Charge 3 too dim

[Vette4ever]

I find the Charge 2 had a darker screen, the 3 I can barely read it, in fact never try, just grab my phone to read the time and steps 

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity

[PJ2020]

Until recently the brightness was fine but in the past week I can barely see anything.  I don't know why it changed it just happened. It is charged and I have gone into the settings and tried repeatedly to adjust the settings to Auto but the settings isn't working.  Screen is nearly totally black. VERY FRUSTRATING and is serves no real purpose if you can't read the screen.  HELP!

[debdiver]

In my case Fitbit tech support determined my unit was faulty and they replaced it. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed this second unit continues to work, although I am having some issues at the moment.  Good luck, seems quality isn't what we expected. 


Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S7, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

[PJ2020]

Thank you for the response. The Fitbit Team did try to assist me but in
addition to the brightness issue I discovered that I am unable to restart
it. They have determined that my Charge 3 is faulty. Unfortunatley, my
warranty expired about 3 weeks ago so it is no longer covered for a
replacement. Fitbit offered me a discount on a new one, but it is too much
money to spend on a product that might not work properly for more than a
year. It still tracks I can continue to use it but must use the website or
app to see my progress which will likley be cumbersome, but it is an
option.

[debdiver]

Sadly, not sure I could recommend the Fitbit. My replacement is starting to give me problems and I have a friend with the Ionic, just out of warranty the quit. 


Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S7, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

[Vickrsnickr]

The background on my Fitbit Charge 3 has gone dim, too, just in the past few days. There are only two options for brightness in Settings: Normal and Auto. When I tap either, the screen goes black and it's nearly impossible to get it back to a lighted screen, even one that is too dim to read either indoors or outdoors. My husband has a Charge 3, too, which he has not updated, and which is much brighter than mine. I could never see the screen in the sunlight in Arizona, and now I can hardly read it in sunlight or indoors.

This is not helpful because your instructions do not apply to the Fitbit I own. As noted earlier, there are two options in the Brightness setting: normal and auto. Tapping either turns the screen from dim to black. This is not working for me now and the dimness has increased over the past few days

Moderator edit: merged reply

[AnitaWW]

When I entered this thread several months ago, my Charge 3 was going dim & the screen had vertical grey lines on it.  My charge 3 solved the problem about a month ago by dying.  Battery would not hold a charge more than a few minutes.

I'm back to using my older Charge 2 and am very pleased.  Good display, functions meet my needs.  I do NOT recommend the Charge 3.  The Charge 3 reviews are consistent - bad display and/or battery life.  Sometimes, simpler really is better.

[debdiver]

Sadly the Charge 3 isn't worth the money. Pretty much every one I know that has one has either had to get it replaced or gave up and pitched it. I'm on my 2nd one, and it hasn't gone dim yet, however 5 of us have lost the ability to see text messages, customer non-service says they are working on it, going on a year now. But hey if you want to buy the Charge 4 it's available now...not likelySent via the Samsung Galaxy S7, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

[AnitaWW]

Have you tried to "Forget Charge 3" on your phone & then reconnect to it.  I had to do that a few times with my Charge 3.  Worth a try.

[Trueblue007]

Read several posts in different sections of the Fitbit Community. The number of people experiencing this issue and not being able to resolve it with the recommended steps is significant. I am one of those. I have done the screen brightness display settings change, the reset while plugged into charge cable, nothing fixes it. Spoke to a friend who also have Charge 3 and they have the same issue. She is on her 2nd in warranty replacement and same thing on that one too. Reading the posts of the customer service staff it is very clear to me Fitbit is trying to avoid a mass recall of what is evidently a defective product. This is probably particularly relevant given Google is trying to close a purchase of the company. As a long time user and supporter this is very dissapointing. Moving everything to the Garmin platform.

[Wrl1712]

I would not recommend a fitbit charge 3 until there is a software update to solve the issue of screen brightness...theres no point in having one if your out on a sunny day and you can not see the screen..this issue is well known..

[classteacher]

My Charge 3 suddenly went very dim this week and is now completely black.  I may be able to see it barely in a completely black room.  I tried resetting it.  I tried having my phone forget it.  This actually happened to another Charge 3, but they said they couldn't do anything about it except they could give me a discount on a new one!  And that discount was the same one they offered new customers a week later.  I'm so frustrated with FITBIT.  I've really liked the product and the different information it collects.  But its customer service and quality are horrible.   

[debdiver]

Sadly that Charge 3 is a **ahem**. Everybody I meet that has one says the thing Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S7, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

[LNNG]

The brightness setting does not help. Mine was set to Normal. Still dim till cannot see. 

[Twishamerry]

This worked for me. Thank you

[Punkarooni]

Can’t see it at all outside even when it is cloudy and I have my sunglasses on. It was fine before. I have the brightness on normal. I can barely see it inside my house. Hate the alarm settings are no longer on the phone app. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if I could SEE it! 

[clj810]

After latest update, I’ve had numerous problems with settings. Latest now being that my screen is so dim that I cannot see any words on it. So I have no idea where I am or where settings is! Please help! My device is now useless!

My screen is too dark to read anything!

Moderator edit: merged reply

[Vette4ever]

If you have extended warranty or It’s under a year exchange it. You can’t adjust it that I saw.

Sent from my iPad

[Irma81]

So Glad I found this thread.  My Charge 3 worked well until I let it update.  Then it went into an exercise mode that wouldn't stop.  The display is dim and doesn't respond to a tap.  the only way to see the tracker is to push the button.  I have tried many times to reset the tracker Nothing works.  I do get notices on the tracker about the Agenda app.  Don't know what this is so I uninstalled it.  Didn't help.  I had a ALTA for many years and it died.  Thought the Charge 3 would be a good replacement but it is terrible.  Seems like all they want to do is sell new products.  Am looking for a good replacement does anyone have any good recommendations?  Thanks

Seems like the last update caused the problem.  Is there anyway to remove the update?

Moderator edit: merged reply

[Punkarooni]

Is it less than a year old? There is a warranty and they are sending me a new one. Wouldn’t hurt to check

[Vette4ever]

My next will be charge 4, one feature it has is debit card tap.
My daughter had had hers for a year and haven’t heard anything wrong. I’m in my 2nd charge 3, not happy. Had it replaced for dim screen and it’s going dim again.

Sent from my iPhone