Charge 4 saying to download or update Fitbit app

[JOBench200]

Charge 4 keeps telling me to download or update Fitbit app. I already had the app (used it with my Charge 2). To humor device I uninstalled and then reinstalled Fitbit app; unfortunately the result is the same -- Charge 4 tells me to download or update Fitbit app. However, Charge 4 is synced with my laptop where the Fitbit app is...and that updates to show activity as it should... So what do I do to get Charge 4 to show it?

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[Steltek]

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@Jpdbe wrote:

The app is working and connecting, but the fitbit screen just says to download etc. 

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There appear to be two kinds of easily confused symptoms:

1. The Fitbit Charge 4 is set up and appears to work normally apart from some functions (weather, agenda, spotify, settings, ...) where it asks to sync/download the app or outright does nothing. (Firmware will show as something older than 1.96.29)

The solution with waiting for the firmware update is mostly for the symptoms described above which go away once the firmware is upgraded to 1.96.29.

2. The Fitbit Charge 4 asks to download the app on the main screen/clock face. (Firmware may show as 1.96.29 or older)

If you're encountering this, you may need to remove/re-add the device to the app to get it going (see this post by RhonaR)

[Jilly99.]

I have the problem of not being able to get my Charge 4 to link with my Samsung S10 phone. On the tracker I get the download message but I also get the smiley face and the clock. In the app on the phone I select set up new device, then Charge 4 and click on set up. The screen immediately flashes back to the  info page in the app. The phone bluetooth sees the tracker but  will not pair. The tracker is fully charged, the wifi signal is strong and the app is up to date.  I deleted my Aria HR from the app but this makes no difference so I have reinstalled without problem.  This was my Xmas present to my wife and things are becoming a bit tense over my? failure to set it up.   Help

[jrazz]

I found several people saying that it is possible to run two Fitbit apps on one account and others said certain types of Fitbits can be added to one account at the same time. Apparently it is not possible to run a Charge 4 & a Charge 3 on the same account at the same time. The secondary tracker can be a Charge 2 or a Fitbit One along with several other models. So, I added a very old Fitbit One I had and it has been working just fine. I use the secondary tracker while I am charging my primary Charge 4 tracker. I understand that it is not possible to have two of the same model of trackers on the same account at the same time.

[777Jennifer]

Omg thank you!!! I had issue number 2, so of course nobody's help tips were helping!! I've been trying for 4 days!!!

[Sabinecu]

Aber kommt es auch, wenn die Charge sich nicht mit Bluetooth verbinden lässt.... da warte ich schon ewig drauf

[Rich_Laue]

Yes if you are trying to connect through Bluetooth, you will be told to use the Fitbit app. Please read the setup instructions. Everything must be done through the fit it app. The tracker can not be connected by you to the phones Bluetooth. Stop trying to connect this way. 

[judessa]

Same issue.  Waiting a couple of days to use fitbit is disappointing. Could use charge 3 right away 

[Rich_Laue]

When installing the Charge 3 or the Charge 4. Neither comes with firmware that gets installed during the setup procedure. 

The Charge 4 comes with a smaller version version that is very usable. 

The final version gets buffered to the phone. 

This change was made because, for many years, users want the firmware to be available off line. So an Internet connection isn't needed. Sorry, it is another case of users getting what they specifically requested, and then composing because they got what they asked for. 

Maybe we need to think about what we are demanding for, before we get it. 

[Mobasket]

I see this on my new tracker as well. I have the app bit it doesn't acknowledge 

[misterbee1234]

This is an awful response. Instead of having to worry about an internet connection now it's just a broken mess with zero status updates and you completely removed one avenue of compatability. So instead of requiring one avenue you require the other. The obvious solution would have been to let it go either way. What a boneheaded, obtuse way of doing this. You had two options and some how created a third much worse option. I was wondering why so many people said to avoid the newest product and now I see why. Because it ships broken, with an objectively inferior update process, what a blunder. Someone should be fired for this decision.

[Rich_Laue]

Hi @misterbee1234 I am not sure who the "you" is. 

Most people realize that an online connected device requires an Internet connection. 

Fitbit users have been complaining for the last 7-8 years that updates depend on having a live Internet connection and if the Internet fails, so does the update. 

Fitbit decided to give the users what they are asking for. As usual, the users do not want what they requested. 

I doubt Fitbit will do this again with another device. 

For me, the update was buffered in less than 9 hours and tracker was fully updated the same day. 

This ability to not depend on the Internet for future updates, really makes sense. The update can be buffered to the phone without the users knowledge. Once completely on phone, the user is notified. This the update process becomes easier. 

It seems this thread has been fully hijacked and not about why the user can not pair the tracker to the phones Bluetooth. 

The Charge 4 is my favorite tracker. I like it better than the Versa 3 or Sense. 

[misterbee1234]

The you I was referring to was Fitbit themselves, I know you have nothing to do with the design process. I appreciate your response and attempt to help but the product just doesn't seem to work with any of the iPhones, tablets, or laptops we have at our disposal. We will probably be returning it shortly, I hope you have a pleasant weekend!

[Rich_Laue]

Have you contacted support? 

My suggestion is to pick one phone, turn the Bluetooth off in any of the other devices if they are within 70 feet. 

You say that it doesn't work, but what do you want to do. 

Is the Charge 4 setup and your Fitbit account shows a Charge 4. 

Is it a sync problem? 

If you get the message to use the Fitbit app, get out of the phones Bluetooth menu, the only thing you can do here is remove the tracker from the Bluetooth. Every thing else must be done through the Fitbit app. Some permissions in the phones settings may need to be changed. 

[Rich_Laue]

Yes people who try to pair the tracker through the phones Bluetooth, will always have an issue, the Charge 4, or any other Bluetooth Low Energy device, will, and is suppose to reject this pair attempt. 

The pairing of the tracker can only be done by the Fitbit app. 

[User15489]

Same issue here... Screen keeps telling me to "Download or update the Fitbit app", it won't respond to the 10 sec hold of the button on the side.

How do you get to sync? My device doesn't even let me connect to the phone... 
It's a Charge 4, brand new. 

Moderator edit: merged reply

[Rich_Laue]

@User15489 load the Fitbit app into your phone. 

Log into your Fitbit account and do an add device through the Fitbit app. 

You say that it will not let you attach to the phone, but haven't mentioned how you are trying to attach it and what error messages you are getting. 

[GurmukhP]

Pretty sure users didn't ask for a software update that can take up to 3 days to install with no progress bar.

[Rich_Laue]

If it is taking up to 3 days, I would suggest checking your app permissions. Make sure that your Fitbit is able to run in the background and the phone has Internet. 

On android, turn power management off for the Fitbit app and put the Fitbit app into the background. Some phones stop the app if it is in the foreground when the phone sleeps. Alternatively restart the phone, only the background Fitbit processes will be running. 

Most people should be able to install the firmware on the following day or sooner. 

[GurmukhP]

My update just came through, within 24 hours of setting the device up. 

[User15489]

@Rich_Laue Thanks for reaching out. I solved it. 
I have a Charge 3 myself (really happy about it btw) but was setting up a Charge 4 for someone else. I couldn't get it connected through their phone (Samsung Android 😎 and had no clue to what was wrong beside the device telling me to download/update the app... I ended up solving it by following these steps;

- connecting it to my own phone first (Samsung Android 10) to make sure it worked.

- remove the connection

- updating the software on the other phone (Android 😎 All software updates available. 

- then re-connecting to Andriod 8 and it worked perfectly. 

Hope this helps someone!