Fitbit Charge 3 Not Tracking Sleep Stages

[CJY56]

I've had the Charge 3 for 4 days, it tracked Sleep for 2 days then stopped.  I tried setting it to Sensitive on my computer and I get an error message "Oops something went wrong" but nothing tells me what or why.  Additionally, it won't swipe left for settings on the unit itself like the instructions and video show.  Is it defective?  I've uninstalled, reset, updated the firmware...what else can I do?

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity

[SallBH]

I have the same problems v frustrating 

[Hunch]

It worked half the time up until Jan 1. Then it stopped working entirely.
How stupid must fitbit think its users are to believe that this is somehow
our fault. MAGA aside, some of us can still reason logically.

[rsrqjm]

Thx. Glad it’s not just me. I can get it to work, usually, by turning Bluetooth off then back on. If you explore the app links, you’ll stumble on a “sensitive” setting (if you have a weak pulse, supposedly). I also found my iPhone was connected twice at same time (maybe from removing and resetting Fitbit 3). But this is a lot of work, and it should be automatic, something you don’t even have to think about. Putting out a commercial that doesn’t really work.

Get Outlook for iOS

[JenKiley]

My Charge 3 is still not recording sleep nor is it syncing for an update, even when the fitbit is right next to my phone!

[rsrqjm]

It should be automatic. It seems it was introduced to market when it wasn’t ready. I can get mine to work by turning Bluetooth off and back on. Dorsn’t Always work, though. Very frustrating.

Get Outlook for iOS

[Benn_1960]

Update: Mine seems to have settled down now. Getting full nights sleep recording for the past few days. Before that it seems to have been capturing more sleep every night with fewer gaps as the days progressed. I have done nothing to it to remedy what was an annoying problem.

It is almost as if it needed to become accustomed to me over a few weeks no matter how un technical and stupid that sounds. 

[rsrqjm]

There could be two problems, first the ability of Fitbit to record your pulse and second, the ability of the Fitbit to communicate with your phone. I think my problem has been communication. My phone doesn’t automatically sync with Fitbit. Your phone may sync fine but device needed to “tune” itself to you.

Get Outlook for iOS

[Hunch]

Well good for you. I tried turning sensitive sleep tracking on (a setting
available only on fitbit.com?!) and I still got only basic sleep stats. But
those stats showed way more restless sleep that usual. Maybe the only way
they can test such a complex new feature is by having their user base do
that testing for them?

[ottbws]

I just got my Charge 3 yesterday, and was looking forward to seeing my sleep patterns, but am very disappointed. I will admit that I did not do a sync to my iphone before checking my sleep report on the web app. When I first opened the web app, it said that it had no sleep information, and then I clicked on "Log Sleep", with default start and end times, and it filled in the info for last night's sleep... but only a bar chart with awake and asleep intervals, and they aren't even accurate/ It says I was sleeping at 11 pm, when I know that I was sitting at my laptop and working at 11 pm. I am not seeing any sleep stages. I will go through the check list of things that can go wrong to cause the sleep tracking not to work, and hopefully tonight I will get some results.  Initially I was thinking this was caused by user error, but with all the similar problems being reported, I'm understanding that the Charge 3 is likely at fault rather than the user. My Fitbit has no problem reading my heart rate when I'm awake., so that should indicate that the wristband is on correctly, and I don't understand why it would have any problem when I'm sleeping. This was pretty disappointing, and without the sleep tracking working I have no interest in keeping my Charge 3.  Let's hope it works tonight...

[redav · Accepted solution]

Update

I changed the sensitivity, wear the band above my wrist bone, turned off the auto sync (or whatever it’s called), and it has been working properly. I don’t know which parameter made the difference. 

I do know the location of the band matters because it incorrectly measured hr when on the boney part of the wrist during an exercise. I think the sensitivity is the most important change. 

[rsrqjm]

I agree the big problem centers on the sleep function. When it works, it’s very interesting and maybe useful. It just doesn’t function consistently. The weather function doesn’t always work, indicating I have to a city to display weather. That suggests it’s a syncing issue with phone.

Get Outlook for iOS

[SallBH]

Hi thanks for this. The only one I haven’t tried is all day sync...I will give that a try 🙂

Moderator edit: personal info removed

[Amzo0r]

I'm also having issues with the sleep tracking, but it's really only been in the last week-ish of use. 

I got my charge 3 just after Christmas (Dec 27) and have been using it consistently ever since. Between then and Jan 21, only 3 nights didn't give me sleep stages. I'm okay with that - while sleep tracking is one of the reasons I got this device, I also understand it's not going to be perfect on any device. 

However, between January 22 and today (Jan 30), I've only had 2 nights track with sleep stages. I've trouble-shooted the things they suggest - to no avail yet. I'm glad I came across this though, because now I'll try a few other things and see if it helps. I'll turn off all-day sync and re-start my device to see if it helps. If it still doesn't, I'll try upping the sensitivity level. 

I have to say, it's really frustrating to run in to this problem consistently. This is my first Fitbit device, and I purchased it pretty much for the hr monitor and sleep tracking, so when I see that this has been an issue since day one for some people, it makes me feel like I may have invested in the wrong wearable. 

[rsrqjm]

I find I have to reset my iPhone each morning (airplane mode “on” then “off”, then check Bluetooth that Fitbit 3 is connected - many times I do this sequence twice or more). After this, the Fitbit will “sync” and I get my sleep readings. It is not automatic. I don’t know why the syncing function doesn’t work. It is frustrating.

Get Outlook for iOS

[Hunch]

I got one night of sleep stages (out of eight) after upping the
sensitivity. But it also shows me wayy more restless time every night. Why
would fitbit release a feature they must have known almost never works?
Because they considers their paying customers to be beta testing stooges?
How unethical is that?

[iTuulia]

I got Fitbit Charge 3 three days ago. It tracked the sleep stages during the first night but not the 2 nights after. I'm worried... Should I return the tracker to the store?

[LeahV]

I had to reset my Fitbit Charge 3 last week and my sleep was basic ever since.  Today after I got basic again, I deleted it, turned airplane mode off and back on, manually added sleep log and it now shows detailed sleep.  Then I went back and deleted sleep for Thursday and re-added it - Bam!  Detailed sleep!

I has NEVER automatically added sleep - I always have to add it manually.  I hope this helps someone else!

[PunkieD]

Thanks so much!

Sent from my iPad

[Hunch]

I've been getting detailed sleep stats now for seven nights in a row. I
would think that fitbit fixed their algorithm because I didn't do anything
special except reinstall the app on my phone.
But. Now I am unable to get a map or accurate stats of a run or bike ride.
I've tried multiple times. It's like they've squeezed the baloon: fixing
sleep stages broke map making? C'mon fitbit programmers, you can do better!

[SallBH]

So agree. Fitbit are really behind when it comes to sorting software bugs and glitches! My sleep still doesn’t track despite numerous times I’ve contacted them and now the activity mins tracking has stopped working altogether. Really disappointing and wish I’d never bought the charge 3:((((

Moderator edit: personal info removed