Charge 3 won’t sync and won’t pair after removing it

[jlpayne]

I know there are only like 3 people that have this device right now, but if anyone else that has it can check...is yours syncing ok? Mine last synced 4 hours ago and when trying to force a manual sync it wouldn’t get past “looking.” I tried the usual fixes - turning bluetooth off and on, removing the C3 from the app and my phone and attempting to re-add it, power cycling my phone...nothing works. The user manual says to press the side button for 8 seconds to reset, but all that does is bring up the screen wake/notifications toggle screen. Just issues due to it being new/unreleased, or is it possible it crapped out on me already?!

[Ellekins88]

I'd like to know about this aswell.... I've tried everything, and finally decided to unpair it, delete the app, re-install the app and now i can't get it to pair at all.. 
It's driving me insane!

[PearJen]

I've been having the same issue since receiving the C3. I've called customer service and followed their steps only to have it unsync hours later. Frustrated. I'm basically using it as a watch at this point. An expensive watch.

[Ellekins88]

Same here!!! 

Except i noticed this morning even the time on mine is wrong!! I dont even know how to fix it.. 

I have just found a software update on my phone, so ive done that as my last possible step to hopefully pair it

[PearJen]

Good luck. Even when I've seemingly fixed the issue it stops syncing again a short while later.

[Ellekins88]

Thanks.. i still cant even pair my bluetooth to it 😭 

In trying to download the app to the computer now to see if it pairs to that.. 

[Ellekins88]

Agreed!!!

FYI.... I finally paired it to my bluetooth!! Only took 5 days... What finally done it was clearing the actual data on the watch!!! 

Be interesting to see how long it syncs properly for before stuffing up again!

[Nicbtx]

I rebooted my C3 and it worked for a day. Now it’s back to not syncing.

[Abruno]

My Charge3 will not sync or pair either. I’ve done the hard reset :), removed App from my iPhone SE & took it off (forget device) in the phones Bluetooth settings. Reloaded both and tried all over again. 

(I found out the C3 didn’t sync/pair because the time was off.)

I was able to get it to pair but when I checked it later, it was no longer connected & app at ‘looking’ and a note popped up saying  it was unable to pair.  It is now 11:32pm but the Charge 3 reads 11:18pm. Seems like a larger problem if the time is off as welll!

My previous Fitbit was  a Charge 2 and had no problems. Only replaced it because I broke the screen. 

I have tried everything but what is different than other complaints is the incorrect time!  

I’m really frustrated with this!! Please help!

[firebits]

I have tried this also (many times) and I still cannot get this to sync.  Fitbit support are telling me to continue to wait for a resolution, it has been 10 weeks now.

[Donnapru]

After posting the same problem on here  I went through everything folks had posted which I had not tried  which was all but clear data, but I tried the order that other folks used  I really did not want to lose data because I have an internal heart monitor attached to a Bluetooth app. But eventually took everything out, cleared data, rebooted device and hoped for the best  It finally synced  but I didn't believe it would last and didn't want to report until it had some working time  It has been a little over a week now and it is still syncing  although it takes a long time to do so  I'm not sure that the steps are accurate  but I am mostly homebound from illness and steps can be tricky  I have a Charge 2 but it was too big for my small wrists and would not show the heart rate without me working it, or my sleep because it couldn't get a good read

 The C3 fits well enough to pick up both, so I am torn about keeping it  I have three more days to decide  and while I have little faith in it over time  the C2 wasn't doing the job either  Don't have an iPhone nor can afford a Garmin,  so not happy either way .  

[Donnapru]

So not being one who is versed in the cloud  since every app or OS has its own cloud  how do I get the cleared data back  or does it just show up in my next report? So far it's a no show on my dashboard  One lost night in particular, I need to know my sleep pattern  Thx

[Andrew7599]

I had the same issue. I finally solved the problem. First, I go into my phone setting, and delete my bluetooth pairing with charge3 (found 2 pairing with charge3). Secondly, I clear my charge3 , and reboot it. Then I follow the steps to set up my charge3 thru Fitbit app. All good now. 

[Kaisercat]

That was my issue to. I had both my iPad and iPhone 8+ paired. When I redid the new pairing, I paired with only my iPhone. Happy stepping!

Sent from my iPad

[JEMswiw]

I also did the software update on my phone and it worked … however, today, it did not record my 20 min swim so Im unsure if this was the problem reappearing or just something else.  It was fine at the end of last week.  Im hoping this will be fixed so we don't have to keep trying to resolve it.  I am considering moving on to an Apple Watch to help keep things recorded.  

[Nicbtx]

I don’t understand what the issue is with the charge 3. About a week ago it stopped syncing steps and sleep. I removed the Bluetooth connection and uninstalled the app and reconnected the charge 3. Even trying to get the Fitbit added to the app after removing it didn’t work well - took several attempts.  I’ve had to remove, uninstall and reinstall twice now. It will sync for two or so days and now again it has stopped. This is ridiculous. What is wrong with this product?

[SunsetRunner]

Having the same issues as everyone else on this board, have tried all the steps mentioned on here to no avail. Why is the board marked solved, as it clearly is not?

This is the second Fitbit device that I have had, the first one, an Alta HR stopped working after two days, but I assumed it was just a one off faulty device so I exchanged it and paid the extra for the Charge 3 which I have now. 

I am very unimpressed with Fitbit and its useless and  buggy products. I have spent more time fiddling with the wretched device than I have exercising. This time I will get a refund I think.   

[SunsetRunner]

Rather than adding interest and statistical detail to my exercise  the Charge 3 has just added distraction and irritation and it does not function consistently enough to be of much value. What data it does produce is  difficult to use due to the syncing issues.  It is not even a very good watch due to the lack of sensitivity of the screen which needs to be repeatedly swiped and 'tapped', or rather banged before it will respond.

Today I took  it back and got a  refund. I am very disappointed with my experience, I will not be buying another product made by 'Un-fit-for-purpose-bit'.

[SunsetRunner]

So I was having the same problem as most, I did everything except Clear User Data, I just couldn't lose a series of workouts that I had done yesterday. Holding the buttion for 8 seconds and getting the smiley face didn't work after many attempts with it plugged in. Then I said the one thing I haven't tried is the Reboot Device option, while I thought that would be the same as holding the button for 8 seconds, it's apparently different because it fixed my device, all data uploaded and my fitbit is happy again. Just something different to try, because I uninstalled/reinstalled the app, removed the tracker completely from my app, removed ALL of my other bluetooth connections, restarted my phone several times, and probably more, but for some reason this fixed it.

[pjfarr]

@andrea444 

I bought one back in December and had this syncing problem too. I came here for advice and saw dozens of others were having the same problem. I had 30 days to return it to Best Buy so I decided to wait and see what Fitbit does about all the complaints. There were 2 patches, and neither of them solved the problem. I took it back and got a refund. I'm not about to keep going through a whole procedure of unpairing/pairing, reinstalling the app, rebooting, blah blah blah just to get something to work that should've worked right out of the box. I'm astonished many users here keep jumping through these hoops instead of just returning it.

If nothing substantive has been done by now, I think it's likely Fitbit has just written off the Charge 3 as a dud and is moving on to develop the next model, where all the fixes will be (and you'll have to pay for). I've seen tech companies do this again and again: if a product is too full of bugs, they will not waste a lot of time and resources on fixing it and just abandon it. 

[Kaisercat]

Mine is working great. Sure there are minor glitches (not syncing) that is expected when you have 2 devices communicating through Bluetooth. My fixes are restarting iPhone 8+, or reactivating device in Bluetooth settings which is needed at times after an update, or just trying again in a few hours. These are my fixes. If you don’t like troubleshooting, then return it. Nothing wrong with that.

Sent from my iPad