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?!

[scienceteacher]

Read ALL relevant articles during the saga below.

Yep...did all of those things first.

My C3 synced with no problem for the first 3 weeks. Then stopped. So I...

1. Restarted C3 while on charger
2. Reloaded app on phone
3. Reloaded app on tablet
4. Forgot C3 on Bluetooth on both
5. Paired, synced 1 time!

6. Repeat 1-4
7. Phone and tablet no longer find C3 when searching for Bluetooth devices
(no signal coming from C3) My car and TV show up each time, so it's not the
phone or tablet.
8. Restarted C3 on charger 4 times, checked each time, phone and tablet
don't see C3
9. Restart C3, yay! Phone and tablet see it!
10. Boo. Neither one will pair with C3, phone says change settings on C3 to
pair.
11. Clear data on C3.
12. Repeat step 9. 7 times.
13. Frustrated at this point.

So, what now?

[pjfarr]

@Katieboo 

Yep, same for me. No issues with Charge 2 setup or pairing with my phone, tablet, and laptop. But the Charge 3 refuses to setup or pair on any of those devices. As a last resort I tried my office PC and finally managed to get it set up and synced. However, that's a desktop PC and hardly convenient to be limited to syncing it there.

Since my Charge 2 works on all my mobile devices, I assume it's not the devices but the Charge 3. I have a 30-day return policy from Best Buy, so if I can't resolve this soon it's going back in January and I will leave a very, um, honest review on their website.

[KimNA64]

This is exactly what I have been experiencing.
This is my 3rd fitbit, not a single issue with others.

[scienceteacher]

Yeah, unfortunately i've had mine for 2 months. Expensive lesson learned.

[Skkyhawke2]

Put Charge 3 into charger. Held button down purposely for 10 minutes. Smiley face never appeared.

This is day three without syncing. Same for the Charge 2.

[Toddfather]

I have a note8 and I am unable to sync my charge 3.  Last sync was oct 27 - I have tried everything from removing app to putting on charger.  Never had issues with charge 1, charge 2, or blaze.  It might be time to switch to a more compatible device like the samsung products to match my phone.  Very frustrated - good bye fitbit.

[AlejandraFitbit]

Hello guys, thanks for your participation in the Forums.

I appreciate all the feedback and efforts you have tried to fix this issue. If your trackers aren't syncing, I recommend following the instructions provide in the help article Why won't my Fitbit device sync?. If the issue is directly with pairing them, follow the ones in the article Why can't I set up my Fitbit device?.

Also, have you checked if your phones are compatibles?

Let me know if you need anything else. 

[Exodin]

@AlejandraFitbit I recommend you read these posts instead of blind posting useless help articles. 

[SunsetRunner]

I have become a troubleshooting expert for c3 for a month. Till now still unable to pair after input 4 digits. I'm in Singapore n there is no fitbit service centre to go too.. I am being cheated by this lousy device.

Stop asking us to refer your standard troubleshooting process.. simple trash !!

[SunsetRunner]

Same here. It worked fine for around 6 weeks.

I have tried everything. Even deleting all network/bluetooth data on my Pixel 2 phone. It still won't pair after entering the 4 digits. Tried on several other computers and phones too. I returned mine to a local store today but they were out of stock so I'll have to wait for a replacement.

[Exodin]

 The way to get syncing again is to go to settings, scroll to the bottom and reset your entire watch deleting the data. 

It's going to drop sync again though so.... Good luck. 

[Kaisercat]

It will be worth it!

Sent from my iPad

[AlejandraFitbit]

Hey guys, thanks for getting back.

Keep in mind that in order to have a successful connection between your trackers and phones, they need to be compatibles. I have read here and saw that the majority of you don't have compatible mobile devices.

When a phone isn't compatible, it doesn't mean that it won't work with your trackers but you might experience some connectivity issues. You can always try the instructions provided in my previous post but I don't guarantee it will work 100%.

Keep me posted. 

[Skkyhawke2]

My Pixel 2 XL worked with both my Charge 2 and charge 3 until this past
Monday morning at 0630. Neither have synced since. Nothing about the phone
changed.
FitBit needs to get this resolved or just offer refunds.

[Hugh02341654654]

My Note 9 is compatible, care to explain why I have the same issues? I
think it's pretty far past blaming customer devices for your bad product.

[Exodin]

My pixel 2 is compatible. It stopped syncing. Wiped out my data on the watch. Synced. Few days later, no more syncing. That's the reality. 

[Tandyman]

Hi

My Phone is on the compatibles list, Nexus 5X, and my Fitbit Charge 3 repeatedly won’t sync.

The only reliable way I have found to fix the issue is to re-boot my phone, which I now do every morning, problem solved.

Please Note: I do not touch my Fitbit C3, it re-syncs with the phone after phone reboot no problem at all.

I think that the problem is with how the fitbit app uses Bluetooth on the phone, I think that there is something funny going on, because even when the C3 is paired and I am getting notifications, the phone UI does not show the C3 as a paired device.

[AlejandraFitbit]

Hi all, thanks for the information provided.

If you keep having problems with your units syncing, I recommend restarting your tracker and them perform a long restart by doing the following:

• Plug the device into the charging cable.
• While the device is plugged into the charging cable, hold the button down for 15 seconds.
• Remove your finger from button. Note: Device won't have a smiley face icon and should be off with a black screen.
• Remove the device from the charging cable.
• Plug the device into the charging cable again.
• The smiley face icon appears on the screen.

See you later. 

[Kaisercat]

Since this latest firmware update I have not been able to update 3 or 4 times. I try again 10 minutes later (without doing a shutdown) and things sync!

Sent from my iPad

[Tbonelli]

So, Fitbit’s position is that there is no solution and it might work to clear the data? I purchased the Charge 3 because the 2 wasn’t picking up steps properly. This is my 4th FB. I have literally been a walking poster child for Fitbit and have converted at least 30 people so we could participate in challenges. I just purchased new FBs not even 30 days ago. Is there a plan to fix this issue or is FB only relying on the user solutions? I need to know so I can return it and simply use my Apple Watch.  I cannot even connect to complete he update.