge 3 for Christmas, and it paired perfectly. It stayed paired, never missing a beat, until the 1809 update was loaded on my Windows 10 Home Edition laptop, whereupon it stopped syncing with my laptop. Maybe it's a driver update, or some other change of that nature (which usually come out with the big updates), but whatever it was, I haven't been able to sync using that laptop since.

So my premise isn't that there is some mismatch between Windows 10 and the Charge 3 per se, but rather there is a mismatch between Windows 10 AT LATER RELEASE LEVELS and the Charge 3,

[Lndrbrts]

I know what you mean, it drives me crazy too.

I'm too old for this stuff.. 😕  

Moderator edit: format

[kittytallula]

This is absolutely ridiculous! i will be returning my charge 3 right away. I had an apple watch and it conected to my windows just fine but everyone said heyy try a fitbit. well nope. not worth it. do not buy this watch.

[Tufty47]

This is still an issue in 2021... Fitbit say it works with android 7 and up. Mine is android 10. Does not work. It also won't sync with windows 10. Fitbit are a complete scam. I have had three replacements. All faulty. I had to wait 7 months for the last replacement. 

[Tufty47]

2021 and this is not resolved. Scam Scam Scam