Charge 3 screen is too dim to read

[Olivermc]

After charging my Fitbit the screen is now too dim to read.  It was fine when I put it on the charger and I can see it has charged but it is worthless because I can’t see anything.  I have tried restarting and it didn’t improve. The watch is out of warranty. Any other options?

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject and updated label

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @Olivermc. Welcome to the Community Forums.

I've moved your post to this new thread so you can receive more related responses. Thanks for bringing this to our attention and the steps tried prior to posting. I'm sorry you're having this experience and just to confirm, did you follow the steps from this help article to restart your tracker? Also, did you try turning off the Sleep Mode and adjusting the brightness as described here?

If you have a Charge 3 and the screen is still not working correctly, let me suggest performing a long restart with the following steps:

1. Plug your device back into the charging cable and hold the button down for 15 seconds.
2. The device turns on and shows a battery icon. Two vibrations occur: first a short vibration, then a medium vibration. 
3. The device turns off.
4. The device turns on and shows a progress bar and short vibrations occur. The progress bar completes. Note: A total of 7 short vibrations occur. 
5. Remove the device from the charging cable. The device shuts down.
6. Important: Plug the device into the charging cable again.

[Olivermc]

Thank you 

I can't use the info in the help article above b/c I am not able to see the screen - it is too dim.

I tried to restart by pushing the button on the phone while it was on the charger.  jI did not feel the number of vibrations you describe.  I do faintly see a smiley face.  Beyond that I am unsure what more to do.  It was working just fine when I put it on the charger (just to charge b/c it was running low).  When I took it off the charger, I cannot see the screen - I can just barely detect that it is not entirely black.

I don't know what the sleep mode is - to my knowledge I have never turned that on - again b/c I cannot see the screen I don't know how to verify that it isn't on.  😞

I appreciate your helpfulness - I 

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi there, @Olivermc.

You're welcome. I understand how you're feeling about this situation and appreciate the time taken while trying the suggestions shared above. Because the restart and long restart didn't worked for you, I'd recommend getting in touch with our Support team. That way, they can evaluate your details and see what else can be done to bring you back on track. Please click here to get connected with them via chat or phone.

[Olivermc]

Thank you - I haven't had an opportunity to try this latest response - I will try later.

thank you

[TamHG]

Hello!

I am having the same issue as well!  I have a chat request reference # from this morning & just got off the phone with someone who is supposed to have “escalated” my issue to a supervisor because (of course) my SECOND Charge 3 has a screen so dim that it is useless, and is out of warranty…How convenient!  I had also sent 2 emails today in reply to my chat & NO ONE HAS CONTACTED ME YET!
This second Charge 3 is a replacement of my first one that had black lines through the face of the watch!  This is unacceptable!  I have been a loyal FitBit wearer for over 4+ years, and this is NOT a way to retain customers!  I was not offered any kind of satisfactory resolution as of yet!  I got an email for 35% off another product that I shouldn’t even have to BUY since YOUR PRODUCT should still work after only a year!  And to make matters worse, the discount stipulated that it couldn’t be used on the newest model in the Charge line!

Really, FitBit…

Just really…?!?!

You need to DO BETTER!  Needless to say, as if you couldn’t already tell, I am LESS THAN HAPPY AT THE MOMENT!

😡

[Murali112]

Likewise 7 year Fitbit customer in same state., it’s sad if it’s hardware
quality that it doesn’t work even for more than a year

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi there, @Olivermc and @Murali112. @TamHG Welcome on board.

@Olivermc You're welcome. Thanks to you for keeping me posted and please get in touch with our Support team as soon as you can. That way you can receive further assistance about this situation. You can use the link shared above to get connected with them.

@TamHG and @Murali112 I'm sorry you've had this experience with your Charge 3. I appreciate you for contacting our Support team, as well as your loyalty towards Fitbit. Because you already have cases created, I went ahead and forwarded your posts so they can provide you with more details about their resolution. Please note that due to recent events affecting our operations there might be a delay in their reply, but they'll get in touch with you soon.

[Stephtkc4]

This is the exact same problem I have.

Did you ever fix yours/figure out how to get the screen to be visible enough to read?

I know it is working because I will get emails when the charge is low and I can tell it tracks if I go to my phone, but I want to be able to tell the time etc when I look at the screen.

Thanks

[HeatherAnn39]

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but if I do this restart, will I lose all of my data? Mine has been so dim for so long. It will randomly be normal for a few seconds every so often. 

[Murali112]

Your options are pretty simple., Go buy a new Charge 5 or use support provided discount to buy some other thing in Fitbit site (Charge 3 or 4 is not available for sale and discount does not apply for Charge 5) So you get the answer. 

[Odyssey13]

Hi @HeatherAnn39  a restart is just like restarting your phone. Your data is safe. Now a factory reset is completely different and usually not needed. Restart is just fine. I do mine every time it gets charged.